Petra Vrhovnik

Resumen En los últimos años, ha habido un cambio en los métodos de enseñanza, donde los juegos han reemplazado parcialmente los procesos tradicionales de aprendizaje (Kalogiannakis M, Papadakis S, Zourmpakis A. (2021)). Este cambio se debe a tres razones principales: el crecimiento notable de la industria de los videojuegos, el acceso a grandes ca...

The occurrence of the PTEs contamination in the environment resulting from the point or diffuse sources increases with globalization and population growth. Anyway the benefits of home gardening for the physiological and physical well-being, as well as uncertainties regarding food supply chain in the case of Covid-19, the desire to use home-grown (l...

The aim of this work is to study the associations of adipose tissue TE concentrations with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) incidence over a 16-year follow-up period in an adult cohort from Southern Spain. Clinical information, including 16-year T2DM incidence, was gathered from hospital records. Chemical analyses of Cr, V, Zn, Fe, Cu and Se in adipose tissu...

Raw materials are of great importance for humankind as they enable the development of technology, drive industry and economy, and overall the lifestyle we know today. The paper is addressing the topic of interactive learning about the mineral raw materials, i.e. metals and non-metals. Due to population growth and consequently increased global deman...

Adipose tissue has been recently highlighted as a promising matrix for evaluation of cadmium’s (Cd) long-term exposure although not frequently considered in epidemiological studies. The association between Cd exposure and type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) remains unclear. This work aimed to explore the association between adipose tissue Cd levels and...

The Dravinja river is an important ecosystem and water resource for the Dravinja valley. A great15 part of the valley is under Natura 2000 protection which aims to protect and preserve natural environment and biodi-16 versity. Besides the Natura 2000 programme management, the river has been under increasing environmental pressures,17 among them the...

This research aims to explore patterns of accumulation of a mixture of 15 Persistent Toxic Substances (PTS) in the adipose tissue of 227 individuals of an adult cohort from Granada Province (Southern Spain). Information about residence and occupation during participants lifetime was gathered by means of validated questionnaires. Clusters of polluta...

Associations of residential and occupational history with the distribution of mixtures of persistent pollutants in adipose tissue

Background: Adipose tissue has been acknowledged as a potential target for obesogenic pollutants, including toxic metal(loid)s. However, the presence of these chemicals in the adipose tissue has been poorly characterized. Objective: To examine the distributions of adipose tissue concentrations of five toxic metal(loid)s (i.e., arsenic [As], nick...

We live in a material world where the markets are flooded with all kinds of products. At the same time, we are facing a population growth, as well as a product demand growth. But, are we aware of the raw materials needed for our favourite daily products? In which part of the world are they extracted? Do we recognize the value chains from the mine t...

Mining accompany our civilization since evolution. Since the “Copper (Chalcolithic) Age” and later “Golden Age”, mining activities have created great wealth. Unfortunately, beside wealth the exploitation of metal rich ores, have been almost always correlated with a negative impact to the nearby ecosystems. In this study a broad area around the acti...

This study was conceived as a first step to evaluate the suitability of adipose tissue cadmium (Cd) concentrations as a biomarker for the assessment of long-term exposure. Specifically, the aim of this work was to explore the socio-demographic, dietary, and lifestyle determinants of adipose tissue Cd concentrations. The study population is a subsa...

The Kornati National Park (Croatia) is considered an environment with minimal anthropogenic input. The purpose of this study was to determine the isotopic characteristics of the sediment and muscle tissues of the banded dye-murex Hexaplex trunculus. We selected locations in the park according to their estimated risk of anthropogenic pollution (larg...

Pollution from mining activities is a significant problem in various regions of the Republic of Macedonia. A geochemical survey of the surface deposits of Lake Kalimanci in the easterly region of the Republic of Macedonia was carried out before (2001) and later (2007) the dam failure and thus allowing the measurement of the tailings’ material from...

There is increasing evidence linking levels of trace elements (TEs) in adipose tissue with certain chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes or obesity). The objectives of this study were to assess concentrations of a selection of nine essential and possibly-essential TEs in adipose tissue samples from an adult cohort and to explore their socio-demographi...

The presence of potentially toxic elements (PTE) was determined in different tissues of five selected marine organisms. The As, Cd, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb and Zn concentrations were measured in the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa , the green alga Cladophora echinus , the red alga Gelidiella lubrica , the marine topshell Phorcus turbinatus and the littoral cr...

Unlabelled: The main purpose of the present study is to assess human dietary exposure to essential and non-essential trace elements via consumption of selected homegrown foodstuffs. Twelve essential and non-essential trace elements (Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Hg, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Zn and As) were detected in various homegrown foodstuffs. Detailed questionn...

The parts of jawbones and selected teeth (malleolus) of adult marine benthic fish Sparus aurata and Diplodus sargus was collected from different station during east Adriatic coast (Croatia). Biominerals were prepared for three different instrumental analyses: elemental analysis by X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) and inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy...

This chapter represents the mineralogical, geochemical and isotopic characteristics of recent lacustrine sediments, shells of the Anodonta cygnea and fish species (Rutilus rutilus dojranensis) from the Lake Dojran (FY Republic of Macedonia, southern part of the Serbo-Macedonian Massif (SMM)) which provide indirect evidence regarding biomineralizati...

In order to estimate the quality of Makirina bay, samples of surficial peloids (0-5 cm), water and biota (seagrass, green algae, gastropoda and shore crab) were collected to analyse quantitatively for the presence of several potentially toxic elements (PTE), including As, Cd, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb and Zn.

Several characteristics of Makirina bay peloid were determined.

This research focuses on determination of the mineralogical composition, geochemical characteristics and evaluation of pollution status of the Makirina Bay sediments. Calculated enrichment factor (EF) values show no enrichment (< 1) for Cd, Ni, and Zn, minor enrichment (< 3) for As, Cu, and Pb, and minor to moderate enrichment for Mo. The results o...

In this study the mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of Lake Dojran surficial (0-5, 5-10, 10-15 cm) sediments were studied in order to determine their suitability for use as potential raw material in balneotherapeutic treatments. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analyses were perfor...

The oxygen and carbon isotope compositions of carbonate samples from the carbonatite-like dyke of the Madenska River complex at the Kriva Lakavica section, samples of calcite skarns from the Damjan Fe-ore deposit and the Sasa Pb-Zn ore deposit, and samples of marbles from the Pohorje Mountains were analyzed to provide critical evidence in favor of...

Makirina Bay peloid mud was analysed in the interest of determining its physico-chemical and geochemical characteristics in order to assess the suitability of peloid mud use for cosmetic and/or therapeutic purposes as material for mud wraps or baths. The properties of Makirina Bay peloid mud were compared with various raw geological materials (Dead...

This report summarizes the main transnational strategic planning questions based on the results and outputs of CC WARE project. A common strategic planning methodology is used for addressing the transnational elements of a strategy for mitigating vulnerability of safe drinking water supply (DWSUP) under climate change in South-Eastern Europe (SEE)....

Content of uranium in the Sasa tailings dam material varies from 1.8 to 5.5 mg kg-1. Sasa tailings dam failure cause discharge of material in the Lake Kalimanci. The uranium content in surficial lake sediments in years, before the tailings dam failure varied from 2.4 to 5.4 mg kg-1 and after the failure from 3.6 to 10.4 mg kg-1. Meanwhile Lake Kali...

Recent marine sediments from Makirina bay are according to their organoleptic properties, treated as peloid or healing mud, already frequently used by local people and tourists as pomades. The application of peloids in balneotherapy is mainly intended for therapeutic treatment generally related to muscle-bone skin pathologies and purposes of wellne...

The aim of this guidance is to facilitate the development of national or regional action plans to mitigate vulnerability of water resources under climate change. This document is targeted to those stakeholders who are directly or indirectly related to the protection of drinking water resources and/or dealt with climate change issues.

The research focuses on determination of geochemical characteristics and distribution of Rareearth elements (REEs) in Makirina Bay sediments. The overall REEs concentrations in Makirina Bay sediments samplesdetected during study ranged from 123.94 ppm to 188.74 ppm. REEs content showed a gradual increase towardsthe depth of sediments. The average U...

The objectives of the research were: (1) to examine the concentrations of metals in Vimba melanops and Rana temporaria and (2) to evaluate the potential risks of the contaminated organisms to human health in Makedonska Kamenica region. Analyses identified high levels of Cr, Hg, Ni and Pb in studied animals, which also exceeded their permissible lev...

Mining is very important economic activity. However, mining and related industries presents the main threat for environment. Pollution with heavy metals is a significant problem in Eastern Republic of Macedonia. In year 2003 great environmental disaster happened near small town Makedonska Kamenica, when the Sasa tailings dam collapsed and caused an...

The aim of the present study was to determine the concentrations of several potentially toxic elements (PTE) in the recent marine sediment of Makirina bay (central Adriatic), which could according to its organoleptic properties be used as a virgin material for medical treatment, wellness and relax purposes. Sediment samples were collected in June a...

The activities of the Sasa mine have led to industrial discharge being released into Lake Kalimanci since the beginning of mining activity in 1954. For this reason, an ecological risk assessment is urgently required. In the present study, surficial lake sediments were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), with all ge...

Tailings dam failures are relatively rare but can cause extremely high and long-term impacts on the environment. The Sasa tailings dam collapsed in August 2003 and caused an intensive flow of tailings material through the Kamenica River all the way to Lake Kalimanci, where most of the tailings material discharged. This study deals with the characte...

Pollution from mining activities is a significant problem in several parts of the Republic of Macedonia. A geochemical study of the surficial sediments of Lake Kalimanci in the eastern part of the Republic of Macedonia was carried out to determine their elemental compositions and to evaluate the pollution status of lake sediments by employing an en...

In the Republic of Macedonia, information about rare earth elements (REEs) distribution patterns, transportation and speciation characteristics (from soil to plants) is very rare. Therefore, the concentrations of REEs in Kočani paddy soils and rice samples from the Republic of Macedonia were measured and evaluated. The elevated concentrations of RE...

The concentration and distribution of rare earth elements (REEs) in the surficial lake sediments of Lake Kalimanci were studied in an attempt to establish the reasons for their enrichment. Results indicate that REE are tightly related to the catchment geology. Possible anthropogenic effects were evaluated by employing an enrichment factor, which re...

This research is aimed at investigating the mineralogical characteristics of the tailings material and heavy metal contents of the tailings material deposited close to the Sasa Pb-Zn Mine in the Osogovo Mountains (eastern Macedonia) and on its possible impact on Lake Kalimanci. The mineral composition of Sasa Mine tailings materialis dominated by q...

Heavy metal contamination of soils is widespread and induces a long-term risk to ecosystem health. This research focuses on the heavy metal contamination, transfer values and risk assessment in the Kočani Field plant system (Republic of Macedonia). To identify the heavy metal concentrations in Kočani crops (rice and maize), the geochemical analysis...