ISSN 2285-6064, ISSN CD-ROM 2285-6072, ISSN-L 2285-6064, Online ISSN 2393-5138
 

Published in Scientific Papers. Series E. Land Reclamation, Earth Observation & Surveying, Environmental Engineering, Vol. XIV
Written by Ana Bianca PAVEL, Andrei TOMA, Albert SCRIECIU, Catalina GAVRILA, Irina CATIANIS

This study evaluated the surface water quality of selected Danube River sectors (km 549-990) in the RO13 Cazane-Călărași area using direct field measurements. A multiparameter EXO 2 probe (YSI, USA) was used to analyze key physico-chemical parameters, while hydrocarbon concentrations (Oil in Water and HC micro-g/L) were assessed using PAH probes. Results indicate that most water quality parameters remain within environmental standards, classifying the waters as either "Very Good" or "Good." Temperature (15.03-24.40°C) and pH (7.92-8.36) remained stable, while dissolved oxygen levels (7.01-9.43 mg/L) and chlorophyll concentrations (0.27–1.49 RFU) suggested low risk of eutrophication. Conductivity (262.53-411.56 µS/cm), TDS (207.56-280.80 mg/L), and salinity (0.15-0.21 psu) confirmed freshwater conditions. Turbidity values (2.44-28.75 FNU) and oxidation-reduction potential (-26.59 to 238.79 mV) indicated relatively stable conditions. Hydrocarbon levels (0.03-1.46 mg/L) were within acceptable environmental limits, though localized variations suggested potential pollution sources. These findings emphasize the need for long-term monitoring and transboundary collaboration to address localized pollution concerns and ensure sustainable water management in the Danube Basin.

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Published in Scientific Papers. Series E. Land Reclamation, Earth Observation & Surveying, Environmental Engineering, Vol. XIV
Written by Ana Bianca PAVEL, Laura DUTU, Florin DUTU, Irina CATIANIS, Gabriel IORDACHE, Catalina GAVRILA

The aquatic ecosystems of the Danube Delta are highly vulnerable to ecological pressures caused by natural and anthropogenic factors. This study investigates the surface water quality along the Sfântu Gheorghe Branch, (km 85- km 15), including control sections such as Mahmudia Meander, Uzlina Lake, Isac Lake, Dunavăț Meander, Dranov Meander, and Ivancea Meander. Surface water samples were collected from 58 locations during spring and autumn (May and September 2024). Physico-chemical parameters were measured in situ using the multiparameter EXO2 probe. Key indicators assessed included water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll "a", conductivity, total dissolved solids, salinity, turbidity, and redox potential (ORP). The results revealed generally stable seasonal and spatial trends, with most parameters falling within Class I and II water quality categories, as defined by Romanian Order 161/2006. Noteworthy findings include well-oxygenated waters (>5 mg/L DO), low chlorophyll "a", concentrations (<25 μg/L), and stable pH values, all indicative of good to very good ecological status. Variations in turbidity and ORP were primarily localized and attributed to sediment resuspension or flow dynamics. Overall, the findings suggest that the monitored sections of the Sfântu Gheorghe Branch maintain resilient freshwater conditions, with limited signs of ecological degradation.

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Published in Scientific Papers. Series E. Land Reclamation, Earth Observation & Surveying, Environmental Engineering, Vol. XIV
Written by Adrian ROȘU, Mădălin CRISTEA, Bogdan ROȘU, Maxim ARSENI, Mihai Ștefan PETREA, Cătălina ITICESCU, Puiu-Lucian GEORGESCU, Silvia DRĂGAN

This study presents an analysis of suspended sediment concentration and granulometric distribution along the Sulina branch of the Danube River, based on data collected using the AQUASCAT 1000S acoustic backscatter system. Measurements were conducted at six monitoring stations near or between the localities of Sulina, Gorgova, Crișan, Maliuc, Partizani, and an intermediate station between Sulina and Crișan. The AQUASCAT 1000S was employed to gather high-resolution acoustic data using its four frequency channels, ranging from kilohertz to megahertz, allowing for simultaneous observation of both fine and coarse sediment fractions. Data processing involved comparative analyses using different combinations of acoustic channels to evaluate their effectiveness in characterizing sediment concentration and size distribution across diverse hydrological and morphological conditions along the branch. Results reveal spatial variability in suspended sediment characteristics, influenced by local hydrodynamics and proximity to tributaries, human settlements, and natural channels. The study highlights the advantages and limitations of multi-frequency acoustic techniques in riverine sediment monitoring and contributes to the development of improved methodologies for sediment characterization in deltaic environments.

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Published in Scientific Papers. Series E. Land Reclamation, Earth Observation & Surveying, Environmental Engineering, Vol. XIV
Written by Nicoleta RADU, Mihai Dan CARAMIHAI, Francisca BLANQUEZ CANO, Oksana MULESA, Adrian SILVA, Razvan TEODORESCU

This study explores the attitudes of European students towards the role of advanced technologies in energy and industry in fostering a green environment, particularly in the context of climate change and the European Green Deal. Survey results highlight a strong recognition of the importance of sustainability-related knowledge, including topics such as Green Agriculture, Zero Pollution, Circular Economy, and Green Sustainable Energy. The findings suggest that while students across Europe acknowledge the transformative potential of advanced technologies in achieving environmental goals, national contexts and current events, such as the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, influence perceptions of climate-related education and policy priorities. The survey results underscore the importance of incorporating green technologies into academic curricula to support the objectives of the European Green Deal.

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Published in Scientific Papers. Series E. Land Reclamation, Earth Observation & Surveying, Environmental Engineering, Vol. XIV
Written by Nicoleta-Adaciza IONESCU, Daniela DOBRE

In the context of several solutions that can be used to improve the performance of asphalt mixtures during their service life, the paper presents a case study in which asphalt mixtures are manufactured using some recycled materials such as glass, plastic and rubber. The level of performance will be quantified both by the rheological properties measured by conventional tests (viscosity, permanent deformation etc.), but also by some tests that take into account the change in response over time and that lead to variation curves for the stiffness modulus, yielding and fatigue resistance etc. Asphalt mixtures with different percentages of recycled materials will be studied and the results obtained from dynamic and rheological tests before and after the aging process will be compared and interpreted. Determining the degree of influence of recycled materials on the aging resistance of modified asphalt mixtures and characterizing the dynamic and rheological properties can lead to optimizing the percentages of additions and choosing the most advantageous solution based on multi-criteria analyses in different climatic and stress conditions.

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Published in Scientific Papers. Series E. Land Reclamation, Earth Observation & Surveying, Environmental Engineering, Vol. XIV
Written by Bao-Zhong YUAN

This study analyzed 5,166 research and review articles on the topic of soil pollution published up to July 20, 2024, including 72 top-cited papers. The publications, primarily written in English, originated from 129 countries or regions and appeared in 961 journals and five book series. The five most productive journals were Science of the Total Environment (298 articles, 5.77%), Environmental Science and Pollution Research (218, 4.22%), Environmental Pollution (162, 3.14%), Chemosphere (142, 2.75%), and Environmental Monitoring and Assessment (138, 2.67%). The top five contributing countries - China, Spain, the United States, Poland, and India - each published more than 275 papers. Using co-occurrence network visualization with VOSviewer, the keywords were grouped into seven distinct thematic clusters. In addition, the 25 keywords with the strongest citation bursts were identified through CiteSpace analysis. Most of the publications were aligned with three key Sustainable Development Goals: Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), Zero Hunger (SDG 2), and Climate Action (SDG 13). The findings of this study not only provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of research in soil pollution but also offer valuable guidance for shaping future research directions in this critical environmental field.

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Published in Scientific Papers. Series E. Land Reclamation, Earth Observation & Surveying, Environmental Engineering, Vol. XIV
Written by Bogdan Ștefan OPREA, Dumitru-Marian MOTELICĂ, Nicoleta Olimpia VRÎNCEANU, Vera CARABULEA, Georgiana Iuliana PLOPEANU, Mihaela COSTEA

Studies on the influence of heavy metals are essential because they have a negative impact on human and animal health, the environment, and ecosystems. This work aims to assess the heavy metals content in soil and plant (Festuca rubra L.) samples collected from permanent grasslands in a heavily polluted area during 2023–2024. The total content and DTPA extractable forms of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) in soil and plant were analyzed. The mean value of total Cd content in soil was 5.50 mg/kg dry weight (DW), while the mean values for Pb, Zn and Cu were 201.1 mg/kg DW, 368.7 mg/kg DW and 46.9 mg/kg DW, respectively. In the plant the mean Cd content had the lowest value (0.47 mg/kg DW), the second lowest mean value was recorded for Pb, while the Zn content was the highest (47.6 mg/kg DW). The values of the correlation coefficients showed that heavy metals uptake by Festuca rubra varies according to the type of metal and its form in the soil. The results of this research showed that soils in the Copșa Mică area continue to have a high content of heavy metals, which may have a negative impact on the quality of human and animal life through their accumulation in the food chain.

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Published in Scientific Papers. Series E. Land Reclamation, Earth Observation & Surveying, Environmental Engineering, Vol. XIV
Written by Simona NEAGU, Mihaela Marilena STANCU

Saline environments, characterized by extreme conditions, are unique habitats that harbor diverse microorganism communities capable of synthesizing biomolecules, such as extracellular hydrolytic enzymes and carotenoid pigments with significant industrial potential. These biomolecules are important in microorganisms’ survival and adaptation to harsh environments. The present study aimed to isolate several new biomolecule-producing microorganisms from two salt wells (Curmătura and Băicoi, Prahova County, Romania). The strains NC18, NC21, NC28, and SB1 were isolated using a selective agar medium supplemented with 3.4 M sodium chloride (NaCl). Specifically, NC18, NC21, and NC28 were obtained from Curmătura, while SB1 was isolated from Băicoi. As a result of their ability to grow on agar medium with 1–5 M NaCl, all the new isolates were included in the extreme halophilic organisms. Based on their phenotypic and molecular characteristics, all these strains were included in the domain Archaea. The four isolates NC18, NC21, NC28, and SB1 were further assessed for their ability to produce extracellular hydrolytic enzymes, including lipase, protease, amylase, cellulase, xylanase, and pectinase, as well as carotenoid pigments. Due to their ability to produce a range of bioactive compounds, the halophilic isolates present promising opportunities for diverse biotechnological applications, such as industrial enzyme production, and the development of bio-based products.

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Published in Scientific Papers. Series E. Land Reclamation, Earth Observation & Surveying, Environmental Engineering, Vol. XIV
Written by Jenica CĂLINA, Aurel CĂLINA, Marius MILUȚ

The paper presents a case study in which the application of a modern aerial scanning technology with the help of drones is carried out through a specific method, for the creation of a multifunctional database, with a wide applicability in several fields of economic activity and production specific to rural areas, as well as in cadastre real estate advertising works and rural tourism. The choice of the study topic is justified by actuality and necessity, as it contributes significantly to increasing the degree of predictability of the management as a result of the real-time collection of a very large number of data and information, the processing in a short time in order to identify vulnerabilities and their quick and efficient solution, as a result of the increase in knowledge, respectively of minimizing situations of risk and uncertainty. The use of aerial scanning equipment in cadastral works, agriculture, forestry, rural tourism and other important areas for rural development is an activity of great interest and allows to obtain in a short time a large volume of data used for the sustainable development of the community.

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Published in Scientific Papers. Series E. Land Reclamation, Earth Observation & Surveying, Environmental Engineering, Vol. XIV
Written by Larisa FLORESCU, Mirela MOLDOVEANU, Ioana ENACHE, Rodica CATANA

The winter season, characterized by unfavorable conditions for aquatic biota, determined by low temperatures, instigates a series of ecological shifts that intricately shape the phytoplankton and zooplankton communities' structure and function. Our study in Văcărești Lake focuses on the effect of the winter season on plankton communities, highlighting structural and functional changes in these communities. During the winter, environmental parameters significantly changed indicating organic matter decomposition and eutrophic conditions. The winter conditions functioned as ecological stressors on plankton communities. Phytoplankton responded by changing composition, with green algae and diatoms becoming prominent as cyanobacteria declined. Zooplankton, especially Rotifera and Cladocera, showed increased diversity and abundance, while Ciliata and Copepoda decreased. The RDA analysis highlighted phytoplankton's responsiveness to TDS, conductivity, turbidity, pH, and zooplankton's correlation with oxygen and temperature. The Diversity t-test indicated significant changes in both phytoplankton and zooplankton communities in terms of diversity. Zooplankton diversity was higher than phytoplankton, with moderate species composition changes, reflecting cold-tolerant species development and the ecosystem's resilience and adaptability to winter conditions.

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