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Prospecting and exploration activities for oil and gas in a number of cases are connected with some environmental impacts in the location of their implementation. Depending on the applied prospecting and exploration methods – geophysical or drilling methods or combination of both - the environmental impacts comprise mainly of: air emissions from the equipment engines, short-term damages to land and soil, contamination of surface and ground water, waste generation, cuttings in forests, etc. The implemented comple...

INTRODUCTION Within the scope of the recently started initiative SAFEMANMIN under 6th Framework Programme, a preliminary report about methods used for the characterization of mining wastes in several Eli countries (Austria, Italy, Greece, Poland, Norway, Spain, France, Germany, Bulgaria and Romania) has been complied. This study is based on the Reference Document on Best Available Techniques of Tailings and Waste-Rocks in Mining Activities, prepared by the IPPC Office in Seville (July 2004). It aims on establishin...

Main research directions worldwide concern the distinguishing of the adaptative response of the individuals to environment modifications which occur under the influence of pollutants. These modifications are manifested at different levels: morphological, structural, ultrastructural and biochemical. This manifests not only by macroscopic deviations from the laws of symmetry, but by modifications in the stomata and hairs (tector and secretor) pattern. The vegetal material was collected during June and July 2006 from...

In the paper is discussed the possibilities of preventive methods of quality management in scope of environmental prevention and the waste liquidation and their application.

Extraction of vanadium, nickel and iron contained in spent catalyst coming from the manufacture of sulfuric acid (main elemental composition: 3.5\% V; 0.63\% Ni and 7.9\% Fe) was studied. The effects of roasting and leaching temperature, concentration of the leaching reagent, reaction time and pulp density on the extraction of vanadium, nickel and iron were determined. Sulfuric acid was used as leaching reagent. ANOVA was used to find out the optimal leaching conditions and to analyze the results. The results obta...

Recently, the effect of noise pollution appeared due to noise increasing from highway transportation, especially, the great majorities of the people living in city centers. Identifying the noise levels have gained great importance in terms of planning of the cities, regions, industries and our being informed how degree the noisy pollution have influenced our daily life. Development plans performed in our country have been carried out without taking into consideration the factor of noise pollution. One of the bigge...

Shoreline change rate is the most critical feature of the coastal area because it reveals future harmful impacts driven by long-term climate changes and episodic events. Since the coastal zone is one of a nation’s greatest environmental and economic assets, the best methodology, as far as accuracy is concerned, estimating the rate of change of a shoreline is an open question. The accuracy both of the geoinformation used and the computed change rate is of crucial importance. The purpose of the present paper is to...

This research presents aerosol measurements using the field study data from April2004 to December 2006 to evaluate the particulate air pollution in selected area in Mitrovica. This part of northern Kosova constitutes one of most important mining field in Europe. Consequently the industrial activities were mostly connected to the exploitation of the base metal ores of the Trep\cca district as well as the smelter of Zve\ccan and the Trep\cca battery factory. The town of Zve\ccan and Mitrovica have been exposed for m...

Most of the coastal zones in Europe are under the high level of anthropogenic pressure. Intensive use can lead to a devaluation of the natural capital of these zones and negatively affect the social and economic balance. These issues cannot be solved by the South-Eastern Baltic Region States separately (e.g. common natural and cultural heritage, transfers of pollutants and sediments, tourist flows, maritime safety) and requires international collaboration. One of the ways to ensure sustainable development of the c...

In our paper, the investigations have focused on observations regarding the physiological and biochemical changes on the horse-chesnut’s (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) leaves during their ontogenetic cycle under the influence of the atmosphere pollutants (sulphur dioxide, chlorine, ammoniac, lime or cement powders). The foliar chlorosis and necrosis represent the clear manifestation of deep physiological modifications, as well as severe structural alterations, which affect the average content of water, dry matter, ...

The increasing use of paste backfill in underground mining makes it necessary to quantify the effect of tailings properties, such as physical and chemical properties, on the performance properties of cemented paste backfill (CPB). The mechanical performance of CPB placed in underground openings (i.e. mine stopes) is often different from the one predicted in laboratory studies even under similar curing conditions of temperature and humidity. This observation is presumably due to the specific consolidation and drain...

The earthquake jeopardy for our country is a reality that can not be ignored, since 98\% of Bulgarian territory is an earthquake-prone area. Among all natural disasters, earthquakes are the greatest contemporary menace - according to UN statistics. Hence, the existence of appropriate resources for effective earthquake protection is the relevant background for the sustainable economic development of any modern state. The continuous seismic monitoring of strong earthquakes, affecting the territory of Bulgaria is car...

We report in this paper the preliminary results obtained during removal of pesticides from industrial wastewater by Fenton’s reagent. Fenton process is attractive alternative to conventional oxidation processes in effluent treatment of recalcitrant compounds. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of fenton process for the reduction of COD in wastewaters from pesticide industry. Several parameters were also studied: dose of Fe+2 and H2O2. The process of pesticide removal from industrial wastewater u...

The present work aims at presenting the main research topics of GPhI in the field of numerical air pollution modeling. The basic dynamic and pollution transport models, applied for the purpose are briefly described. Some study results are demonstrated, concerning air pollution modeling in local and regional scales.

The quantity and the content of the landfill gas, emitted/extracted from landfill for non-hazardous waste “Suhodol” have been studied. Modeling calculations have been executed and forecast data for the quantity of the emitted and utilized landfill gas for the period till 2040 have been done. Methods for the treatment of the landfill gas, as it consists of methane - a powerful greenhouse gas, have been presented. The applicability of the presented different methods for Landfill “Suhodol” has been assessed. ...

TOC (Total Organic Carbon), TKN (Total Kjedhal Nitrojen), tP (total Phosporus), C/N (Carbon/Nitrogen ratio) contents and other properties of Municipal Solid Waste, in Д°stanbul are suitable for Compost Production. Compost is an extremely useful agent in agriculture, provides humous to soil, improves its porosity, workability, aeration and needless to say improves water absorption capacity. It also helps increasing the number of saprofit micro organisms and helps plants to get more of fertilizers. Another advantage...

We have studied 15 species of ligneous plants angyosperms, spontaneous and cultivated ones – in areas adjacent to industrial platforms: Borzeşti (Bacău county), Bicaz and Taşca (Neamţ county) - Romania; in the first case, the noxious substances are mainly gaseous (sulphur dioxide, chlorine, ammoniac), but also solid (carbon black, soot); in the other two cases, the noxious substances are mainly solid ones (lime or cement powders prone to sedimentation). Our investigations have focused on observations concern...

Ore dressing leads to producing of great quantities of waste which are stored in special waste depositories (tailing ponds). They occupy large areas and their exploitation provokes air, water and soil contamination of the surrounding territories. Reclamation is one of the most radical methods for recovery of the environmental components, creation of conditions for grass and forest growth and formation of appropriate landscape. The current study aims to determine the anthropogenic impacts on the soils in the region...

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can effect plant growth and development in two different ways: indirectly or directly. Indirect promotion of plant growth occurs when these bacteria decrease or prevent some of the deleterious effects of phytopathogenic microorganism. The most important way is the direct way, when bacteria promote plant growth by providing the plant with a compound that is synthesized by the bacteria from plant rhizosphere. From this point of view there are many studies that show the imp...

For identification, preliminary selection and mapping of potential sites for regional waste landfills methods are applied, which are based on modern technologies - remote sensing, automated procedures in GIS environment for reduction of selected potential sites on the basis of pre-set categories and criteria as well as computer-aided visual interpretation of vector and raster data from the “CORINE Land Cover 2000 - Bulgaria” project. Office activities are followed by field investigations during which the main ...

The selective bio-solubilization of mineral sulphide deposits has had an upward development lately due to the irreversible depletion of the ore deposits and the accumulation of large quantities of refuse dumps, the process being equally important for the economy and the environment. This paper aims at carrying out a quantitative assay of both the heterotrophic and the sulphur-oxidising bacteria of the Thiobacillus genus found in samples of mine waters collected from the Barza and Valea Morii mining sites in the Ap...

We present a method for the neutralisation of heavy metals – Pb, Zn, Cd and Cr in contaminated water and soils by binding them into water-insoluble complexes, inabsorbable by plants, which was found to be effective under laboratory and green-house conditions. By introducing multiblock copolyethers (MBPE) and low molecular weight organic chelates (LOC) in water, containing heavy metal ions, they interact stoichiometrically and precipitate, affording water of irrigation quality. Treatment with MBPE and LOC (by sin...

The major impact of early mining resulted from the establishment of this mine tailings, which neutralized hundreds hectares of land, which due poor management and neglect have been subjected to varying degrees of water and wind erosion. Environmental impacts range from water pollution (acid mine drainage derived from oxidation of sulphides, mainly pyrite, and the heavy metals in the Mooteh mine tailings), air pollution in the form of airborne dust from unrehabilitated, partially rehabilitated and reprocessed mine ...

Laboratory investigations on zinc ions removal from model solution in a column with fixed bed zeolite clinoptilolite were conducted. Experimental dynamic curves for sorption depending on the bed height of zeolite and velocity of treated solution were received. The main constant parameters characterizing the process at breakthrough were defined. It was established that the bed column volumes of solution and the capacity at breakthrough increase with increasing of contact time, whereas sorbent usage rate decreases. ...

The elimination of finely emulsified oil from waste waters is an important problem, and so far, no satisfactory solution thereto is available worldwide. Here we report some of the results from our studies on the purification of water from different types of oil, to allow waste water re-use in the technological cycle, or use for agricultural irrigation. The isolation of oil is performed by treatment of waste water with polymers of specific adsorption behaviour and solubilizing properties in aqueous medium. Multiblo...

Jurassic brown coal layers of the Kansk-Achinsk basin are the actual source for thermal power stations of West Siberia. The thick (up to 70 m) coal layers lay almost horizontally. Typical unaltered coal is low in trace elements and has, correspondingly, a low radioactivity. However, coal in the uppermost part of the thick dense layers is most often altered to become friable and acquire unusually high contents of some trace elements including natural radioactive ones. Brown coal samples from open-cut mines and natu...

The Varna lake is connected with Varna bay (situated in the north – west part of the Black Sea with two channels).The lake has a strategic role in the economy of Varna city. This determine the interest and necessity from investigation of changes in it hydrological and hydrobiological conditions. The variations of this parameters in the lake ecosystems is provoke from antropogenical influence ( particulary the effect of heat pollution from coastal electric power stations). During the last 10 years, thermo-electri...

In this paper a total of seven samples (a river sediment, two surface soil samples, and four surrounding rocks) from the Pangaion area, Northern Greece, were collected and analyzed for their content in 10 major (Al, Ca, Cl, Fe, K, Mg, Na, P, S, and Si) and 32 trace elements (Ag, As, B, Ba, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Ga, Ge, Hg, La, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Th, Ti, U, V, W, Y, Zn, and Zr). The sampling was based on the major geomorphological processes of the area. The two soil samples are typical of the...

In our days more and more people focus they attention towards the problems of environment and the living conditions since the Earth is a very rich reservoir of natural resources which ensure life. Around the world people demonstrate for and demand that the substances which destroy the environment shouldn’t be used anymore. It is well known fact that the territory of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reservation is permanently subjected to a large quantity of domestic waste resulting from the activities of exploitation ...

General environmental problems generated during blast activities in open pit mining are ground vibrations, air pressure, fly rock, dust and poisonous gases and fumes. In some cases, these problems can be the source of some continual disagreements (fear, right and unrighteous complaints, etc.) on inhabitants living close to a blast-based production in a quarry as well as damage on the buildings situated nearby. In this study, the ground vibrations produced by blasting operations performed at a limestone quarry were...

This study analyzes the possibilities of anchorage and reform of a sterile deposition resultant from copper mining activities from around the Brad-Romania mining area. Because this sterile deposition is out of service from about 8 years, the solutions we had to propose according to work of biologic recultivation must stabilized the sterile deposition. After consolidation the danger of rain and snow melting waters will diminish. The main purpose is to avert pollution of area environment factors and concurrently acc...

People have always used metals and minerals and products made from or with minerals in a nearly infinite number of ways. With the increase in population and real per capita income, the demand for mineral commodities is likely to rise in the future.Mineral Processing in the mining industry can be defined as the economic recovery of a valuable commodity from a mineral deposit. Mineral processing operations produce significant amounts of solid and liquid wastes. As the quality of mineral deposits diminishes, raw mate...

In this work the main goal is to design and develop a expert system, with special focus on water management and quality. It is remarkable the high quantity of information and knowledge patterns implicit in large databases coming from the monitoring of any system or dynamical environmental process. For instance, historical data collected about meteorological phenomena in a certain area, about the performance of a wastewater treatment plant, about characterizing environmental emergencies (toxic substances wasting). ...

“The Black Sea Coastal Way Rehabilitation Project” which started seven years ago in order to relief in traffic flow in the Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey and presently continues to complete their constructions. The project involves the rehabilitation and shortening of the present motorway and hence the construction of new tunnels and riprap material for filling the sea are required in some places. This paper involves one of the blast based tunnel excavations, which is performed for “Yoroz Tunnel” situa...

A hydrochemical study is conducted in the Faria basin / NE of the West Bank to define water types and to determine hydrochemical parameters of the aquifer system. More than 150 water samples were analysed, which covered all springs and wells. The physical and chemical properties were determined. The major cations Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+ and K+ and the major anions HCO3-, Cl-, SO42- and NO3- were analysed. The minor constituents of SiO2, F-, Br- and PO43- and the trace elements Cu, Cd, Fe, Mn, Cr, Zn and Pb were determined...

This paper presents investigation of the environmental effects of ground vibration and air blast induced by blasting in various quarries located at Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Within the scope of this study, scaled distance components have been recorded for two shots at the BeЕџparmak Company, two shots at the G\"urdaДџ Company, one shot at the Levent Mosaic Company and one shot at the ArpalД±klД± Company, totally 6 shots at different times. And also, ground vibrations and air blasts produced by these sho...

A bottom ash and a fly ash sample from Unit 1 of the Agios Dimitrios Power Plant, Northern Greece, were subjected to a one stage leaching procedure (Synthetic Groundwater Leaching Procedure – SGLP). The lignite burned in it derives from the Southern Field Mine from the Lignite Centre of Western Macedonia. The Relative Mass Leached (RML) for ten major (Al, P, Ca, Mg, K, Fe, Na, Si, S and Ti) and forty eight trace elements (Li, Be, B, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb...

This paper presents the results from the study of heavy metals contamination of paddy soil of the Ko\vcani Field (Eastern Macedonia), an area with extensive agricultural production. The soil of the Ko\vcani Field is supposed to be polluted by heavy metals due to mining activities and acid mine drainage from Zletovo-Kratovo and Sasa-Toranica ore districts. This was supposed by the fact that acid mine drainage and direct input of Zletovo Pb-Zn mine effluents of pH 3.4 with mean Pb concentrations of 66 mg l-1, Zn at ...

The problems for the protection of the environment from various pollutants are considered worldwide as fundamental for mankind. A large number of people are nowadays exposed to the different pollutions in waste and potable water. The pollutions have a harmful effect on the biological system. Some regions in Bulgaria and Turkey have serious problems with water contaminated with metal ions. The heavy metals (Hg, As, Cd, Mn, etc.) have a harmful effect on human physiology and other biological system when they are fou...

The aim of this investigation is to determine the adsorption behavior of chromium (VI) on Tuncbilek activated carbon sample. The effects of the Cr concentration (25-100 ppm), temperature (297-325 K) and pH (2.5-9.8) on adsorption were investigated systematically. It was found that the effectiveness sequence of the parameters was initial Cr(VI) concentration, temperature and pH. Increasing the pH from 2.5 to 9.8 causes a decrease in adsorption. But it is obvious that adsorption was increased by increasing the initi...

The investigations made by us about the micromorphology of the foliar surfaces of two species of gymnosperms in the industrial areas Bicaz and TaЕџca (the NeamЕЈ District, Romania). The investigations of electronic microscopy (S.E.M.) made up at the level of necrotic and/or chlorosis surfaces (top, middle, basis) of the acicular leaves of Pinus sylvestris and Pinus nigra showed changes of the cuticular surface, their contortion, caused by the total disappearance of the parallelism between the cuticular prints, the...

Bulgaria occupies a unique position in south-east Europe in terms of river basin management and control because contamination from metal extraction and processing industries not only has a potential significant trans-border impact but also affects both the Mediterranean and Black Seas. However, to date, no whole basin source to sink study of metal contamination has yet been conducted in the country. This paper begins to address this issue by presenting preliminary results from a survey conducted in August 2004 of ...

An accidental pollution by hydrocarbon occurred in the zone of the Lake Snagov, about 30 km North of Bucharest. As a consequence, five study wells were made for the purpose of this study, covering the zone possibly affected by pollution. Pumping test were carried out, providing the order of magnitude for the hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer. Calibration of a 3D groundwater flow numerical model was made both in natural and pumping conditions. Several variants for placing new wells were studied. Based on the fl...

In this paper we present the critical situation of four species of Gymnosperms (Pinus nigra and Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies, Abies alba.) which can be found in areas of industrial zone from Bicaz District, Romania. The pollutants are mainly solid: lime and cement dust. Our investigation it is about the physiological and histo – anatomical modifications of the leaves (needles). We want to stress the fact that the large quantity of dry substance from the leaves isn’t always related to the distance from the pol...

During 2004, pluridisciplinary investigations have been devoted to the abiotic and biotic characteristics of the anthropized ecosystem developed in relation with the domestic litter hills at Tomesti, Iasi. Both abiotic (climate, soil, air) and biotic (talobyontes, chormobyontes, phytophagous invertebrata) parameters have been recorded. The results showed that the urban wastes deposit has a complex impact upon the environment: air pollution with odours and dust, soil pollution with heavy metals (Pb, Ni, Cr, Cd, Cu)...

The former mine Obr\'ancЕЇ M\'\iru and its inner dump is the area of interest situated in the North-bohemian Brown Coal Basins at the North-western border of the Czech Republic. In the course of the mine opening and continuous operation the hydrogeological conditions of the outer environment were significantly impacted or totally changed by previous long-term, first underground, later opencast coal mining. At the turn of the 20th and 21st century abundant effluents of underground waters with low pH and high conten...

This study is about the investigation of socio-economic factors in order to enhance preservation of prominent Basin and Lake Regions. The ongoing joint research and development project in Kucukcekmece Basin, Istanbul, aims to implement an environmental master plan for the region and to establish a coordination department which includes coordination of municipality, government institutions and NGOs each other. In addition, monitoring of the water resources within the basin is an important point of the project. Kucu...

This paper focuses on the potential environmental benefits afforded by use of paste backfill technology when tailings are sulfide-bearing and provides a case study chosen from an underground mine in north-east Turkey in order to illustrate these benefits. Additionally, it includes discussions on different slump values with varying cement contents under 28-day uniaxial compressive strength tests for mine tailings and determines the rheological properties of mine tailings with respect to paste production.

When planning and landscaping areas to be recultivated after the cessation of mining activities in brown coal opencast mine areas, limiting conditions as regards natural space, economy, technical safety and legal regulations must, in particular, be taken into account. The present features of the landscape have been created by human activity throughout centuries and can only be preserved. The preservation of native fauna and flora is to be ensured by a network of biotopes which will include the zone in front of the...

The PHARE Project “Supervision for closing of the Uranium Mines at Eleshnitza and Dospat” foreseen recultivation of tailing pond at hydrometallurgical plant “Zvezda”Eleshnitza, construction of Waste water treatment plant for drainage waters, and construction of depo for domestic wastes in quarry to mine “Dospat” – Barutin. The radiation protection during the rehabilitation engineering works is carry out in accordance with Inception Report present by Supervisor; the actual standard document; the permi...