This paper examines the relationships between watercourse typology and selected indicators of long-term surface water quality for rivers in the Czech Republic. The parameters used to define watercourse typology are in accord with the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC outlined by the European Commission. The relationships were tested using descriptive and multivariate statistical analysis, namely cluster analysis and canonical correspondence analysis. It was found that only some of the typological parameters have a close association with indicators of surface water quality. Specifically, the parameters of altitude and geology show clear relationships with pH, calcium content, and the saprobity index of macroinvertebrates. Conversely, parameters that are strongly influenced by anthropogenic pollution show weak relationships with indicators of surface water quality. These depend instead on the presence of pollution sources rather than on natural environmental conditions.
The COPHES/DEMOCOPHES twin project was performed in 2011-2012 in 17 European countries to harmonize all steps of the human biomonitoring survey. Urinary cadmium, cotinine, phthalate metabolites, and hair mercury were measured in children (N = 120, 6-11 years) and their mothers of reproductive age, living in urban or rural areas. Cadmium in mothers' and children's urine was detected at a geometric mean (GM) concentration 0.227 and 0.109 μg/L, respectively; 95th percentile (P95) was 0.655 and 0.280 μg/L in mothers and children, respectively. No age-related, education-related, or urban versus rural differences were observed within the frame of each population group. Cadmium urinary level in mothers was about twofold compared with children. Higher levels were obtained in all smoking mothers but not in occasionally smoking or mothers and children exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). Mercury values in mothers were significantly higher in urban than in rural populations but not in children. GM and P95 for mercury in children's hair were 0.098 and 0.439 μg/g and in mothers' hair were 0.155 and 0.570 μg/g. Concentrations for mercury in the Czech samples were lower than European average. Hair mercury increased significantly with consumption of fish or seafood and with number of amalgam tooth fillings (in children). A positive association was found with family educational level. No influence of age was observed. Urinary cadmium and hair mercury levels were lower than health-based guidelines with one exception. High levels of urinary cotinine were found in the 12 smoking mothers (GM approximately 500 μg/L); lower levels in occasionally smoking mothers, N = 11 (34.5 μg/L). The mean cotinine levels in nonsmoking mothers who reported daily exposure to ETS was 10.7 μg/L. A similar mean value (10.8 μg/L) was obtained in six children who had daily exposure to ETS. In children without exposure to ETS, the mean cotinine level was 1.39 μg/L urine. Cotinine in the urine of children demonstrates limited protection of the Czech children against exposure to ETS.
Insufficient wastewater remediation in small communities and nonpoint source pollution are the key factors in determining the water quality of small streams in an agricultural landscape. Despite the current extensive construction of municipal wastewater treatment facilities in small communities, the level of organic substances and nutrients in the recipient catchments has not decreased in many areas. This paper analyzes the changes in the water quality of the small streams after the deployment of wastewater treatment plants that were designed to address sources of pollution from small municipalities. The analysis is based on the results from a water quality monitoring network in the small watersheds in the Czech Republic. Five rural catchments with one dominant municipal pollution source, where a wastewater treatment plant was deployed during the monitoring period, were selected according to a predefined set of criteria, from a series of 317 profiles. Basic water quality indicators were selected for the assessment: O₂, BOD-5, COD, TOC, conductivity, NH₄-N, NO₂-N, NO₃-N, PT, and PO₄-P. Results of the analysis showed that the simple deployment of the water treatment facilities at these streams often did not lead to a reduction of contamination in the streams. The expected post-deployment changes, namely, a significant and permanent reduction of stream contamination, occurred only in one catchment, whereas in the remainder of the catchments, only marginal changes or even increased concentrations of the contaminants were detected. As the critical factors that determined the efficiency of wastewater treatment were studied, the need for the consideration of the local conditions during the design of the facility, particularly regarding the size of the catchments, initial level of contamination, proper system of operation, and process optimization of the treatment facility, emerged as the important factor.
The state of environment in 1989 was a result of political and economic development of Czechoslovakia during preceding 40 years. Political and economical changes were the reason why the water quality in the Czech Republic has been significantly changing since 90's. In this text we want to describe not only these changes, but also their causes, including the legislation changes due to preparation for the membership in the EU and their consequences in the field of water management, water quality, water ecosystems restoration and others.
Článek reaguje na rychle rostoucí trend využití srážkové vody v budovách a upozorňuje na související zdravotní rizika a na legislativní mezeru v jejich regulaci. Jsou popsány hlavní patogeny, které se v České republice mohou ve srážkové vodě vyskytnout, a chemické kontaminanty ze sběrných ploch. Dále jsou uvedeny hlavní způsoby využití čištěné srážkové vody pro nepitné, užitkové účely v budovách a z nich vyplývající expoziční cesty nákazy, jakož i technická opatření ke zmírnění těchto rizik.
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