levels of degradation of these pharmaceuticals resulting from sludge treatment were assessed. The concentrations of the studied pharmaceuticals sufficiently varied both in sewage sludge and in compost and due to this phenomenon the possible danger resulting from the presence of pharmaceuticals in sewage sludge, used for composting, can not be ignored. The concentrations of the studied pharmaceuticals were lower in compost, if compared to the relevant concentrations in sewage sludge. The highest pharmaceutical concentration in sewage sludge -426 µg/kg -was detected in the case of ciprofloxacin. The highest concentrations present in compost were 22 µg/kg of norfloxacin and 20 µg/kg of ciprofloxacin. Results show that before using the sewage sludge for making compost or before using the compost a fertilizer for food plants, they should be carefully tested against the content of commonly used pharmaceuticals.

We report on the study of surfactant-free silver nanoparticles synthesized using non-hydrolytic sol-gel methods for applications in straw bale constructions. Micro-organism infestation in green constructions is of concern as their proliferation tends to induce health problems. We demonstrate the biocidal properties of these Ag nanoparticles and their efficacy against fungi. Outdoor tests with Ag nanoparticles have demonstrated the effective protection of straw against micro-organisms. Indoor tests using broth liquid are compared with a method of testing we recently developed where the possible nature of the biocidal properties of the silver nanoparticles are further probed. In contrast to the commonly reported results, this study shows that Ag nanoparticles synthesized using nonhydrolytic sol-gel methods have antifungal properties against common fungi in outdoor conditions which demonstrate high potential in related applications.

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This study was conducted to compare how the nutrients and organic matter content in household kitchen wastes and sewage sludge transform in 120-days vermicomposting experiment. The concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium increased during the experiment. The dry matter content of the composts decreased and the value of pH in the case of kitchen wastes increased and for sewage sludge vermicompost it remained almost unchanged. The amounts of organic matter and nutrients decreased to half of the initial masses, but the concentrations of nutrients increased remarkably both in kitchen wastes and in sewage sludge and sawdust mixtures as a result of vermicomposting. Vermicompost made from kitchen wastes contained 3.3% total nitrogen, 0.7% total phosphorous and 5.8% potassium. In the case of the vermicompost made from sewage sludge and sawdust the corresponding indicators were: 2.4% total nitrogen, 0.2% total phosphorous and 0.3% potassium. Small-scale vermicomposting of both household kitchen wastes and sewage sludge turned to be efficient.

Semi-coke is classified as an environmentally harmful residue of oil shale industry due to its toxic components: several organic and inorganic compounds-oil products, asphaltenes, phenols, PAHs, sulphuric compounds. The aim of the present work was to compare the abundances and species compositions of soil invertebrate assemblages (Collembola, Lumbricidae, Araneae, Myriapoda, Coleoptera) in the artificial substrate from vegetated and bare residue sites of semi-coke heaps of Estonian oil shale industry. Invertebrate communities in semi-coke heaps were studied at three heights of each heap slope; all sampling points in the heaps were divided into four groups based on plant cover. The authors concluded that the communities of micro-and macroarthropods and earthworms in oil-shale processing waste heaps were formed under certain conditions-a high pH and extremely low moisture. The presence of several invertebrate groups (springtails, earthworms, epigeic predators, etc.) and soil communities can be used for monitoring the success in restoration.

This work presents a method that enables the cheap production of surfactant-free stable metal nanoparticles in air. The silver nanoparticles are good candidates for new applications in green housing. Recently, we demonstrated usage of air-stable silver MNPs as biocidal coatings instead of chemical agents for protection of straw bales used in a green housing construction. Application of the silver nanoparticles as antifungal agents needs a method that does not neutralize their biocidal properties as a result of the testing method. In this study, we discuss the usual methods that are used for the antibacterial property testing and the development of a method that allows demonstrating the antifungal properties of metal nanoparticles.