Moss biomonitoring of lithogenic impact on the distribution of various chemical elements in the air in the region of Mariovo, North Macedonia.

A study was conducted to investigate the air deposition and explore the distribution of potentially toxic elements in the Mariovo region, North Macedonia, using moss samples as biomonitors of air pollution. The distribution of 44 chemical elements was detected in 20 moss samples collected in the area. The moss samples were analyzed after microwave digestion using inductively coupled plasma - atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

The Fungal Side of the Story: Saprotrophic- vs. Symbiotrophic-Predicted Ecological Roles of Fungal Communities in Two Meromictic Hypersaline Lakes from Romania.

Over three-quarters of Earth's surface exhibits extreme environments where life thrives under harsh physicochemical conditions. While prokaryotes have often been investigated in these environments, only recent studies have revealed the remarkable adaptability of eukaryotes, in particular fungi. This study explored the mycobiota of two meromictic hypersaline lakes, Ursu and Fără Fund, in Transylvania (Romania).

Lithological distribution of rare earth elements in soils in the As-Sb-Tl Allchar mining area, North Macedonia.

Despite the growing interest, the information available on rare earth elements (REEs) in the last two decades is relatively premature and sparse. The importance of these elements as indicators of soil and physiological processes and responses have contributed to the increased interest in these previously less considered elements in the environmental sciences. This study provides an overview of the content and distribution of rare earth elements in the soil in the vicinity of the hydrothermal volcanogenic As-Sb-Tl deposit of Allchar, North Macedonia.

Moss biomonitoring of air pollution with potentially toxic elements in the Kumanovo Region, North Macedonia.

A study was carried out to investigate air deposition and to explore the natural distribution and contamination with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the Kumanovo Region, North Macedonia, by using moss samples as biomonitors for air pollution. The distribution of 51 elements was detected in 42 moss samples collected from this area. Moss samples were analyzed following microwave digestion by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

Assessment of natural and anthropogenic factors on the distribution of chemical elements in soil from the Skopje region, North Macedonia.

The main objective of this study is to present the distribution of different chemical elements in soil samples from the Skopje region, North Macedonia. To determine the level of presence of chemical elements, soil samples are collected from a total of 60 locations. From each location, from an area of 5 × 5 km samples of soil are collected: topsoil (0-5 cm) and subsoil (20-30 cm).

Organochlorine pesticides and dissolved organic matter within a system of urban exorheic lakes.

Urban lakes represent the most extensive water bodies in cities and provide blue ecosystem services, by retaining pollutants, offering cultural services, and mitigating climate change. Human activities threaten to decrease the supply of ecosystem services associated with urban lakes. Exorheic lakes play an essential role in reducing and changing the characteristics of pollutants and organic matter along the environmental continuum.

Spatial variation of organochlorine pesticides and dissolved organic matter in urban closed lakes.

Closed lakes located in urban parks act as sinks of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), which have been used, for decades, as insecticides, herbicides and fungicides. The closed lakes from Bucharest, Romania, are periodically managed to prevent eutrophication and accumulation of pollutants. However, it is not known if these practices reduce or enhance the legacy pollution with OCPs.

Long-term Geochemical Evolution of Lithogenic Versus Anthropogenic Distribution of Macro and Trace Elements in Household Attic Dust.

Attic dusts were examined as historical archives of anthropogenic emissions, with the goal of elucidating the enrichment pathways associated with hydrothermal exploitation of Cu, Pb, and Zn minerals in the Bregalnica River basin in the eastern part of the Republic of Macedonia. Dust samples were collected from 84 settlements. Atomic emission spectrometry and mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma were applied as analytical techniques for the determination of 69 element contents.

Multivariate extraction of dominant geochemical markers for deposition of 69 elements in the Bregalnica River basin, Republic of Macedonia (moss biomonitoring).

Atmospheric deposition was investigated using the terrestrial moss species Hypnum cupressiforme (Hedw.) and Homolothecium lutescens (Hedw.) in the Bregalnica River basin, Republic of Macedonia.

Geochemical hunting of lithogenic and anthropogenic impacts on polymetallic distribution (Bregalnica river basin, Republic of Macedonia).

The main subject of this investigation was the assessment of the lithogenic and anthropogenic distribution of 69 elements in the sediments and fluvisol in the Bregalnica river basin. Alluvial soil and fluvisol samples were collected from the total of eighteen locations along the course of the Bregalnica river and additional thirteen samples were collected from its tributaries. The matrix elements accumulation patterns followed the order: Fe > Na > Al > Ca > Mg > K > Ti > P.

Distribution of chemical elements in soils and stream sediments in the area of abandoned Sb-As-Tl Allchar mine, Republic of Macedonia.

The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of some toxic elements in topsoil and subsoil, focusing on the identification of natural and anthropogenic element sources in the small region of rare As-Sb-Tl mineralization outcrop and abandoned mine Allchar known for the highest natural concentration of Tl in soil worldwide. The samples of soil and sediments after total digestion were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Factor analysis (FA) was used to identify and characterize element associations.

Mercury in soil and perennial plants in a mining-affected urban area from Northwestern Romania.

The mercury (Hg) concentrations were evaluated in soils and perennial plants sampled in four districts of Baia Mare city, a historical mining and ore processing center in Northwestern Romania. The results showed that the Hg concentration exceeded the guideline value of 1.0 mg kg(-1) dry weight (dw) established by the Romanian Legislation, in 24 % of the analyzed soil samples, while the median Hg concentration (0.