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The formation of giant hailstones is a rare weather event that has devastating consequences in inhabited areas. This hazard has been occurring more frequently and with greater size of hailstones in recent years, and thus needs to be better understood. While the generally accepted mechanism is thought to be a process similar to the formation of smaller hailstones but with exceptional duration and stronger updrafts, recent evidence suggests that biotic and abiotic factors also influence the growth of these unusually large ice chunks. In this study, we improved these findings by determining the distribution of a wide variety of these factors throughout the hail volume and expanding the search to include new particles that are common in the environment and are of anthropogenic origin. We melted the concentric layers of several giant hailstones that fell to the ground over a small region in Slovenia in 2019. The samples, up to 13 cm in diameter, were analyzed for biotic and abiotic constituents that could have influenced their formation. Using 16S rRNA-based metagenomics approaches, we identified a highly diverse bacterial community, and by using scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy, we found natural and synthetic fibers concentrated in the cores of the giant hailstones. For the first time, we were able to detect the existence of microplastic fibers in giant hailstones and determine the changes in the distribution of sand within the volume of the samples. Our results suggest that changes in the composition of hail layers and their great diversity are important factors that should be considered in research. It also appears that anthropogenic microfiber pollutants were a significant factor in the formation of the giant hailstones analyzed in this study.

Carbon dioxide gas is the key element of the carbon cycle and a major source for photosynthesis, but for the past 150 years, the atmospheric CO2 has been increased drastically from 250 to 418 ppm due to the extreme utilization of fossil fuels. This accelerated release of CO2 acts as a major source for climatic change due to the greenhouse gas effect resulting in global warming and melting of polar ice caps, alteration in biogeochemical cycles, altered rainfall, ocean acidification, eutrophication of lakes, imbalance in the ecological communities and extinction of some species, effects on soil fertility, changes in the metabolism and at the molecular level. Reduce, reuse and recycle strategy can be applied to control elevated CO2 levels by preventing deforestation, using renewable energy as an alternative for fossil fuels and reusing the atmospheric CO2. Carbon capture and storage (CCS), Carbon capture and utilization (CCU) are the two technologies adapted to capture the atmospheric CO2, utilize it, and focus on permanent storage in the geological sites. Captured CO2 is used to produce many value added products such as polymers, biofuels, reactants etc. Plants and microorganisms act as a natural CO2 filter. Several biomolecules such as carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids are produced due to the biological carbon fixation process using photosynthesis. Six different photosynthetic pathways and some non-photosynthetic pathways to fix atmospheric CO2 have been reported in diverse species of plants and microbes such as bacteria, fungi, yeast, algae etc. Algae are the most potent microbe in CO2 utilization and biological carbon fixation compared to other microbes and used widely on a large industrial scale for biofuel production. Algal biofuel production using captured CO2 is the best productive method to recycle and reduce atmospheric CO2.

Gas samples were collected from 25 m long horizontal boreholes drilled into the excavation field at 10° inclination to the longwall face in two mining areas, Pesje and Preloge, in the Velenje Coal Mine, Slovenia, from 2013 to 2018. The degassing mechanism of coalbed gas and its stable isotopic composition (δ$^{13}$C$_{CO2}$, δ$^{13}$C$_{CH4}$, and δ$^2$H$_{CH4}$) were investigated in boreholes in advance of eight working faces. The major coalbed gas constituents were CO$_2$ and methane. Gas concentrations and isotope values revealed that the methane is biogenic in origin with δ$^{13}$C$_{CH4}$ values of −69.4 to −29.5 ‰, δ$^2$H$_{CH4}$ values of −301 to −222 ‰, and a fractionation factor (α$_{CO2^-CH4}$) of 0.998–1.073, suggesting that methane derives from microbial acetate fermentation and CO$_2$ reduction. The carbon dioxide methane index values ranged from 50.0–98.3 vol.% and δ$^{13}$C$_{CO2}$ values from −11.8 to −0.5 ‰, indicating that CO$_2$ is biogenic and endogenic in origin. The degassing mechanism results in isotope fractionation of methane and CO$_2$ for carbon isotopes up to 39.9 ‰ and up to 8.5 ‰, respectively, depending on the position of the excavation fields in space, e.g. under pre-mined coal area, fresh overburden.

Soil chemistry of toxic metalloids and metals differs, making their simultaneous removal difficult. Soil contaminated with As, Pb, Zn and Cd was washed with oxalic acid, Na-dithionite and EDTA solution. Toxic elements were removed from the washing solution by alkalinisation with CaO to a pH 12.5: As was co-precipitated with Fe from Fe-EDTA chelate formed after the soil washing. The toxic metals precipitated after substitution of their EDTA chelates with Ca. The novel method was scaled up on the ReSoil® platform. On average, 60, 76, 29, and 53% of As, Pb, Zn, and Cd were removed, no wastewater was generated and EDTA was recycled. Addition of zero-valent iron reduced the toxic elements’ leachability. Remediation was most effective for As: phytoaccessibility (CaCl$_2$ extraction), mobility (NH$_4$NO$_3$), and accessibility from human gastric and gastrointestinal phases were reduced 22, 104, 6, and 51 times, respectively. Remediation increased pH but had no effect on soil functioning assessed by fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis, dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase, urease, acid and alkaline phosphatase activities. Brassica napus produced 1.9 times more biomass on remediated soil, accumulated no As and 5.0, 2.6, and 9.0 times less Pb, Zn and Cd, respectively. We demonstrated the novel remediation technology as cost-efficient (material cost = 41.86 € t$^{−1}$) and sustainable.

Metasediments of the Paleozoic Bashibos-Bajrambos unit, comprising the western perimeter of the Serbo-Macedonian Massif in SE Republic of North Macedonia, were investigated by employing whole-rock geochemistry and detrital zircon geochronology to put constraints of age, provenance and depositional tectonic setting. The metasedimentary unit consists of polymetamorphic and highly altered pelitic mica-schists and phyllites and metamafic rocks. The first limited data from the whole-rock composition of the metapelites and zircon Th/U ratios suggest derivation of detrital material from felsic and recycled older upper crustal sources. At the same time, mafic samples indicate an origin from a volcanic source without a significant contribution from ultramafic rocks. Whole-rock data and the detrital zircon record suggest that deposition of the sequence took place in collision-related, foreland basin, formed by the merging of Pelagonian and the Serbo-Macedonian Massifs. The population of the youngest recorded zircons indicates Early Permian sedimentation. The detrital zircon record speaks for significant sedimentary input of old crustal material from the Serbo-Macednonian Massif, while younger Carboniferous-Permian magmatic zircon populations support the significant influence of the Pelagonian Massif.

Potential correlation of exposure to polluted air and the spread and co-development of COVID-19 and severe acute respiratory syndrome, caused by SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, was examined. The emphasis was given on polluted air in the form of suspended particulate matter or liquid particles in gas or air (so-called dust particles). This study was structured as a systematic literature review of multiple research projects carried out across the globe. Impact of the polluted air particles on the virus spread was examined from the temporal and spatial spread. Furthermore, overall impact of particulate matter and COVID-19 disease on human health human was investigated on a microbiological level. Despite some ambiguity, through systematic literature review effect of the polluted air on the increased spread of various viruses was demonstrated. Longer exposure to contaminated airborne dust particles has a negative effect on the human immune system and in the case of infection with COVID 19, may even overload it. This can lead to serious consequences for human health or even cause death.This review article also provides an insight into a more comprehensive analysis of possible correlation between the spreading the virus (SARS-CoV-2) by means of particulate matter and other meteorological variables (such as air temperature and humidity, weather events and climate).

The microalgae Spirulina may be a popular dietary supplement rich in essential nutrients and vitamins, but oversight of the supplement industry, in general, remains limited, and increasing incidents of adulteration, misbranding, and undeclared ingredients together with misleading claims create potential risks. In response, this study characterized the elemental, amino acid and fatty acid content of commercially available Spirulina supplements in Slovenia using EDXRF, ICP-MS and GC-MS and compared the results with their nutritional declaration. The gathered data confirm that Spirulina supplements are a good source of calcium (0.15 to 29.5% of RDA), phosphorous (3.36–26.7% of RDA), potassium (0.5 to 7.69% of RDA) and selenium (0.01 to 38.6% of RDA) when consumed within recommended amounts. However, although iron contents were relatively high (7.64 to 316% of RDA), the actual bioavailability of iron was much lower since it was mainly present as the ferric cation. This study also confirms that pure Spirulina supplements are a good source of essential and non-essential amino acids, and ω-6 but not ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. The presence of additives resulted in significant variation in nutrient content and, in some instances, lower product quality. Moreover, a high proportion (86.7%) of inappropriate declarations regarding the elemental content was observed. Overall, the study conclusions underline the need for a stricter control system for Spirulina-based supplements.

This study examined the percentage and stable isotope ratios of fatty acids in milk to study seasonal, year, and regional variability. A total of 231 raw cow milk samples were analyzed. Samples were taken twice per year in 2012, 2013, and 2014, in winter and summer, covering four distinct geographical regions in Slovenia: Mediterranean, Alpine, Dinaric, and Pannonian. A discriminant analysis model based on fatty acid composition was effective in discriminating milk according to the year/season of production (86.9%), while geographical origin discrimination was less successful (64.1%). The stable isotope composition of fatty acids also proved to be a better biomarker of metabolic transformation processes in ruminants than discriminating against the origin of milk. Further, it was observed that milk from Alpine and Mediterranean regions was healthier due to its higher percentage of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid and conjugated linoleic acid.

Heavy metal abundance and potential environmental risks are reported for surface sediments (n = 21) from the Port of Koper area, Republic of Slovenia. The enrichment factor (EF) indicates minor enrichment in arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), and zinc (Zn), moderately to severely enriched with nickel (Ni). The trace metal chemistries, in the context of sediment quality guidelines (SQG), imply adverse threshold effect concentrations (TEC) and probable effect concentrations (PEC), for Ni only. Sediment sequential leaching experiments demonstrated that the majority of heavy metals were of natural lithogenic origin and low bioavailability. The heavy metals’ potential for “Risk Assessment Code” values exhibited no or low anthropogenic environmental burden, with the exception of Mo.

In the last five years, European research and innovation programmes have prioritised the development of online catalogues and tools (handbooks, models, etc.) to facilitate the implementation and monitoring of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS). However, only a few catalogues and toolkits within European programmes are directly related to mainstreaming of NBS for food production (i.e., edible NBS). Therefore, the main aim of this paper is to present existing NBS tools through the eyes of productive urban landscapes. We reviewed 32 projects related to NBS and 50 tools were identified and characterised. Then, the six tools already available and provided indicators were further analysed in terms of their format and knowledge domains. Our main conclusion demonstrates that there is a lack of tools capable of supporting users for planning and implementing edible NBS calculating the food potential of a city and/or of individual edible NBS, including the needed resources for implementation and operation (water, nutrients, energy) and assessing their urban design value, environmental and socio-economic impacts. Moreover, when they do exist, there is a resistance to share the models and equations behind the tools to allow other projects to reuse or validate them, a fact which is contrary to the open science principles upheld by many public research agencies.

High-rate algal ponds (HRAP) are an alternative to conventional wastewater treatment that could contribute to the circular economy by valorising reclaimed water and algal biomass. This short communication presents the removal of nutrients and contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) in a pilot-scale HRAP treating primary municipal wastewater. Average removal of total organic carbon, total nitrogen, NH4-N, total phosphorus and PO4-P, was 67%, 76%, 87%, 41% and 46%, respectively. In addition, 12 CECs were detected in the influent and five in the effluent. Removals were as follows: naproxen 60%, ibuprofen 51%, methylparaben 92%, 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone 76% and oxybenzone 80%, and are comparable with literature data for conventional wastewater treatment and other HRAPs. In conclusion, studies of nature-based solutions such as HRAPs show encouraging results but need further research to understand the risks and requirements of safe wastewater and biomass reuse.

Sertraline is an antidepressant drug that has been frequently reported in the aquatic environment and biota. While the research has mostly dealt with its occurrence and toxicity, there is a lack of information pertaining to its environmental transformation. The present study aimed to fill in these gaps by giving an insight into mechanisms of sertraline phototransformation in surface waters, which was recognized as the main transformation pathway for this contaminant. We performed photodegradation experiments in presence of photosensitizers or reaction quenchers to determine rate constants and used them to predict sertraline phototransformation kinetics by %Aqueous Photochemistry of Environmentally occurring Xenobiotics% (APEX) software. It was established that sertraline degrades by pseudo-first order kinetics mostly dominated by direct photolysis, while the presence of certain reactive species including %OH, CO3%% and 3CDOM* further accelerate the compound%s breakdown rate. To validate the predicted results, sertraline-spiked surface water was irradiated by sunlight, where the half-life of sertraline at around 1.4 days was estimated. While following the photodegradation kinetics, we also identified five transformation products, of which three were determined in Slovenian surface waters. According to the ECOSAR toxicity prediction, these transformation products will either have comparable or lower toxicity than their parent compound. Št. članka: 113431. Bibliografija: str. 7-8. Članek vsebuje dodatek. Abstract. ARRS ARRS

Onesnaževanje okolja zaradi cestnega prometa je zelo pereča tema na globalni ravni, vedno več poudarka pa pridobiva tudi na lokalni ravni. Glavno onesnaževalo predstavlja ogljikov dioksid, ki se mu v zadnjem obdobju pridružujejo tako imenovani PM delci, med katerimi posebej izstopajoči delci predstavljajo tako imenovani črni ogljik. Meritve koncentracij črnega ogljika smo na Fakulteti za logistiko, v sodelovanju s podjetjem Aerosol in Mestno občino Celje, opravljali v spomladanskem obdobju leta 2017 in v zimskem obdobju leta 2017/2018. Statične meritve smo opravljali na različnih merilnih mestih v Celju, ki velja za eno najbolj onesnaženih in s PM delci obremenjenih mest v Sloveniji. Cestni promet predstavlja enega od glavnih virov onesnaženja s črnim ogljikom, zato ga lahko uvrstimo v eno izmed področij tveganj. V magistrskem delu smo raziskovali porazdelitev koncentracij črnega ogljika, vpliv padavin in vetra na gibanje koncentracij črnega ogljika ter črni ogljik analizirali in ga predstavili kot tveganje oziroma grožnjo nacionalni varnosti na podlagi Resolucije o strategiji nacionalne varnosti Republike Slovenije. Environmental pollution, caused by the road traffic, is a very urgent and global topic, one that is recently gaining more local emphasis. The main element of traffic pollution is carbon dioxide, joined by recently recognised PM particles with black carbon being a very prominent member of the latter. Levels of black carbon concentration were measured by the Faculty of Logistics in collaboration with Aerosol company and the Municipality of Celje. These measurements were done in the Spring of 2017 and in the Winter of 2017/2018. Static measuring points were established in Celje, which is recognised as being one of the most PM particles polluted city in Slovenia. Since road traffic presents one of the main sources of black carbon pollution, it can be classified as one of the most important risk areas. Our research includes data from measuring the distribution of black carbon concentration as well as the role of weather on black carbon concentration distribution. In addition, we have analysed black carbon and presented it as a risk and a threat to the national security, based upon the Resolution on the National Security Strategy of the Republic of Slovenia.

The karst aquifer of the Ljubljanica River catchment, which has numerous springs and sinks, presents an interesting environment for studying hydrogeological processes. This study aims to explore the behavior of U isotopes and to evaluate their use as tracers of hydrogeochemical processes as an alternative to classical geochemical tracers (i.e., physicochemical parameters, elemental ratios, and alkalinity) involved in water&ndash, rock interactions and water flow in this karst water system. Basic hydrochemical parameters, as well as the spatiotemporal variations of total U concentrations, 234U/238U activity ratios, and &delta, 238U values, were monitored in water samples from springs and sinks under different hydrological conditions. The bedrock as the source of dissolved and detrital U was also analyzed. Multi-collector inductively couple plasma-mass spectrometry results reveal variations of the 234U/238U activity ratios, which are consistently negatively correlated with the discharge at most analyzed sites. Large 238U/235U isotope fractionation occurred during bedrock weathering, and the large variability of the measured &delta, 238U values is seemingly unrelated to the lithological characteristics of the bedrock or discharge. Our results confirm that 234U/238U activity ratios in water can be used as a tracer for studying changes in groundwater flows and the mixing of waters of different origins under different hydrological conditions.

Tekom desetletnega biomonitoringa rastlin na Ljubljanskem barju smo preučili populacijsko dinamiko pri vrsti Fritillaria meleagris in Solidago canadensis. Izvedli smo tudi bioteste za oceno ogroženosti mokriščnih rastlin zaradi onesnaževanja okolja. Podatki s topografskih kart so pokazali zmanjšanje gostote populacij ogrožene vrste F. meleagris na opazovanih mestih, medtem ko se je razširjenost S. canadensis povečala na celem območju. Na osnovi rezultatov citogenetske analize različnih vrst je ugotovljena povečana stopnja genotoksične ogroženosti rastlin na Ljubljanskem barju v primerjavi z drugimi lokalitetami. Biomonitoring rastlin se priporoča za zgodnje odkrivanje škodljivih učinkov onesnaževanja, in ob ekoremediacijah služi za trajnostno izvajanje varstva rastlin v naravnih habitatih. In the past 10 years of biomonitoring on the Ljubljana moor, population status and distribution changes of Fritillaria meleagris and Solidago canadensis were investigated. Plant bioassays were also performed for the environmental hazard assessment in wetlands. Spatial distribution maps showed decreased population densities of F. meleagris at observed sites but increased distribution size of S. canadensis through the area. Cytogenetic analyses of different species indicated an elevated genotoxic hazard for plants inhabiting the nearby surrounding moor of Ljubljana in comparison to other localities. Monitoring plants for early signalling of harmful pollution effects and ecosystem ecoremediations as the most sustainable protection measure for plants in natural environments could be suggested.

This paper examines the effects of flow regulation on the size, spatial distribution and connectivity of channel geomorphic units (CGU) in the Soča River, Slovenia. A river channel survey was completed along three reaches, i.e. an unregulated reach (reach 1), and two regulated reaches with lower discharges, (reach 2 and 3). Results demonstrated significant differences in the CGU composition between the unregulated and regulated reaches. Flow regulation in the Soča River alters the dominant types of CGU's present, significantly reduces the size of CGU's, and affects the longitudinal distribution of types by reducing habitat connectivity and creating greater habitat fragmentation. Namen članka je ugotoviti vpliv regulacije pretoka vode v reki Soči na tipe, velikost, prostorsko porazdelitev in povezanost geomorfoloških enot struge (GES). Raziskavo smo opravili na treh odsekih reke, tj. na nereguliranem odseku (odsek 1) in na dveh reguliranih odsekih z zmanjšanima pretokoma vode (odseka 2 in 3). Vse tri odseke vodotoka smo prehodili ob oziroma v strugi, z majhnim čolnom pa smo prečkali neprebrodljive odseke. Ocenjevanje na terenu je obsegalo kombinacijo vizualnih in fizičnih meritev. Rezultati so pokazali znatne razlike v sestavi GES med reguliranimi in nereguliranimi odseki reke. Na nereguliranem odseku reke Soče so prevladovali gladki tokovi in habitati z značilno hitrim vodnim tokom, medtem ko so na reguliranih odsekih reke Soče prevladovali tolmunski tipi GES s počasnim vodnim tokom. Zaradi odvzemov vode in s tem zmanjšanih pretokov reke na odsekih 2 in 3 je prišlo do znatnega zmanjšanja v povprečni širini omočenosti struge v primerjavi z nereguliranim odsekom (na 31,8 % in 50,4 %). Še večjega pomena je dejstvo, da je v reguliranih odsekih reke naraslo povprečno število GES na km. Rezultati raziskav predstavljajo osnovo, na podlagi katere lahko razlagamo podatke o kartiranih habitatih ter interpretiramo velikost in fragmentacijo habitatov vzdolž zaporednih odsekov reke. Rezultati študije so pokazali, da je regulacija pretoka reke Soče vplivala na spremembo prevladujočega tipa GES, znatno zmanjšala velikost GES in vplivala na dolžinsko razporeditev tipov GES. Zmanjšala se je povezanost habitatov, fragmentacija habitatov pa se je povečala. V prihodnosti je potrebna izvedba raziskav, ki bodo prispevale k boljšemu razumevanju odnosov med dinamiko fizičnega habitata in združbami organizmov v vodotoku.

V literaturi doslej obstaja relativno malo informacij o razlikah med spoloma do okolja. Nekatere raziskave tako prikazujejo, da so glede okoljske problematike bolj zaskrbljeni moški, medtem ko druge raziskave prikazujejo večjo skrb žensk. Na dojemanje okoljske problematike vpliva okoljska zavest, ki je produkt različnih sociogeografskih dejavnikov, ki vplivajo na naše dojemanje sveta. V raziskavah, ki se dotikajo vpliva spola dijakov glede dojemanja okoljske problematike, prevladujejo te, ki izkazujejo večjo skrb dijakinj, medtem ko so te ki prikazujejo večjo skrb dijakov v manjšini. V magistrskem smo v teoretičnem delu s pomočjo literature raziskovali vpliv spola na dojemanje okoljske problematike in ugotavljali, kateri spol izkazuje večjo okoljsko skrb. V začetku teoretičnega dela smo raziskovali vpliv spola na dojemanje okoljske problematike glede na različne dejavnike, medtem ko smo se v drugem delu teoretičnega dela magistrske naloge usmerili predvsem na razlike v vplivu spola dijakov na dojemanje okoljske problematike. V drugem delu magistrskega dela- empiričnem delu, smo s pomočjo anketnih vprašalnikov na podlagi vzorca 300-tih dijakov Ptujskih srednjih šol, raziskovali razlike v okoljski skrbi glede na spol dijakov. Tako smo na koncu prišli do ugotovitev, da večjo okoljsko skrb izkazujejo dijakinje, kar je potrdil tudi empirični del magistrskega dela, medtem ko so dijaki izkazali večje znanje o okoljski problematiki. So far, there are relatively little information on gender differences in the environment in the literature. Some studies thus show that men are more concerned about environmental issues, while other studies show greater concern for women. The perception of environmental issues is influenced by environmental awareness, which is a product of various sociogeographical factors that influence our perception of the world. In research that touches on the influence of gender students on the perception of environmental issues, those who show greater concern for women students are predominant, while those who show greater concern for men students are in the minority. In the thesis, in the theoretical part, with the help of literature, we studied the influence of gender on the perception of environmental issues and to find out which gender shows greater environmental concern. At the beginning of the theoretical work, we studied the influence of gender on the perception of environmental issues in relation to various factors, while in the second part of the theoretical part of the master's thesis we focused primarily on differences in the influence of gender students on the perception of environmental issues. In the second part of the master thesis - empirical work, using the questionnaires on the basis of a sample of 300 students from the Ptuj secondary schools, we examined the differences in environmental care according to the gender of the students. Thus, in the end we came to the conclusion that the greater environmental concern is shown by women, which was confirmed by the empirical part of the master's thesis, while men have demonstrated greater knowledge of environmental issues.