The explainable potential of coupling hybridized metaheuristics, XGBoost, and SHAP in revealing toluene behavior in the atmosphere.

Toluene is a neurotoxic aromatic hydrocarbon and one of the major representatives of volatile organic compounds, known for its abundance, adverse health effects, and role in the formation of other atmospheric pollutants like ozone. This research introduces the enhanced version of the reptile search metaheuristics algorithm which has been utilized to tune the extreme gradient boosting hyperparameters, to investigate toluene atmospheric behavior patterns and interactions with other polluting species within defined environmental conditions. The study is based on a two-year database encompassing concentrations of inorganic gaseous contaminants every hour (NO, NO2, NOx, and O3), particulate matter fractions (PM1, PM2.5, and PM10), m,p-xylene, toluene, benzene, total non-methane hydrocarbons, and meteorological data. The experimental outcomes were validated against the results of extreme gradient boosting models optimized by seven other recent powerful metaheuristics algorithms. The best-performing model has been interpreted by employing Shapley additive explanations method. In the study, we have focused on the relationship between toluene and benzene, as its most important predictor, and provided a detailed description of environmental conditions which directed their interactions.

Efficiency of clustering methods and self-organizing maps of Adriatic sardines and anchovies regarding organochlorine and fatty acid burden.

The Adriatic Sea plays a crucial role as both a significant fishing ground and a thriving trading market for small pelagic edible fish. Recognized for their nutritional value, these fish are esteemed for their high protein content and abundance of polyunsaturated omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, making them a sought-after and healthful food choice. Nevertheless, pelagic species can also serve as a reservoir for lipophilic organochlorine pollutants, posing potential risks to human health. In this study, we compared traditional classification methods traditional principal component analysis (PCA) and Ward's clustering with an advanced self-organizing map (SOM) algorithm in determining distribution patterns of 24 organochlorines and 19 fatty acids in sardine and anchovy samples taken from the eastern Adriatic. The outcomes reveal the strengths and weaknesses of the three approaches (PCA, Ward's clustering, and SOM). However, it is evident that SOM has proven to be the most effective in offering detailed information and data visualization. Although sardines and anchovies exhibit similar distribution patterns for p,p'-DDE, PCB-28, PCB-138, PCB-153, PCB-118, and PCB-170, they differ in the concentrations of fatty acids such as stearic, palmitic, myristic, oleic, docosapentaenoic, and docosahexaenoic acid. Our findings supply valuable insights for environmental authorities and fish consumers concerning the potential risks associated with organochlorines in these two types of fish.

Polychlorinated biphenyls in mussels, small pelagic fish, tuna, turtles, and dolphins from the Croatian Adriatic Sea waters: an overview of the last two decades of monitoring.

This review summarises our two decades of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) monitoring in different marine organisms along the eastern Adriatic Sea. The aim was to gain an insight into the trends of PCB distribution in order to evaluate the effectiveness of past and current legislation and suggest further action. Here we mainly focus on PCB levels in wild and farmed Mediterranean mussels, wild and farmed bluefin tuna, loggerhead sea turtles, common bottlenose dolphins, and small pelagic fish. The use of artificial intelligence and advanced statistics enabled an insight into the influence of various variables on the uptake of PCBs in the investigated organisms as well as into their mutual dependence. Our findings suggest that PCBs in small pelagic fish and mussels reflect global pollution and that high levels in dolphins and wild tuna tissues raise particular concern, as they confirm their biomagnification up the food chain. Therefore, the ongoing PCB monitoring should focus on predatory species in particular to help us better understand PCB contamination in marine ecosystems in our efforts to protect the environment and human health.

European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care consensus document on sustainability: 4 scopes to achieve a more sustainable practice.

Climate change is a defining issue for our generation. The carbon footprint of clinical practice accounts for 4.7% of European greenhouse gas emissions, with the European Union ranking as the third largest contributor to the global healthcare industry's carbon footprint, after the United States and China. Recognising the importance of urgent action, the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC) adopted the Glasgow Declaration on Environmental Sustainability in June 2023. Building on this initiative, the ESAIC Sustainability Committee now presents a consensus document in perioperative sustainability. Acknowledging wider dimensions of sustainability, beyond the environmental one, the document recognizes healthcare professionals as cornerstones for sustainable care, and puts forward recommendations in four main areas: direct emissions, energy, supply chain and waste management, and psychological and self-care of healthcare professionals. Given the urgent need to cut global carbon emissions, and the scarcity of evidence-based literature on perioperative sustainability, our methodology is based on expert opinion recommendations. A total of 90 recommendations were drafted by 13 sustainability experts in anaesthesia in March 2023, then validated by 36 experts from 24 different countries in a two-step Delphi validation process in May and June 2023. To accommodate different possibilities for action in high- versus middle-income countries, an 80% agreement threshold was set to ease implementation of the recommendations Europe-wide. All recommendations surpassed the 80% agreement threshold in the first Delphi round, and 88 recommendations achieved an agreement >90% in the second round. Recommendations include the use of very low fresh gas flow, choice of anaesthetic drug, energy and water preserving measures, "5R" policies including choice of plastics and their disposal, and recommendations to keep a healthy work environment or on the importance of fatigue in clinical practice. Executive summaries of recommendations in areas 1, 2 and 3 are available as cognitive aids that can be made available for quick reference in the operating room.

Bedload sediment transport model for revealing the multi-year trend of polychlorinated biphenyl contamination in the river sediment (Kupa, Croatia).

This article investigated the multi-year polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) burden of the sediment collected along the Kupa River flow in Croatia using the bedload sediment transport model. Kupa, as the natural border between Croatia and Slovenia, belongs to the water system Krupa (Slovenia) → Lahinja (Slovenia) → Kupa (Croatia) → Sava → Danube → Black Sea. From 1962 to 1985, the total quantity of waste calculated for pure PCBs, released by a capacitor manufacturer into the environment within various locations of the Krupa River in Slovenia, was 70 tons. Krupa River (Slovenia) has become one of the most PCB-polluted rivers in Europe, and consequently, PCBs have been detected in the Kupa River (Croatia). Model application revealed that contamination of the Kupa River (Croatia) started significantly earlier than 1983, when a high concentration of PCB was detected for the first time in the Krupa River (Slovenia), with probably significantly higher sediment concentrations at the upstream boundary of the Kupa. A slow concentration changes and PCB accumulation in the sediment should be expected downstream compared to the upstream boundary, governed mainly by high flow events. The PCBs in sediments from 2020/2021 are markedly different after the Lahinja confluence with Kupa (0.2-0.6 µg kg-1 vs. 1.4-34.3 µg kg-1). Measurements of PCBs in Kupa sediment suggest that the intake of PCB has not yet been completely stopped, which should be confirmed by detailed monitoring in the future. The contamination situation observed in the Kupa River represents an excellent example of the persistency of PCBs in the environment.

Persistent organic pollutants in Croatian breast milk: An overview of pollutant levels and infant health risk assessment from 1976 to the present.

This review article summarizes our research of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in human milk from Croatian mothers over the last few decades. Our studies make up the bulk of all POPs research in human milk in Croatia and show a state-of-the art in the research area. The first investigations were made in 1970's. Aim of our review article is to document the comprehensive results over several decades as the best tool to: 1.) contribute to understanding of POPs and their potential health risks, 2.) evaluate effectiveness of legislative bans and restrictions on human exposure to POPs in Croatia, and 3.) to suggest further actions. In our review we discuss: 1.) Human milk between 2011 and 2014 - evaluation of interrelations of organochlorine pesticides (OCP) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) in human milk and their association with the mother's age and parity using artificial intelligence methods; and our yet unpublished research data on health risks for infants assessed through daily PCB and OCP intake. 2.) Time trends of PCB and OCP in human milk between 1976 and 2014. 3.) polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDD/F) in human milk in 2000., and yet unpublished data on PCDD/F and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) in 2014.

Analysis of the Gut Microbiome and Dietary Habits in Metastatic Melanoma Patients with a Complete and Sustained Response to Immunotherapy.

Immunotherapy has improved the prognosis of metastatic melanoma patients, although most patients do not achieve a complete response. While specific gut microbiome and dietary habits might influence treatment success, there is a lack of concordance between the studies, potentially due to dichotomizing patients only into responders and non-responders. The aim of this study was to elucidate whether metastatic melanoma patients with complete and sustained response to immunotherapy exhibit differences in gut microbiome composition among themselves, and whether those differences were associated with specific dietary habits. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing revealed that patients who exhibited a complete response after more than 9 months of treatment (late responders) exhibited a significantly higher beta-diversity (p = 0.02), with a higher abundance of Coprococcus comes (LDA 3.548, p = 0.010), Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum (LDA 3.392, p = 0.024), and lower abundance of Prevotellaceae (p = 0.04) compared to early responders. Furthermore, late responders exhibited a different diet profile, with a significantly lower intake of proteins and sweets and a higher intake of flavones (p < 0.05). The research showed that metastatic melanoma patients with a complete and sustained response to immunotherapy were a heterogeneous group. Patients with a late complete response exhibited microbiome and dietary habits which were previously associated with an improved response to immunotherapy.

Potential of Coupling Metaheuristics-Optimized-XGBoost and SHAP in Revealing PAHs Environmental Fate.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) refer to a group of several hundred compounds, among which 16 are identified as priority pollutants, due to their adverse health effects, frequency of occurrence, and potential for human exposure. This study is focused on benzo(a)pyrene, being considered an indicator of exposure to a PAH carcinogenic mixture. For this purpose, we have applied the XGBoost model to a two-year database of pollutant concentrations and meteorological parameters, with the aim to identify the factors which were mostly associated with the observed benzo(a)pyrene concentrations and to describe types of environments that supported the interactions between benzo(a)pyrene and other polluting species. The pollutant data were collected at the energy industry center in Serbia, in the vicinity of coal mining areas and power stations, where the observed benzo(a)pyrene maximum concentration for a study period reached 43.7 ngm-3. The metaheuristics algorithm has been used to optimize the XGBoost hyperparameters, and the results have been compared to the results of XGBoost models tuned by eight other cutting-edge metaheuristics algorithms. The best-produced model was later on interpreted by applying Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP). As indicated by mean absolute SHAP values, the temperature at the surface, arsenic, PM10, and total nitrogen oxide (NOx) concentrations appear to be the major factors affecting benzo(a)pyrene concentrations and its environmental fate.

The fractal and textural analysis of glomeruli in obese and non-obese patients.

Background Fractal dimension is an indirect indicator of signal complexity. The aim was to evaluate the fractal and textural analysis parameters of glomeruli in obese and non-obese patients with glomerular diseases and association of these parameters with clinical features. Methods The study included 125 patients mean age 46 ±â€¯15.2 years: obese (BMI ≥ 27 kg/m2-63 patients) and non-obese (BMI < 27 kg/m2-62 patients). Serum concentration of creatinine, protein, albumin, cholesterol, trygliceride, and daily proteinuria were measured. Formula Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Colaboration (CKD-EPI) equation was calculated. Fractal (fractal dimension, lacunarity) and textural (angular second moment (ASM), textural correlation (COR), inverse difference moment (IDM), textural contrast (CON), variance) analysis parameters were compared between two groups. Results Obese patients had higher mean value of variance (t = 1.867), ASM (t = 1.532) and CON (t = 0.394) but without significant difference (P > 0.05) compared to non-obese. Mean value of COR (t = 0.108) and IDM (t = 0.185) were almost the same in two patient groups. Obese patients had higher value of lacunarity (t = 0.499) in comparison with non-obese, the mean value of fractal dimension (t = 0.225) was almost the same in two groups. Significantly positive association between variance and creatinine concentration (r = 0.499, P < 0.01), significantly negative association between variance and CKD-EPI (r = -0.448, P < 0.01), variance and sex (r = -0.339, P < 0.05) were found. Conclusions Variance showed significant correlation with serum creatinine concentration, CKD-EPI and sex. CON and IDM were significantly related to sex. Fractal and textural analysis parameters of glomeruli could become a supplement to histopathologic analysis of kidney tissue.

New Insight in the Occurrence of Early Blight Disease on Potato Reveals High Distribution of Alternaria solani and Alternaria protenta in Serbia.

Early blight is an economically important disease of potato worldwide. Understanding which fungal pathogens are the causal agents of early blight and their distribution on the same host is essential to finding the best strategy for the control of this disease. Previous studies have shown that Alternaria solani is the main early blight pathogen parasitizing potato. Here, we analyzed genetic and phenotypic diversity in isolates of Alternaria spp. covering all potato production areas in Serbia. We showed that the four species of Alternaria were found in areas with different distributions of the species. The occurrence of Alternaria spp. was studied by analyzing isolates from symptomatic potato leaves during multiyear sampling. In addition to Alternaria solani, we detected three more large-spored species identified as A. linariae (syn. A. tomatophila), A. protenta, and A. grandis that were involved in early blight disease on naturally infected potato leaves in Serbia. Differentiation of species was supported by phylogeny obtained from the DNA sequences of the GAPDH, calmodulin and Rpb2 genes. Our findings present a new perspective into the population structure of large-spored Alternaria species associated with early blight disease. Within the groups of large-spored Alternaria present in Serbia, evidence of A. protenta at high frequency reveals new insight into the contribution of Alternaria species in early blight disease. This work opens new perspectives for early blight management, while the distribution of different species on the same host suggests that the etiology of disease could depend on crop organization and the presence of other Alternaria hosts in close proximity to potato plants.

Study on the immunopathological effect of titanium particles in peri-implantitis granulation tissue: A case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: To identify titanium particles (TPs) in biopsy specimens harvested from peri-implantitis lesions and secondarily to study the histopathological characteristics in peri-implantitis compared to periodontitis, in order to evaluate whether the presence of TPs could alter respective inflammatory patterns. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Biopsies containing granulation tissue were harvested during routine surgical treatment in 39 peri-implantitis cases and 35 periodontitis controls. Serial sections were obtained using titanium-free microtome blades. The first and last sections of the peri-implantitis specimens were used for identification of TPs by scanning electron microscopy coupled with dispersive X-ray spectrometry. Intermediate sections and periodontitis specimens were processed for descriptive histological study using haematoxylin-eosin staining and for immunohistochemical analysis using CD68, IL-6, Nf-kB and VEGF markers. RESULTS: TPs were identified in all peri-implantitis specimens as free metal bodies interspersed within granulation tissue. However, presence of macrophages or multinucleated giant cells engulfing the TPs were not identified in any specimen. Peri-implantitis granulations were characterized by a chronic inflammatory infiltrate rich in neutrophils. About half of peri-implantitis patients exhibited a subacute infiltrate characterized with lymphocytes interweaved with neutrophils and eosinophils. When compared to periodontitis, peri-implantitis tissues showed higher proportions of macrophages and a more intense neovascularization, based on significantly higher expression of CD68 and VEGF respectively. CONCLUSION: TPs were identified in all peri-implantitis specimens, but without evidencing any foreign body reaction suggestive for direct pathological effects of TPs. The peri-implantitis granulation tissue was characterized by intense neovascularization and presence of a chronic inflammatory infiltrate dominated by plasma cells, neutrophils and macrophages.

The PM2.5-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon behavior in indoor and outdoor environments, part II: Explainable prediction of benzo[a]pyrene levels.

Among the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) has been considered more relevant than other species when estimating the potential exposure-related health effects and has been recognized as a marker of carcinogenic potency of air pollutant mixture. The current understanding of the factors which govern non-linear behavior of B[a]P and associated pollutants and environmental processes is insufficient and further research has to rely on the advanced analytical approach which averts the assumptions and avoids simplifications required by linear modeling methods. For the purpose of this study, we employed eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) attribution method, and SHAP value fuzzy clustering to investigate the concentrations of inorganic gaseous pollutants, radon, PM2.5 and particle constituents including trace metals, ions, 16 US EPA priority PM2.5-bound PAHs and 31 meteorological variables, as key factors which shape indoor and outdoor PM2.5-bound B[a]P distribution in a university building located in the urban area of Belgrade (Serbia). According to the results, the indoor and outdoor B[a]P levels were shown to be highly correlated and mostly influenced by the concentrations of Chry, B[b]F, CO, B[a]A, I[cd]P, B[k]F, Flt, D[ah]A, Pyr, B[ghi]P, Cr, As, and PM2.5 in both indoor and outdoor environments. Besides, high B[a]P concentration events were recorded during the periods of low ambient temperature (<12 °C), unstable weather conditions with precipitation and increased soil humidity.

Human health risks and benefits assessment based on OCPs, PCBs, toxic elements and fatty acids in the pelagic fish species from the Adriatic Sea.

Benefits and risks of the fish consumption should be assessed to balance the ingestion of healthy omega-3 fatty acids and adverse chemicals. Persistent organic pollutants-POPs (organochlorine pesticides-OCPs and polychlorinated biphenyls-PCB), macro- and micro-elements and fatty acid contents were determined in six fish species from the Adriatic Sea to assess health risks for consumers (worst-case scenario, diseases development risks and benefit-risk). 16 element, 24 POPs and 14 fatty acid contents were determined in six pelagic species which can be used in human diet. Element concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), POPs by high-resolution gas chromatography and fatty acid content by gas-liquid chromatography. Diet based on chub mackerel and round sardinella showed lower daily intake (DI) of POPs and highest DI of essential omega-3 fatty acids than other investigated species. Lower ingestion of toxic elements can be observed by consuming anchovy and round sardinella. Based on POP concentrations, there was not observed non-carcinogenic (HI) nor carcinogenic (CR) risks for consumers. Based on element concentrations, there was low HI (0.1 ≥ HI ≥ 1), while the maximum HIs and outlier values (horse mackerel and anchovy samples) implied the presence of HI (HI > 1). The most significant contributor to total non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks was inorganic arsenic (inorganic As). Acceptable CR for consumers was assessed, but maximum CR for consumers of horse mackerel and anchovy (CR ≥ 1 × 10-6) showed adverse effects on human health. There were low HIs for developing cardiovascular, nervous, and reproductive diseases, and maximum HIs were higher than 1. Acceptable (1 × 10-4≥CR ≥ 1 × 10-6) risks were observed for developing cancer of nervous system and reproductive organs. Among investigated fish samples, those with higher Æ©BR (benefit-risks) and BR for arsenic (As) than median value have a higher risk than benefits in the human diet.

The Outcome of COVID-19 Lockdown on Changes in Body Mass Index and Lifestyle among Croatian Schoolchildren: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic altered adults' and children's lifestyles and habits, causing an increase in body weight. Adolescents are sensitive to habit changes and, because of their insufficient capacity to deal with the unexpected COVID-19 changes, were at greater risk of noncommunicable disease development due to the consequences of adopting unhealthy habits. The survey aimed to reveal the changes in nutritional status and lifestyle habits of school children in Croatia and to assess their nutrition knowledge and emotional state and feelings about COVID-19 lockdown. Self-reported data from 1370 school children aged 10 to 15 years were obtained to examine the influence of the lockdown on their nutritional status, lifestyle and emotional status, and to assess their nutrition knowledge. The study revealed that the COVID-19 lockdown has caused an increase in the proportion of overweight and obesity among Croatian school children who changed their lifestyle habits towards being less physically active, spending more time using screen-based media and revealing potential psychological distress. However, the schoolchildren had a high adherence to the Mediterranean diet assessed with the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for children and adolescents KIDMED index and had good nutrition knowledge. Public health programs promoting a healthy lifestyle and involving the whole family, in a school environment, could provide children with a healthy adulthood.

Motivated historiography: Comments on Wolfgang Schönpflug's reappraisal of German critical psychology.

Introducing the concept of motivated historiography, we seek to answer the question of what constitutes a good history of psychology and of German Critical Psychology (CP) in particular. It is suggested that one needs to include questions about the purpose of historiography, the background and horizon of the historiographer, the quality and originality of the thesis, the quality of the material, selected and omitted, and the quality of interpretations. We submit that the article by Schönpflug (2021) does not accomplish a realistic account of CP. We conclude that the two original main theses in the article on links of CP to communism and Nazism reflect motivated historiography and are remnants of political and cultural struggles in Germany in the 1970s. We suggest that more important than just denouncing an innovative program is to do justice to the sociopolitical, academic, and theoretical entanglements, the historical contributions and the intellectual legacies of CP, while also accounting for shortcomings. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Fatty acids, persistent organic pollutants, and trace elements in small pelagic fish from the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

Fatty acids (FAs) composition, 24 persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and 16 trace elements were examined in small pelagic fish (sardine, anchovy, round sardinella, chub and horse mackerels) caught by a fishing fleet for more than three years in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Five Unmix source profiles associated with both sources, such as overlapping diet, including low-niche marine organisms and inputs from the surrounding environmental compartments were resolved. Inorganic compounds were notably more abundant in fish tissue than organochlorine xenobiotics. Comparison with the values of toxicological parameters revealed that the examined fish species are safe for human consumption, while the content of FAs emphasized the studied species as a valuable source of nutrients. A significant linear correlation was not observed between the 18 FAs and lipophilic organochlorines. Based on the obtained database, future assessments of the quality of edible fish species and the aquatic environment of the eastern Mediterranean Sea, which is known as an important fishing ground, could be significantly improved.

Metabolic and Hepatic Effects of Energy-Reduced Anti-Inflammatory Diet in Younger Adults with Obesity.

Background: Associated with epidemics of obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming the most prevalent liver disease worldwide. The cornerstone of therapy for NAFLD is lifestyle intervention, mainly focused on weight loss. Significant weight loss results from energy-restricted diets, regardless of macronutrient distribution. An anti-inflammatory diet was related to lower odds of NAFLD among daily alcohol drinkers and individuals with metabolic syndrome. This study aims to evaluate the effect of an energy-reduced anti-inflammatory diet on liver status in younger adults with obesity after a 6-month follow-up. Methods: A two-arm randomized controlled trial surveyed 81 participants' (mean age, 43 years) anthropometric and body composition changes. Metabolic status was determined with glycaemic and lipid status, inflammatory status with hs-CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α, and liver status with liver enzymes, NAFLD-FLS, FLI, and FIB-4 indices. The inflammatory potential of the diet was assessed by the Dietary Inflammatory Index, DII®. Results: Energy-restricted anti-inflammatory diet resulted in significant weight loss (-7.1%, p < 0.001), in reducing the visceral adiposity (-22.3%, p < 0.001), metabolic (HOMA-IR, -15.5%; total cholesterol, -5.3%; LDL-C, -4.6%; triglycerides, -12.2%), and inflammatory biomarkers (hs-CRP, -29.5%; IL-6, -18.2%; TNF-α, -34.2%), with significant improvement of liver parameters (NAFLD-FLS, -143.4%; FLI, -14.3%; FIB-4, -2.5%). Conclusion: The study showed the effectiveness of the anti-inflammatory diet with significant improvement of liver parameters in younger adults with obesity, which may reinforce the effectiveness of nutrition-based lifestyle programs, with an anti-inflammatory dietary approach for the treatment and resolution of NAFLD.

The PM2.5-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon behavior in indoor and outdoor environments, part I: Emission sources.

The previous research, aimed at exploring the relationships between the indoor and outdoor air quality, has evidenced that outdoor PM2.5-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) levels exhibit significant daily and seasonal variations which does not necessary corresponds with PAH indoor dynamics. For the purpose of this study, a three-month measurement campaign was performed simultaneously at indoor and outdoor sampling sites of a university building in an urban area of Belgrade (Serbia), during which the concentrations of O3, CO, SO2, NOx, radon, PM2.5 and particle constituents including trace metals (As, Cd, Cr, Mn, Ni and Pb), ions (Cl-, Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, K+, NO3-, SO42- and NH4+) and 16 US EPA priority PAHs were determined. Additionally, the analysis included 31 meteorological parameters, out of which 24 were obtained from Global Data Assimilation System (GDAS1) database. The Unmix and PAH diagnostic ratios analysis resolved the source profiles for both indoor and outdoor environment, which are comparable in terms of their apportionments and pollutant shares, although it should be emphasized that ratio-implied solutions should be taken with caution since these values do not reflect emission sources only. The highest contributions to air quality were attributed to sources identified as coal combustion and related pyrogenic processes. Noticeable correlations were observed between 5- and 6-ring high molecular weight PAHs, but, except for CO, no significant linear dependencies with other investigated variables were identified. The PAH level predictions in the indoor and outdoor environment was performed by using machine learning XGBoost method.

Organochlorines burden in moss H. cupressiforme and topsoil across Serbia.

Following up-to-date initiatives of the Stockholm Convention, its global monitoring plan, and the International Cooperative Programme on Natural Vegetation and Crops (ICP Vegetation 2015) under the convention on long-range transboundary air pollution, this study examined 17 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and seven organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the moss Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw. and topsoil sampled across Serbia. In the topsoil, OCPs ranged from 0.0158 to 9.6804 ng g-1 while concentrations of individual PCB congeners were in the range between 0.0185 and 0.3107 ng g-1. The levels of OCPs and PCBs in the moss H. cupressiforme ranged from 2.7785 to 23.9501 ng g-1, and from 0.4325 to 15.8013 ng g-1, respectively. POP relationships between topsoil and moss investigated by fugacity model equations indicated that the moss POP enrichment was a result of atmospheric long-range transport rather than secondary reemissions from soil.

Environmental pollution influence to soil-plant-air system in organic vineyard: bioavailability, environmental, and health risk assessment.

This study was performed in organic vineyard to assess integrated pollution in soil-plant-air system by potentially toxic elements (PTE). Concentrations of 26 PTE were determined in soil, grapevine, and air biomonitors (moss bags) using ICP-OES and ICP-MS. Environmental implication assessment of soil did not show pollution by PTE, except for B in samples collected in the middle of grapevine season (July). Despite low total Cd concentrations in soil, it has the highest influence on increase of environmental risk. Based on biological accumulation concentration (BAC), grapevine is not hyperaccumulator of PTE from soil. Advanced classification algorithm, Kohonen self-organizing map (SOM), was applied to compare environmental implications in organic with conventional vineyards. PTE concentrations were significantly lower in organic than conventional grapevine. PTE concentrations were higher in the outer (leaf and petiole) than in the inner grapevine parts (skin, pulp, and seed). Some airborne elements have an influence on outer grapevine parts, especially on leaves (ratio factor-RF > 1). Moss bag technique testified about lower enrichment of airborne elements compared with the conventional vineyard and urban microenvironments. Environmental and health risk assessments confirmed that organic production is harmless for field workers and grape consumers.