This work presents the results of 4 years long monitoring of concentrations of SO₂ gas and PM₁₀ in the urban area around the copper smelter in Bor. The contents of heavy metals Pb, Cd, Cu, Ni, and As in PM₁₀ were determined and obtained values were compared to the limit values provided in EU Directives. Manifold excess concentrations of all the components in the atmosphere of the urban area of the townsite Bor were registered. Through application of a multi-criteria analysis by using PROMETHEE/GAIA method, the zones were ranked according to the level of pollution.

Background, aim and scope The paper presents concentrations of trace elements in blood of homebred animals (cows and sheep) from Southern Serbia (Bujanovac) and the contents of natural and anthropogenic radionuclides and some heavy metals in feed. The region of Southern Serbia was exposed to contamination by depleted uranium ammunition during NATO attacks in 1999 and therefore, is of great concern to environmental pollution and human and animal health. Materials and methods Conventional instrumental and epithermal neutron activation analyses are used to measure trace elements in cow and sheep blood samples collected randomly at six locations in the region of Bujanovac (village of Borovac) in the spring of 2005. Samples of feed (grass and crops: corn, wheat and oats), collected on the same locations (households), are analysed for the contents of radionuclides on an HPGe detector (Ortec, relative efficiency 23%) by standard gamma spectrometry. The content of Hg, Pb and Cd in feed is determined by standard atomic absorption spectrometry on the VarianSpectra220/ThermoSolar GFS97 spectrometer. Results Concentrations of 29 elements (Na, Al (P), Cl, K, Sc, Cr, Mn, Ni, Fe, Co, Zn, Se, As, Br, Sr, Rb, Sb, In, I, Ba, Cs, La, Nd, Eu, Sm, Tb, Hf, Ta and Th) are determined in blood of the examined animals. In feeds, natural ⁴⁰K is found in all of the samples, cosmogenic ⁷Be and fission product ¹³⁷Cs are detected only in the grass samples, while heavy metals Hg, Cd and Pb are found in the range of 0.01-0.02, 0.84-1.15 and 0.74-7.34 mg/kg, respectively. Calculated soil-to-blood transfer factors are in a wide range of 8·10⁻⁶ to 64, as a result of varying significance of the elements in animal metabolism and feeding habits. Discussion The results of trace elements' concentrations in animal blood are in good agreement with available data for K, Ni, Zn, Se and Rb. Higher Br concentrations in animal blood are most probably caused by large biomass burning events during blood sampling. Very low concentration of Fe in cows and sheep confirms the results of previous biochemical studies on animal anaemia in the region. High concentration of As correlates with geochemical peculiarities of the Balkans and is also likely influenced by the use of pesticides in the agricultural production. For some of the elements (La, Nd, Eu, Sm, Tb, Sb, Hf, Ta, Th, In, Ba, Sr, Sc and Cs), there are few or no literature data. Therefore, some of the presented data are significant not only for the country and the region, but on a wider scale. Activities of natural radionuclides in feeds are within the average values reported for the region, while the activities of ²¹⁰Pb and ²³⁵/²³⁸U are below the limit of detection. This is in accordance with previous investigations showing no widespread contamination by depleted uranium in the area. Contents of Hg and Pb in feeds are below the nationally permissible levels, unlike the content of Cd which exceeds it, probably caused by the use of phosphate fertilisers and fossil fuel combustion in the area. Conclusions In general, the concentrations of trace elements in blood of homebred cows and sheep are in good agreement with reference materials, available literature data and the results of previous studies in the area. The exceptions are Fe, As and Br. The contents of natural and anthropogenic radionuclides in feeds are within the expected levels, and there are no signs of contamination by depleted uranium or other fission products. Apart from Cd, there are no signs of pollution by heavy metals in feeds. The highly sensitive method of instrumental neutron activation analysis provides data on the concentration of some elements in animal blood not previously reported for the region and elsewhere. Recommendations and perspectives The presented study is a part of the long term ongoing project on the health risk assessment on animals and humans in the region. The collected data is intended to provide a base for the animal and human risk assessment as well as an estimate of the general pollution status of the environment in the region. Since some of the investigated elements are classified as important trace elements for livestock, the results could also be used to balance and improve the animal diet and thus, improve the growth and reproduction rate.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess fatal cancer risk after external and internal (inhalation and ingestion) exposure from natural radionuclides in soil like ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K, and ²²⁶Ra on the territory of Bela Crkva, Serbia. Although receiving doses are low from sources like natural radionuclides in soil, because of stochastic effects of ionizing radiation, risk for developing cancer exists and can be quantified. Methods Concentrations of radionuclides from 80 soil samples are measured using HPGe detector. Fatal cancer risk is assessed from calculated ambient dose rate in the target organs of body due to external and internal exposure. Monte Carlo simulations are used to obtain conversion factors which are required to calculate absorbed dose rate in target organs. Results and discussion Assessed cancer risk for ²³⁸U in the case of both inhalation and ingestion exposure is from 1.11 × 10⁻⁶ to 24 × 10⁻⁶ for minimal and maximal activity in soil samples, from 1.02 × 10⁻⁶ to 23.3 × 10⁻⁶ for exposure to ²²⁶Ra, from 1.89 × 10⁻⁶ to 50.3 × 10⁻⁶ for exposure to ²³²Th, and from 0.265 × 10⁻⁶ to 9.83 × 10⁻⁶ for exposure to ⁴⁰K. Overall risk from ⁴⁰K as external and internal source is from 0.8 × 10⁻⁶ to 31.9 × 10⁻⁶. Calculated cancer risks from both inhalation and ingestion exposure could be related to all tissues that are on the way of distribution of particles within the body but especially to deposition sites in the body. Conclusion Assessed risks for fatal cancer development from inhaled and ingested natural radionuclides originating in soil are not increased.

The results of microbiological analyses of raw water of two water supplies of city of Novi Sad (Ratno Ostrvo and Petrovaradinska Ada) are presented. The sampling was performed monthly during 2008 and 2009. The following parameters were monitored: aerobic mesophilic bacteria count at 37 deg C, organotroph count (water categorization according to Kohl), facultative oligotrophs, lipolitic and hydrocarbon-oxidizing bacteria count. The count of organotrophic bacteria was determined using low nutritive R2A medium. In addition, water was classified according to enzymatic activity of water, expressed as index of phosphatase activity (IFA).

Novi Sad is one of the major consumers of water in the Republic of Serbia. This is why the presence of safe and abundant sources of raw dringing water has been of utmost importance for this city which is expanding urbanistically and demografically. This paper presents major data related, above all, to the capacity of the present water sources in Novi Sad, as well as the results of the analyses considering the possibilities for the expansion of source capacity. Furthermore, the text considers the problem of numerous pollutants which have been polluting water sources and offers possible measures for their efficient protection.

The possibility of applying the process solidification/stabilization for treatment of arsenic containing sludge, obtained after coagulation and flocculation treatment in the preparation of raw drinking water, using lime, cement and lime and cement in the mixture as stabilization agents was examined. Test results showed a high content of arsenic in the initial sample of sludge, above the allowable 41 mg As/kg by the USEPA prescribed for disposal of waste sludge. Performance of S/S process was investigated by two leaching tests, PCLP and DIN 38414-S4 test, which showed the highest efficiency of lime and cement mixture in the removal of arsenic by this procedure.

The paper presents aquatic macroinvertebrate community at four investigated localities of the Gradac river. Sampling was carried out during 2003 and 2006. Community structure and composition, together with field data, were used to estimate the water quality status of the river. A total of 87 taxa have been recorded. Insects were found to be the most diverse component, especially Ephemeroptera. Insects were dominant in the regard of the quantitative structure of the community, as well. Recorded community indicates good water quality, ranged between oligosaprobic and beta-mesosaprobic status (1st-2nd class according national classification scheme).

The analysis of breaks and gaps frequences in the fish species Alburnus alburnus from different localities of rivers Kolubara, Sava and Danube, were showed the highest values that were above the presumed critical zone (3.0-3.5% of changes). At some of localities examined in May and October 2008, these values were much more elevated that the level of spontaneous changes normally seen in the controls in laboratory animals and in fish of relatively clean waters. Results that were obtained for these localities indicate to periodical or permanent contamination with genotoxic agents.

This paper presents the data of sediment quality in the zone of three sources for water supply in Novi Sad, Serbia. The data indicate that the sediment in the area of these sources contain petroleum products (mineral oils) above the permissible concentrations. Only in one sample of sediment was detected DDT / DDD / DDE in the location of the source against the Strand wells RB-1 in a concentration which can specify as the maximum risk. The data indicate a significant anthropogenic influence of refinery waste water and urban waste water, motor boats in the marine (source Strand) and anchor of ships (source Petrovaradinska Ada) on the quality of sediment in these sources.

It has been established that processing by CTA - peat, under normal pressure, significantly reduces COD of tested wastewater, but at the same time, quickly comes to a stoppage, due to clogging. Results show that filtration process needs to be done under increased pressure. Based on gained results it could be concluded that CTA-peat represent efficient means of eliminating organic matters from wastewaters.