Food and drinking water are the main sources of trace and major elements. Besides the elements that are vitally essential for living organisms and human health, food may contain the traces of potentially toxic elements. Environmental site specific impact is one of the influencing factors of elemental content in plants that is important issue also for quality of food crops. Quantitative content of several trace elements (e.g., Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) detected in food crops reveal environmental background levels as well as it can be associated with unexpected food contamination. Current study involves quantitative analysis of more than 200 root vegetable samples (onions, carrots and potatoes) grown and collected in Latvia in the harvesting season of 2010. Within this study the quantitative analysis of vegetables for 9 elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Se, Zn) was performed. After the wet digestion of samples, the quantitative analysis was done by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Obtained results revealed wide ranges of trace elements in root vegetables, including potentially toxic elements. Comparison of element content in edible parts of vegetables and potato peel showed that a great part of elements (e.g., As, Co, Cr, Pb) is concentrated in peel; however, some elements (e.g., Cd, Se, Zn) are taken up by plants, and therefore may contaminate food more easily. Element transfer routes and their biochemistry is a complicated issue that is affected by natural environmental factors as well as by anthropogenic activities.

Eutrophication caused by water pollution with nutrients (nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P)) is one of the main environmental problems nowadays. Poor water quality might be caused by many natural and anthropogenic factors. The most common anthropogenic factors are water pollution caused by intensive agriculture (e. g. intensive fertilizer use, high density of livestock) and discharges from municipal waste water treatment plants (WWTP). In this study, nutrient load from WWTP to the River Berze basin in time period from the year 2005 to the year 2015 was described. In total, 23 WWTPs of the study area were analysed using descriptive statistics to calculate average values of nutrient amount and concentrations discharged to River Berze basin. From 2005 to 2015 average N and P load from WWTP to the River Berze basin have been reduced, but concentration of N and P in treated wastewater (WW) have increased. The largest WWTP of the study area – Krigeri (WWTP of city Dobele) is subject to the regulations of treated WW quality set by Republic of Latvia Cabinet Regulation No. 34. The WWTP Krigeri meets the regulations, but overall situation in the study area suggests that strict control of smaller WWTP should be made.

The urbanization and increasing growth of planet’s population accumulates significant volume of disposed waste as well as increases risks on human health and environmental safety. Landfill systems are the dynamic, living in space and time, potentially harmful entities that must be managed in as careful and smart way as possible. There are many studies related to landfill emissions such as leachates and methane. However, there is a need for advanced understanding of landfill hydrological regime and risks related to climate change and associated changes of hydrological cycle. The comprehensive studies about the urban hydrology are available; however, application to landfill management is fragmentary and inconsistent in several aspects. Landfill in long term has an impact on hydrological cycle. The heterogeneous land surface is one of aspects; however, there are still unanswered questions about the urban environment impact on water balance components. The aim of this study is to describe fundamentals of landfill hydrology in urban hydrological response unit context as well as evaluate the potential risks to environment and human health related to landfill geomorphology and hydrological balance in temporal climate conditions. The landfill hydrological cycle has similarities with urban hydrological cycle; however, there are additional components related to landfill specification, e.g., irrigation or leachate recirculation as well as total produced leachate.

The role of birch natural (NWH) and potential natural (PNWH) woodland habitats for maintaining of biodiversity in Latvia is described and evaluated. The analysis of the proportion of area of birch stands and natural and potential natural woodland hibitats by regions, by age structure, and by growing conditions has been done. The distribution of birch natural and potential woodland hibitats by habitat groups, as well as most often recognized habitat specialist and indicator species is described.

The study deals with the rural landscape management in Latvia and presents a survey of the current situation in landscape planning and nature protection. It also gives a brief theoretical description of the landscape concept and its development and management. Impact of agriculture, forestry and rural tourism on landscape is analysed through the view on the state politics in these spheres. The author evaluates current situation in environmental politics, informs about environmental law, nature protection and preservation system and spatial planning. The author also draws conslusions and offers her suggestions how to improve the landscape management system basing on comparison between the current situation in landscape management and goals set by the national environment conservation plan (1995).

The author examines the ecological impact of technology transfer in rural development. He says that developing countries like the Philippines face many problems resulting from the manipulations in ecosystems as a result of technology transfer. For example, the use of chemicals to protect new rice varieties has resulted in environmental hazards. He further says that developing countries face conflicting choice whether to promote their development or sacrifice ecological aims. To resolve the conflict of technology transfer creating havoc to the ecological system, the author presents an alternative development strategy which is called the ecodevelopment strategy. This strategy calls for the understanding of the interrelationship between the environment and development. The author also encourages policy makers to examine first the kind of development to be introduced that would protect and improved the environment and not vice-versa. Finally, the author quotes Dasmann who said that development should not be implemented at the expense of natural system vital to long-term healthy functioning of the human environment.