Many toxic substances in the workplace can modify human health and quality of life and there is still insufficient data on respiratory outcomes in adults exposed to phthalates. The aim of this work was to assess in waste management workers from the Nitra region of Slovakia (n = 30) the extent of exposure to phthalates and health-related outcomes. Four urinary phthalate metabolites mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), monobutyl phthalate (MnBP), monoethyl phthalate (MEP) and monoisononyl phthalate (MiNP) were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Urinary concentration of MEHP was positively associated with ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s to forced vital capacity % (FEV1/FVC) (r = 0.431; p = 0.018) and MiNP with fat free mass index (FFMI) (r = 0.439; p = 0.015). The strongest predictor of pulmonary function was the pack/year index as smoking history that predicted a decrease of pulmonary parameters, the FEV1/FVC, % of predicted values of peak expiratory flow (PEF % of PV) and FEV1 % of PV. Unexpectedly, urinary MEHP and MINP were positively associated with pulmonary function expressed as PEF % of PV and FEV1/FVC. We hypothesize that occupational exposure to phthalates estimated from urinary metabolites (MEHP, MiNP) can modify pulmonary function on top of lifestyle factors.

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Intensification of landscape use brings along the negative effects on environmental components. These include surface water pollution. The aim was to determine the effect of landscape use on the water quality of the Žitava river. It was assumed that an area with the high proportion of anthropogenic activity would negatively affect water quality. At the same time, we assumed that an area with the lower proportion of anthropogenic use and with the higher proportion of natural and semi-natural elements contributes to self-cleaning ability of the watercourse. At the four observed sites, ammoniacal nitrogen (NH4-N), nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N), phosphate-phosphorus (PO4-P) and water conductivity were monitored. Landscape use was analysed using the database of land cover based on the CORINE Land Cover methodology. Subsequently, it was observed how the landscape use affects the water quality. It was found that the very good state, represented by the Class I water quality, is according to the measured indicators mostly present in the areas predominantly covered by forests along with extensive use of elements of the agricultural land. The area with predominance of agricultural and urbanised sites where the anthropogenic influence prevails is characterised by average water quality. As the overall water quality of the Žitava river reaches the average, it is necessary to eliminate the pollution by constructing the sewer systems in the villages through which the watercourse is passing and, in agriculture, to ensure the adherence to the legislation concerning the protection of surface water against pollution from agricultural sources.

AbstractThe countries of the European Union have joined, inter alia, soil protection in the Common Agricultural Policy (hereinafter referred to as CAP). Accelerated soil erosion is a problem resulting from inappropriate land management, which affects both the presence of organic matter and the soil structure. The tool for elimination of negative impacts on soil can be its sustainable use. This requires the use of an accurate system to improve its condition. The first step should be problem identification and localisation. The research is aimed at the identification of water erosion risk areas by using selected methodological procedures. The research area was located at the intensively used hilly land of the Southwestern Slovakia. The digitisation of the manual interpretation of erosion risk areas with the use of aerial photos, erosion modelling, chemical analysis of soil organic matter (SOM) and analysis of soil structure were used. Verification was implemented via the field research with the use of the soil probes. Methods affirmed significant presence of the water erosion in the area. Efficient identification of erosional processes is possible via combination of presented methods by taking into consideration geological, geomorphological, pedological and geographical conditions and the use of the area over a longer period of time. The results of using methods that ensure accurate and effective localisation of erosion surfaces can be used for sustainable land use and its conservation.

In the past, the European ground squirrel represented a common part of Slovakian fauna. During the 20th century, there was a substantial decrease in its number, mainly due to the intensification of agriculture. Currently, several programs focused on the recovery and preservation of ground squirrel colonies have been implemented. The aim in supporting the population of the European ground squirrel is to increase the number of birds of prey and to ensure a food base for them. In this paper, we focus on evaluating the success rate of European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) management measures. The research was realized at two localities in the Protected Bird Area Slovenský kras (Hrhov and Gemerská Hôrka) in the years 2015–2018. Activities were focused on the management of grassland and supplemental feeding during the breeding period. As a result of the management measures and the supplemental feeding, we managed to maintain a positive trend in the populations’ development, as there was an increase observed in all the monitored seasons.

Vanková V., Petluš P.: Water temperature influence on selected properties of surface river water throughout the year (river Nitra). Ekológia (Bratislava), Vol. 33, No. 2, p. 151-159, 2014.Assessment of chosen surface water properties was realised as a part of broader research on environmental aspects of urban environment. Analyses of selected physical and chemical water properties, oxygen and temperature regime, neutralisation capacity, selected nutrients and measurements of air temperature was done in monthly intervals during 2012 at three localities. Two of the assessed localities are at river Nitra: Nitra Communal Services and housing estate Chrenová I. The third locality is the oxbow lake of Malá Hangócka river at Nitra City Park. We have assessed the volume of oxygen concentration (O2, mg/l) and oxygen regime, phosphates (P-PO4 -3, mg/l), ammoniac nitrogen (N-NH4 +, mg/l), nitrites (N-NO2 -, mg/l), pH and water temperature (°C) from the collected samples. Out of these analyses the values of the above mentioned indicators, their annual fluctuation and water quality of observed localities were obtained. The influence of human activities on water properties and its quality was further assessed. Statistical methods such as two-factor dispersion analysis without replication and correlation coefficient were applied to validate the correlation of selected surface water properties, water and air temperature and to compare observed localities.

The water erosion research was carried out in the lowland type of hilly landscape. The aim was to monitor and evaluate the importance of environmental factors (steepness of slope, relief shapes, aspect, slope length, combination slope length (L) and slope (S)—LS factor, types of land use changes) for the development of water erosion. We focused on the identification of areas threatened by erosion by interpreting aerial photographs from several time periods. This was followed by verification of erosion using soil probes. We identified 408.44 ha of areas affected by erosion, and measured the depth of soil and “A” horizons thickness. The environmental factors were modeled in geographical information systems by tools for spatially oriented data. Subsequently, the influence and significance of individual environmental factors were compared, and the probability of erosion was statistically estimated. The decisive factors in the formation of erosive surfaces are the LS factor and the slope. We also consider the factor of the relief shape to be important. The shape did not appear to be very significant as a separately evaluated factor, but all convex parts correlate with the identified erosion surfaces. The susceptibility of erosion related to the aspect of the slopes to the cardinal directions has not been confirmed. Types of land use changes with the most significant relation of erosion were confirmed in areas of strong intensification. We confirmed the importance of factors and land use for the development of erosion processes.

. © Raptor Protection ofSlovakia (RPS) 69 Agricultural utilisation and potential suitability of the Sysľovské polia Special Protection Area (south-western Slovakia) landscape in relation to the habitat requirements of the red-footed falcon (Falco vespertinus) Využívanie poľnohospodárskej krajiny a potenciálna vhodnosť Chráneného vtáčieho územia Sysľovské polia (juhozápadné Slovensko) vo vzťahu k habitatovým nárokom sokola kobcovitého (Falco vespertinus) Martin ZEMKO, Peter PETLUŠ & Viera PETLUŠOVÁ Abstract: Intensification of land use in an agricultural landscape significantly affects biodiversity also in protected areas. This can be observed in the Sysľovské polia Special Protection Area in relation to the occurrence of the red-footed falcon (Falco vespertinus). The objective of this study was to evaluate the landscape structure and suitability of agrotechnical procedures for the habitat demands of this species in the course of the period from 2004 until 2017. The utilisation was assessed on the basis of four landscape elements representation in 1949 and 2017. The next step was analysis of landscape patches. The aim was to quantify the diversity and the spatial structure of the landscape mosaic using Shannon's Diversity Index and Evenness Index as well as Simpson's Diversity Index and Evenness Index and spatial pattern analysis in the Fragstats software programme. Assessment of crop suitability was carried out according to the following criteria: representation of positive/negative agricultural crops, diversity of crops in crop rotation, and (non-)observance of crop rotation. It was found that the agricultural landscape use did not change significantly. The study area has been used as an intensively-farmed agricultural landscape for a long time. The landscape elements have remained almost identical, with dominance of arable land. Differences emerged in the analysis of the micropatches, which are represented by natural hedgerows consisting of various species of trees, shrubs and grasses. The results show a decrease in the diversity of patches and changes in the structure of the landscape patches, which may be important in terms of the preservation of the habitat of fauna which form an important part of the F. vespertinus diet. On the basis of the evaluation of the suitability of agricultural crop growing, we found that there were some areas showing negative values in all the criteria, and thus they require changes in the crop rotation focusing on increasing positive crop diversity and the share of grassland.Abstrakt: Intenzifikácia poľnohospodárskej krajiny výraznou mierou ovplyvňuje biodiverzitu častokrát aj v chránených územiach. Sledovať to možno aj v Chránenom vtáčom území Sysľovské polia vo vzťahu k výskytu sokola kobcovitého (Falco vespetinus). Cieľom bolo hodnotenie štruktúry krajiny a vhodnosti agrotechnických postupov pre habitatové nároky tohto druhu v časovom období rokov 2004 -2017. Využívanie sa hodnotilo na základe zastúpenia štyroch krajinných prvkov v rokoch 1949 a 2017. Ďalším krokom bo...