peer reviewed | The effects of chronically enhanced (NH(4))(2)SO(4) deposition on ion concentrations in soil solution and ionic fluxes were investigated in a Picea abies plot at Grizedale forest, NW England. Soil cores closed at the base and containing a ceramic suction cup sampler were 'roofed' and watered every 2 weeks with bulk throughfall collected in the field. Treatments consisted of the inclusion of living roots from mature trees in the lysimeters and increasing (NH(4))(2)SO(4) deposition (NS treatment) to ambient + 75 kg N ha(-1) a(-1). Rainfall, throughfall and soil solutions were collected every 2 weeks during 18 months, and analysed for major cations and anions. NO(3)(-) fluxes significantly increased following NS treatment, and were balanced by increased Al(3+) losses. Increased SO(4)(2-) concentrations played a minor role in controlling soil solution cation concentrations. The soil exchange complex was dominated by Al and, during the experimental period, cores of all treatments 'switched' from Ca(2+) to Al(3+) leaching, leading to mean [Formula: see text] molar ratios in soil solution of NS treated cores of 0.24. The experiment confirmed that the most sensitive soils to acidification (through deposition or changing environmental conditions) are those with low base saturation, and with a pH in the lower Ca, or Al buffer ranges.

International audience

Drainage of industrial and communal effluents, directly into the water flow, as many hydrotechnical activities, significantly influence the schedule and balance of the processes that take place into water. In this paper, there are represented the results of systematic control of the water quality of the Danube river and DTD (Danube-Tisza-Danube) channel on the parts Vrbas-Bezdan and Becej-Bogojevo, at the control station network of the Republic Weather Bureau (the Republic of Serbia), for the period of 1991-1996. The results show that the most adverse influence of anthropogenic factor is on the part of the flow of the DTD (Danube-Tisza-Danube) channel from Vrbas to the flow into Tisza river.

The results of the determination of PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls) residues by gas chromatography, in the samples of underground water of one alluvial well of the river Danube (Serbia, Yugoslavia) have been presented. The residues of PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls) in examined samples (February-March period, 1997) were detected.

The article gives review of concentration of copper in the water of the Bor lake basin. Content of copper in the mud on the bottom of lake and content of copper in the aerosol are analysed. The investigations have shown that the Bor lake is not polluted by copper.

Perch (Perca fluviatilis) suitability as a water indicator was studied in field and laboratory investigations. It was found out that hematological status of this fish species was a valuable indicator of both temporary and periodical deterioration of dissolved oxygen saturation and can be used as reliable test for water quality evaluation. The anlyzed hematological parametrs were tested for their sensitivity and reliability as indicators of water quality changes. Values of different parameters were given for perch kept under optimal and unfavourable conditions of water oxygen saturation.

Problems encountered in evaluating surface water quality arise from the requirements of relevant regulations that these evaluations should be made in the last favourable hydrologic conditions during design flow rate (required minimum flow). However, the major part of measurements of water quality parameters is not performed under such conditions and the result must be corrected for the conditions under required minimum flow. Two possible approaches to solving this problem are presented in this paper and explained using an example of the Juzna Morava river basin up to the Station Korvingrad, Serbia (Yugoslavia). This basin is unhomogeneous regarding its hydrologic characteristics and mass flow of pollutants. The results of analysis are presented in the cartography form using the GIS technology.

In our earlier work, we have shown that enzymes from rat brain synaptosomal membranes, Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase and Mg(2+)-ATPase, are promising biological components of a biosensor for lead detection. In this work, we represent our results of investigation with the same enzymes as biological components for the biosensor in presence of Hg(2+) ions in water. It was established that IC50 for Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase and Mg(2+)-ATPase is 6.9 and 5.5 x 10E-6 M, and the percentages of inhibition are 96% and 77% respectively. We concluded that these enzymes could be the base for developing biosensors for the presence of Hg(2+) ion in water. Since these enzymes maintain a stable activity for a longer period of time, they could be appropriate as components of biosensors for monitoring water quality.

There were estimated of water quality of the river Banja and its trubutary Pocibrava, Serbia (Yugoslavia), during the period 1991-1994 by seasonal investigations of benthos fauna composition as bioindicators. The results have shown higher diversity of the Pocibrava bottom fauna community (66 taxa) than in the river Banja (53 taxa) where it was more uniform. Both water flows were receiving some organic loading and by the use of macrobenthos indicator organisms it was concluded that they belong to beta-mesosaprobic water quality class.