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The adsorption of contaminants plays an important role in the process of their elimination from a polluted environment. This work describes the issue of loading environment with lead Pb(II) and the resulting negative impact it has on plants and living organisms. It also focuses on bentonite as a natural adsorbent and on the adsorption process of Pb(II) ions on the mixture of bentonite and bottom sediment from the water reservoir in Kolíňany (SR). The equilibrium and kinetic experimental data were evaluated using Langmuir isotherm kinetic pseudo-first and pseudo-second-order rate equations the intraparticle and surface diffusion models. Langmuir isotherm model was successfully used to characterize the lead ions adsorption equilibrium on the mixture of bentonite and bottom sediment. The pseudo second-order model, the intraparticle and surface (film) diffusion models could be simultaneously fitted the experimental kinetic data.

Zanieczyszczenie gleb metalami ciężkimi stanowi jeden z ważniejszych problemów na świecie. Obecnie, uwaga kierowana jest nie tylko na zawartość poszczególnych metali ciężkich w systemie gleba-roślina-żywność. W naszej pracy badaliśmy wpływ i pobór dwuwartościowych kationów ołowiu, kadmu i cynku przez bób (Faba vulgaris M.).

In the framework of monitoring, we have focused on the analysis of the levels of nickel, chromium, lead and mercury in 9 samples of sweet corn (frozen and canned) from the commercial network of the Slovak Republic. Homogenised samples of sweet corn were mineralized using microwave digestion unit MARS X-press and next analysed by atomic absorption spectrometer VARIAN 240 FS for tested metal concentration, excluding mercury which was was determined by automatic mercury analyser AMA 254.Nickel content in all samples was in the range of 0.376 - 0.556 mg.kg-1, chromium content was 0.088 - 0.546 mg.kg-1, lead content was 0.054 - 0.146 mg.kg-1 and mercury content was 0.000013 - 0.011458 mg.kg-1. The measured values have been compared with the limit values set out legislation for the maximum quantity of hazardous elements according to the Food Code of the Slovak Republic. From the point of view of the sanitary evaluation, the content of nickel, chromium, lead and mercury were not exceeded in either sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to assess the heavy metal presence and possible microbiological contamination in herbal teas. Evaluation of selected tea products was performed from Nitra locality during years 2009 - 2013. Microscopic filamentous fungi detection, bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. were compared to requirements given in the Codex Alimentarius of Slovakia. The highest permissible limit for microscopic filamentous fungi was not exceeded (in 32 observed herbal tea samples). For incidence of Escherichia coli, 93 samples were investigated and for Salmonella spp., 91 herbal tea samples. No sample showed the presence of Salmonella spp., and at E. coli maximum permitted presence was detected below limit. Among chemical parameters, cadmium, lead and mercury content were monitored. The highest amount of lead and mercury was found in year 2012. In 2009, the highest cadmium content was found. The average content of lead in all 100 inspected herbal tea samples was 0.784 mg.kg-1 so all the samples met requirements defined in the legislation. The mean content of mercury (98 investigated herbal tea samples) was 0.0161 mg.kg-1 so all samples met the requirements as well. Average cadmium content was 0.1702 mg.kg-1 while the highest permitted limit for cadmium is 1.0 mg.kg-1 . All herbal tea samples were in accordance with the legislation except one (white willow bark tea) with a very high content of cadmium (4.36 mg.kg-1 ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our study, we have focused on monitoring the content of cromium, lead, cadmium and mercury in the 11 samples of yogurt, available in the sales network of the Slovak Republic and comparing it with the Highest PermissibleQuant ity (HPQ). Samples of yogurt were mineralized by microwave digest ion unit MARS X-press. Heavy metals were determined by atomic absorption spectrometer VARIAN 240 FS and automat ic mercury analyser AMA 254. On the basis of our findings it was shown that the content of Cr, Pb, Cd and Hg of the samples do not exceeded the HPQ, the content of cromium was in the range of 0.000 - 0.250 mg.kg-1, lead content was 0.000 - 0.091 mg.kg-1, cadmium content was 0.005 - 0.039 mg.kg-1 and mercury content was 0.000144 - 0.003252 mg.kg-1. The measured values were compared with the applicable legislat ive provisions for heavy metals maximum permissible levels of contaminants in yogurt by the food codex of Slovak Republic. During analysis, we found that none of the samples has exceeded the highest amount of all heavy metals in the food codex of the Slovak Republic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]