In the global COVID-19 epidemic, humans are faced with a new challenge. The concept of quarantine as a preventive measure has changed human activities in all aspects of life. This challenge has led to changes in the environment as well. The air quality index is one of the immediate concrete parameters. In this study, the actual potential of quarantine effects on the air quality index and related variables in Tehran, the capital of Iran, is assessed, where, first, the data on the pollutant reference concentration for all measuring stations in Tehran, from February 19 to April 19, from 2017 to 2020, are monitored and evaluated. This study investigated the hourly concentrations of six particulate matters (PM), including PM2.5, PM10, and air contaminants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), and carbon monoxide (CO). Changes in pollution rate during the study period can be due to reduced urban traffic, small industrial activities, and dust mites of urban and industrial origins. Although pollution has declined in most regions during the COVID-19 quarantine period, the PM2.5 rate has not decreased significantly, which might be of natural origins such as dust. Next, the air quality index for the stations is calculated, and then, the interpolation is made by evaluating the root mean square (RMS) of different models. The local and global Moran index indicates that the changes and the air quality index in the study area are clustered and have a high spatial autocorrelation. The results indicate that although the bad air quality is reduced due to quarantine, major changes are needed in urban management to provide favorable conditions. Contaminants can play a role in transmitting COVID-19 as a carrier of the virus. It is suggested that due to the rise in COVID-19 and temperature in Iran, in future studies, the effect of increased temperature on COVID-19 can be assessed. | peer reviewed

International audience | Many toxicants are present in water as a mixture. Male infertility is one of the environmental impacts in developed countries. Using our rat seminiferous tubule culture model, we evaluated the effects of waters of different origins, on several parameters of the seminiferous epithelium. Concentrated culture medium was diluted with the waters to be tested (final concentrations of the tested waters were between 8 and 80%). The integrity of the blood-testis barrier was assessed by the trans-epithelial electric resistance (TEER). The levels of mRNAs specific of Sertoli cells, of cellular junctions, of each population of germ cells, of androgen receptor, of estrogen receptor α and of aromatase were also studied. We report, here, the results obtained with ten waters, some of them possessing a negative effect on spermatogenesis. The results showed that according to the tested waters, their effects on the parameters studied might be quite different indicating many different mechanisms of toxicity, including some endocrine disrupting effects. It has been reported that men with impaired semen parameters have an increased mortality rate suggesting semen quality may provide a fundamental biomarker of overall male health. Hence, we have developed a relevant in vitro bioassay allowing to evaluate the potential toxicity of different types of waters on male fertility and to assess some aspects of their mechanism of action. In addition to the TEER measure, the number and/or the identity of the studied mRNAs can be largely increased and/or modified, thus enhancing the possibility of using this model as a "warning system".

In this paper the short review of the results of calculation of the coincidence between the water level and quality parameters at the gauging station Cuprija-rail bridge (Serbia, Yugoslavia) is presented. The basic principles of the applied method and criteria for the estimation of the statistic significance of coincidence indicators are given. At the end of the analyses and comments of the obtained results, as well as the possibility for application of this methodology are given. The paper gives numerical quantities of the estimated indicators of statistical significance of the coincidence of water level and quality parameters of groundwater. Also, the graphical illustration, which shows the common exceeding probabilities of the water level and quality parameters, is presented.

In Yugoslavia, application of macrozoobenthos for the purpose of bioindication has been relatively limited. This communities has been used in conjugation with saprobiological methods, while biotic indexes have been unjustifiable used to a small extent. This paper shows the most significant biotic indexes used in the World and possibility of their application in Yugoslavia, as well as the necessity for their modification and elaboration of new ones specific to Yugoslav conditions.

The aim of this paper is to find out the most efficient method of determination of toxic PCB in the natural way in aquatic system. According to the preliminary research, positive degradative response of PCBs was obtained by the selection of micro fungi species.

The aim of this paper is to survey and point to the critical parts of this typically valley river in the chosen period of time, which is, because of its low flow, small turbulence and exceptional social and industrial significance, very susceptible to ecological catastrophes. This paper contains the elaborated state of water quality in Yugoslav part of the river Tisza, during two periods of observation, with usual (1988-1991) and specific (1992-1995) river ecosystem exposure to pollutants. The average annual data of concentration for characteristic parameters in the monitoring stations were compared with method of multiobjective iterative compromise optimalization (MICO) of the influence that different categories of polluters have on the river ecosystem. On the basis of analyzed concentrations of selected parameters and results obtained with method of MICO, it is possible to conclude that the improvement in quality of Yugoslav part of the river Tisza has occurred during the period of 1992-1995.