Volume 26, No. 3 (2025)
Articles
THE IMPACT OF NOISE POLLUTION CAUSED BY THE ACTIVITY OF EXTRACTION OF MINERALS AGGREGATES ON SOME PROTECTED BIRD SPECIES IN THE NATURA 2000 SITE FROM TELEORMAN COUNTY
LUIZA G. CRĂCIUNICĂ, CRISTINA I. COVALIU-MIERLĂ(*), VLAD G. DINU, OVIDIU GHEORGHIU
This paper examines the environmental impact of ambient noise generated by mineral aggregate extraction activities, with particular emphasis on a site located in Teleorman County, Romania. The study area, designated as the ROSPA0024 Olt-Danube Confluence site and part of the Natura 2000 ecological network, is recognized for its high ornithological value, providing habitat for several protected bird species. Extraction operations, primarily consisting of desilting activities along minor channels of the Olt River, were systematically monitored to assess their potential effects on local avifauna. The research documented temporary yet measurable behavioural modifications among key bird species during periods of elevated noise levels. These included alterations in feeding behaviour, nest abandonment, and increased flight responses. The findings underscore the vulnerability of protected bird populations to industrial noise and indicate that existing mitigation measures are inadequate. This study provides empirical evidence to support the integration of stricter temporal restrictions on extraction activities, particularly during critical breeding and migration periods, as part of a broader strategy to reconcile economic development with biodiversity conservation objectives.
FERMENTATION OF TAGETES PATULA L. INFUSION BY NATIVE MICROORGANISMS
LIUBOV Y. PALIANYTSIA(*), STEPAN R. MELNYK, NATALIIA I. BEREZOVSKA, YURII R. MELNYK
The fermentation of Tagetes patula L. flowers infusion by native microorganisms has been studied. The composition of marigold flower microorganisms, which includes yeasts, bacteria, and microscopic molds was determined. It was established that yeasts from the genera Saccharomyces, Brettanomyces, and Rhodotorula, along with lactic acid bacteria from the genera Lactobacillus and Leuconostoc participate in the spontaneous fermentation of the infusion. The influence of sugar and citric acid concentrations on the fermentation duration, as well as physicochemical, microbiological, and organoleptic indicators of the fermented infusion, was demonstrated. It was established that acidification with citric acid effectively promotes fermentation of the infusion primarily at a sugar concentration of 7.0 %. The pH value significantly impacts the dynamics of spontaneous fermentation and the properties of the fermented marigold infusion. It was found that increasing the initial citric acid concentration and lactic acid adversely affects yeast, particularly Saccharomycetes, during the fermentation of the marigold infusion.
STUDIES ON THE EFFECT OF PHYTOADDITIVES ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND MEAT QUALITY IN BROILER CHICKENS
IRINA UNGUREANU, RĂZVAN-MIHAI RADU-RUSU, ROXANA-NICOLETA RAȚU, ALEXANDRU USTUROI(*), MARIUS-GIORGI USTUROI
Poultry meat is one of the most appreciated animal-derived food products, both for its nutritional value and for its specific sensory properties. For a long time, the preservation of the health of birds and the improvement of growth indicators were achieved through the administration of antibiotics, a technique highly contested due to their residue in finished products. Against the backdrop of these issues, various plant-based products (phytoadditives) have emerged, credited with multiple roles, from improving immunity and digestion efficiency to reducing the action of predominant pathogens and even mitigating the environmental impact of animal farming. The purpose of this study is to create a centralized overview of the effects generated by the available phytogenic additives, for their inclusion in specific bird diets with the aim of improving the quantitative and qualitative aspects of meat production.
SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND POTENTIAL APPLICATION OF BIOCOMPOSITE MATERIAL BASED ON SAWDUST BIOMASS FOR REMOVAL OF PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
ELENA-MIRELA SUCEVEANU(1), NARCIS-TEODOR NIȚA(2), LACRAMIOARA RUSU(1*)
This study aimed to develop a biocomposite material by immobilizing sawdust in a natural polymer matrix (chitosan) and to evaluate its biosorptive potential for the removal of dyes and pharmaceutical compounds from aqueous solutions. The synthesized biocomposite, designated as C-SD-2.5%, was characterized by scanning-electron-microscopy (SEM), X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and Fourier transforms infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Additionally, particle size and the point of zero charge were established. Its biosorption capacity was evaluated for the removal of two dyes, Malachite green (MG) and Brilliant green (BG), and one pharmaceutical compound, Ethacridine lactate (EL), from aqueous media. The results demonstrated that the removal efficiency exceeded 96 % for all tested molecules after 48 hours under the selected experimental conditions. These findings suggest that the synthesized C-SD-2.5% biocomposite has strong potential as a low-cost and effective adsorbent for the removal of MG, BG, and EL from aqueous environment.
INSIGHT INTO THE RISKS OF MILK CONSUMPTION, POTENTIALLY CONTAMINATED WITH HEAVY METALS AND POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
ANDREEA LAURA BANICA(1,2), CRISTIANA RADULESCU(1,3,4*), RADU LUCIAN OLTEANU(3), IOANA DANIELA DULAMA(2), RALUCA MARIA STIRBESCU(2)
The study aimed to identify the health risks associated with consuming processed milk contaminated with heavy metals (HMs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) for adults and children. The risk analyses were performed by applying specific exposure and toxicity indices, which allowed a differentiated comparison between age groups and types of milk. The results highlighted significant variations in the risk level depending on the contaminant and consumer category, with higher values observed in the case of adults. At the same time, the statistical correlations performed between the risk indices suggested the existence of interdependence between exposure to heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, highlighting the potential cumulative effect of these emerging contaminants.
IMPACT OF DIETS RICH IN DAIRY FOODS ON CIRCULATING MELATONIN LEVELS AND SLEEP QUALITY
VASILE-COSMIN ANDRONACHI(1), MĂDĂLINA MATEI(1*), RĂZVAN-MIHAIL RADU-RUSU(1), FLORIN GHEORGHE LUP(2*), DANIEL SIMEANU(1)
Diet and sleep are two basic components that directly regulate each individual's overall health. Specialized studies increasingly emphasize that the contemporary human population has difficulties in maintaining optimal body health as a result of the sedentary lifestyle, specific to the 3rd millennium, which is characterized by an increasing proportion of work activity under the influence of artificial light. Scientific evidence available in the literature up to the year 2025 shows that both sleep deprivation and poor quality sleep are generally associated with the promotion of cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative diseases. Dairy-rich diets are optimal options for improving sleep quality because they are rich in protein and especially tryptophan, an essential amino acid that is the basic precursor involved in the synthesis of melatonin, the hormone responsible for initiating, maintaining and improving sleep quality. This work is a complement to the research initiated by the authors on the development of functional dairy food products that improve quality of life by promoting good quality sleep. The paper contains concrete scientific evidence demonstrating that the type of diet and eating pattern directly influences sleep architecture and sleep quality.
RESEARCH ON THE USE OF DEPROTEINISED WHEY IN BEER PRODUCTION
ELENA R. HUBER(1), ADRIANA DABIJA(2), ANCUȚA CHETRARIU(2*)
Preventing waste generation is the top priority of the New Waste Framework Directive (Directive 2008/98/EC), which then places the least emphasis on disposal and more on processing for reuse (valorization), recycling, and recovery. In a similar vein, the European Union's bio-economy policy needs to be implemented in order to enhance biological resource management, create new markets for food and biobased goods, and protect the environment. Dairy processors must therefore create efficient and lucrative methods of managing whey waste, especially given the exorbitant prices of the waste treatments used today. The consumers, business, and scientific community are becoming more interested in the recycling and reuse of food and agricultural industry by-products. Deriving added value from otherwise lost food production outputs is a key principle of the circular bioeconomy, even though there is still disagreement over a common definition of this notion. Whey, a by-product generated during the manufacture of cheese and casein-based dairy products, is rich in nutrients and has several commercial uses. This by-product can be used in various value-added products with the help of advanced technologies. Obtaining whey beverages represents a viable solution for valorization that can be used by cheese producers in our country. The paper proposed the valorization of deproteinised whey in the manufacture of whey beer. It was used in a proportion of 30 % as a substitute for water in the beer production process. Also, to improve the physical-chemical and sensory characteristics, local syrups were used. The most appreciated variant from a sensory point of view was the whey beer with fir bud syrup. The finished product - whey beer, is a product with properties similar to beer: pleasant, characteristic smell, with hop aroma, pleasant bittersweet taste.
ASSESSMENT OF PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS IN WINES FROM LOCAL MOLDOVAN GRAPE VARIETIES BY HPLC–DAD-MS-ESI TECHNIQUE
ECATERINA COVACI(*), NATALIA VLADEI, RODICA STURZA
Grapes (Vitis vinifera) are one of the major fruit sources of phenolic compounds. Grape’s skin and seeds contain high amounts of bioactive phenolic compounds; polyphenols and wine quality are closely interrelated. This study presents the composition of individual polyphenols, estimated by HPLC–DAD-MS-ESI, the total polyphenolic content and the antioxidant activity of 5 local grapes varieties (Feteasca Alba, Feteasca Regala, Viorica, Feteasca Neagra and Rara Neagra) and one European variety (Cabernet Petit). The value of total polyphenolic content of the studied local red wines (Rara Neagra and Feteasca Neagra) varied between 604 and 1354 mg·L-1 and 250 and 300 mg·L-1 for white ones (Feteasca Alba, Feteasca Regala and Viorica). The average of antioxidant activities determined by DPPH • (expressed in mmol Trolox·L-1) in dry red wines from Feteasca Neagra and Rara Neagra samples was about 500 - 620 mmol Trolox equivalent·L-1, which indicates a significant antioxidant effect of these wines. According to the obtained results and the chemometric tools, it was concluded that wines obtained from Moldovan grape varieties are a valuable source of bioactive compounds.
THE IMPACT OF PESTICIDES ON BIOACTIVE MOLECULES IN VEGETABLES
IOANA A. STEFANESCU
Organic agriculture is a production system that, due to the very low or absent use of pesticides, has as its main advantage the absence of the risk of transmitting toxic substances to the population. Another advantage of organic agriculture over conventional agriculture is the reduction of the impact of pesticides on the environment. In this work, the metabolic changes presented by three selected organic and conventional vegetables were analyzed (pepper, parsley and ginger) using redox titration and enzymatic methods, with a focus on fresh products. The results show increased accumulations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and, implicitly, a very high activity against oxidative stress, in the case of the three vegetables from conventional agriculture. Therefore, increasing organic farming practices can largely eliminate both the risks posed by dietary exposure to pesticides and the negative impact on the environment. Encouraging farmers to adopt organic farming in parallel with developing policies to support and supply supermarkets with ecological food.