In this investigation the applied method for lead determination in traces, from 10E-6 - 10E-10 mol/cubic dm, was Potentiometric Stripping Analysis (PSA). The main attribute of this method is possibility to detect very low metal concentrations. The investigation results of level concentration of lead into the top, natural and atmospheric water from some towns of Serbia (Yugoslavia), including city of Belgrade, are given. The investigation was carried out in some towns of Serbia (Yugoslavia), including city of Belgrade, during the 1994-1995.

The experiment was performed on marine Teleost Serranus scriba with lower concentrations of lindane then MPC (due to our valid law). The aim of this study was to find the effects of lindane to fish activities connected with nutrition. This motive is among the strongest. It includes parameters as: number of fish movements in the presence of prey or without it and the number of onslaughts to the prey during one hour. The results have shown that the increasing of lindane concentration caused considerable decreasing and even complete cessation of activity. Interest for prey and decreasing activity of predators in the presence of prey (typical for Serranus - as a fish of prey and the hunter) endures till the moment of convulsion.

MPI - Metal Pollution Index is being proposed with an aim improving the freshwater pollution control, monitoring and classification based on fish metal body burden. This is a simple mathematical model which enables presentation of Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn and Al fish liver concentration as a single value. After thorough studies of bioaccumulation, biomagnification and tissue distribution patterns, liver of Carassius auratus gibelio has been chosen as sentinel organ. Normal distribution and biological variation assessment is being achieved by using normalizers - reference values (liver concentrations of selected elements in fish from reference sites Vruje and Moharac micro water reservoirs, Serbia (Yugoslavia)). Selected representative sites have been evaluated according to new classification of freshwater ecosystem based on MPI values.

In this paper we have pointed out the hydrogeological condition in the catchment area of the Jablanica river in the south Serbia (Yugoslavia). The two units are separately presented here. The first one is mountainous part of the catchment area upstream of the gaging station of Lebane and the second one is the part of the terrain in the plain down stream to the river mounth near Pecenjevac. The hydrogeological characteristics of the two mentioned regions are given to explain the reasons of existing the constant flow of the Jablanica to Lebane and its disappearing course in the period of recession in the plain downstream. The quality of water in the Jablanica river at Lebane is good. Down stream of this gaging station the waste water collector flows into the river. In the part of recession period the ratio between them is unfavourable. We have also discussed the quality of water at the gaging station of Pecenjevac and pointed out the function of sandy-gravel deposits in the process of natural purification of the Jablanica flow.

Oxygen aspect of water pollution of Skadar lake, Montenegro (Yugoslavia) is considered in this paper. Water analysis data in the period of 1991-1998 were used to establish relevant parameters, oxygen saturation (%O2), and five day biochemical demind (BPK5). Those data were supplied by Hydrometeorological Institute in Podgorica, Montenegro (Yugoslavia). Measurements were taken from three places in northern part of Skadar lake, where the increased water pollution is expected, and from southeastern part of the lake, out of source of pollution directly influence. According to results from this research, there is close relation between water pollution and oxygen water balance. Parts of the Skadar lake with low water circulation are especialy susceptible (place Kamenik). In the 1991-1995 period, this phenomena is manifested with variation depending of the chosen area and year. After some improvement of water quality in the 1996-1997 period, there is noticeable increase of water pollution in 1998 at all places. Supersaturation was identified by the percentage of O2 in Skadar lake area at whole.

In this paper there were given research results obtained during many years of investigation of hydrophytes of the Tisza river, Serbia (Yugoslavia), and their bioindicating values. The plant world of the Tisza river is characterized by floristical diversity, with three characteristics band: band of submerged, band of floating and band of emerged hydrophytes. Among submerged plants these are distinguished by abundance, covering values and occurrence degree: Ceratophyllum demersum, Elodea canadaensis, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton perfoliatus and Potamogeton pectinatus. In the floating band species of the fam. Lemnaceae: Lemna minor, Lemna gibba, Spirodela polyrrhiza and Potamogeton fluitans are most frequent. In the closest coastal band, these species are most frequent: Typha angustifolia, Typha latifolia, Phragmites communis, Sagittaria sagittifolia and Typhoides arundinacea. On the basis of determined floristical composition and bioindicating values there can be noticed the organic pollution increasing trend.

The first investigation of microplastics in G. affinis from the Brantas River was carried out in this study. Microplastics were found at higher concentrations in gambusia fish captured downstream (209.18 ± 48.85 particles/gram) than upstream (24.44 ± 0.14 particles/gram). Microplastic particle concentrations in G. affinis have a positive linear relationship with fish length. The fiber was the most prominent shape at Sites 1 and 2, whereas the fragment was dominant at Sites 3 and 4. With a value of 45–48%, black dominates the entire site, followed by blue (29–38%), transparent colors (7–11%), red (2–4%), purple (1–3%), and other colors (5–7%). Microplastics measuring <0.1 mm are commonly found in fish bodies. Cyclohexylmethyl octyl ester (phthalic acid) is the most abundant component found in microplastics, accounting for 30.11% of the total. This study provides evidence that G. affinis can be used to monitor the presence of microplastic pollution in the Brantas River but further studies are needed regarding the effects of microplastics and their health hazards on fish.

Quinolone antibiotics (QNs) pollution in lake environments is increasingly raising public concern due to their potential combined toxicity and associated risks. However, the spatiotemporal distribution and trophodynamics of QNs in transit-station lakes for water diversion are not well documented or understood. In this study, a comprehensive investigation of QNs in water, sediment, and aquatic fauna, including norfloxacin (NOR), ciprofloxacin (CIP), enrofloxacin (ENR), and ofloxacin (OFL), was conducted in Luoma Lake, a major transit station for the eastern route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project in China. The target QNs were widely distributed in the water (∑QNs: 70.12 ± 62.79 ng/L) and sediment samples (∑QNs: 13.35 ± 10.78 ng/g dw) in both the non-diversion period (NDP) and the diversion period (DP), where NOR and ENR were predominant. All the QNs were detected in all biotic samples in DP (∑QNs: 80.04 ± 20.59 ng/g dw). The concentration of ∑QNs in the water in NDP was significantly higher than those in DP, whereas the concentration in the sediments in NDP was comparable to those in DP. ∑QNs in the water-sediment system exhibited decreasing trends from northwest (NW) to southeast (SE) in both periods; however, the Kₒc (organic carbon normalized partition coefficients) of individual QNs in DP sharply rose compared with those in NDP, which indicated that water diversion would alter the environmental fate of QNs in Luoma Lake. In DP, all QNs, excluding NOR, were all biodiluted across the food web; whereas their bioaccumulation potentials in the SE subregion were higher than those in the NW subregion, which was in contrast to the spatial distribution of their exposure concentrations. The estimated daily QN intakes via drinking water and aquatic products suggested that residents in the SE side were exposed to greater health risks, despite less aquatic pollution in the region.

The effectiveness and feasibility of the three biochar materials for remediation of arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) contaminated soil were explored in this study. Significant reduction of bioaccessibility and migration risks of both heavy metals have been explained mechanistically by incubation, column experiments and numerical simulation. Langmuir equation fitted As and Pb sorption isotherms better in the control and biochar (BC) amended soils, while Freundlich model was more suitable for iron modified biochar (Fe-BC) and sulfur/iron modified biochar (S/Fe-BC) amended soils, indicating that modified biochar promoted chemical adsorption process for As and Pb. For the three biochar materials, S/Fe-BC showed the best effects on reducing the bioavailability of As and Pb, with a decrease of 40.42%–64.21%. The reduction in bioaccessibility by metal portioning into available and non-available fractions was better for illustrating the mechanisms including adsorption, precipitation/coprecipitation and As(III) oxidation behind S/Fe-BC efficacy. Moreover, S/Fe-BC can effectively inhibit the leaching behavior of As and Pb under acid rain, which increased by 99.89% and 90.18%, respectively, compared with the control. The HYDRUS-1D modeling indicated that S/Fe-BC could continuously treat As (100 mg/L) and Pb (1000 mg/L) contaminated water for 16.22 years and 40.86 years, respectively, and ensure the groundwater quality criteria being met. Based on these insights, we believe that our study will provide meaningful information about the potentials of biochar derived materials for soil heavy metals’ remediation.