Scientific report-Water, land and air

analysis-

This activity is a final product of the Virtual Eden project. Students from the four countries collected water, land and air samples and then they analysed them. So, we can see

how clean our environment is.

Water

Methods and materials:

- water samples from various locations

- making a map of the locations

- macroscopic, microscopic and chemical analysis

- decantation and filtration for residues

- pH (pH-meter)

Kiskunhalas is situated in between two major rivers, the Danube and the Tisza. The town used to be surrounded by lakes, ponds,

swamps, all rich in fish.

WATER-Hungary-

Sample 1

Sample 3

Sample 2

Minerals, plants and

algae; water is kind of green

8 pH

8,5 pHSóstó

Dongéri canal, where thermal

water is let into the canal

Dongéri canal, near the school

Jastrzębie-Zdrój is situated at the watershed of two drainage areas in Poland: the Vistula river and the Oder river. Within the Jastrzębie-Zdrój city limits eight streams have their sources.

WATER-Poland-

WATER-Poland-

Pale colour; sand and

remains of aquatic plants

A little sand

Sample 1

Sample 2

A pond in the woods

A springAlmost7 pH

6,5 pH

 Analysing the water samples, using a

compact laboratory kit for water testing

WATER-Czech Republic-

Sample 1The Morava

river

Sample 2A garden

lake

7 pH6,25 pH

Slightly green, a fishy odour

Slightly yellow, no

odour

Microscopic findingsWATER

-Czech Republic-

WaterRomania

The Red LakeThe water has nearly no odour. The water

is transparent. 350mg/l of natural

remains in the water. Almost 7 pH.

The Danube riverin Olteniţa townThe water has a bad odour. It is almost matte.

900 mg/l of residues.

6,5pH.

Dâmboviţa riverin Budeşti town

The water has a bad rotten odour. It is almost matte.

800 mg/l of residues.

6,3 pH.

WaterRomania

Air

Methods and materials:

- air samples from various locations

- making a map of the locations

- determination of samples odour

- taking a photo of plants in surveyed area

Kiskunhalas is situated in the great plain of Hungary, called Alföld. The air pollution is moderate here. The main source of pollution is a main road, which goes across this area. In addition, in the winters we have to heat up our homes and we also generate some carbon dioxide, nitric oxide and loose soot with it.

Air-Hungary-

Plants aren't affected by air pollution. The leaves are nice green, with no significant discolorations.

Lichens are good indicators: if you can see lichens somewhere, the air has got very small amount of SO2 there or it hasn’t got any at all. This means the air is not polluted.

Air-Hungary-

We have found a lot of lichens around our school.

Air pollution is one of the most dangerous environmental hazards. Air pollutants arise from a wide variety of sources, although they are mainly a result of the combustion process.

Air-Poland-

The map lichen can be seen in the survey area. It indicates low air pollution.

Air-Poland-

Sample 1

Sample 3

Sample 2

The outskirt of the surveyed area

In the woodsA small

dust content

A large dust content

Air-Czech Republic-

Sample 1

Sample 2

The corner of a school building

At the church, near the village

parkNo dust or dirt

Large pollution – dust and dirt

Dub nad Moravou is a village far away from industrial centers.

Bucharest is the largest city of Romania, so it is the most polluted. The centre of Bucharest, where our school is situated, is the most polluted zone of the city.

Air-Romania-

Air-Romania-The schoolyard

Outskirts of Bucharest

Healthy green plants

Trees with significant

discoloration and a dust layer

Soil

Methods and materials:

- soil samples from various locations

- making a map of the locations

- macroscopic, microscopic and chemical analysis of soil samples

- decantation and filtration

- pH (pH-meter)

Soil-Hungary-

In Kiskunhalas, students found mainly sandy soil with humus and lick soil.

A soil sample

Nearby fields

Roots, leaves, microorganisms, residues, twigs.

8,8 pH

Soil-Poland-

In the area of Jastrzębie-Zdrój two types of soil are predominant: Podzols and Cambisols.

In the surveyed area three illegal landfills were traced. Each of them extends on the area 3-4 m². They consist mainly of household waste and old tires.

Soil-Poland-

A soil sample

In the forest

5,5 pH

The main agricultural crops grown in the zone of Dub nad Moravou area are potatoes, wheat, maize, sugar beet, oilseed rape and vegetables. The brown soil around the village is very fertile, with humus horizon about 30 cm high.

Soil-Czech Republic-

A soil sample

A nearby field

Small plant roots, remains of soil

microorganisms, residues, leaves

and twigs

5,7 pH

SoilRomania

Bucharest is situated in the south eastern corner of the Romanian Plain, in an area once covered by the Vlăsiei forest, which, after it was cleared, gave way to a fertile flatland.

Three samples of soil were taken and analyzed.They contained roots, microorganisms, residues, particles of sand and broken pebbles. Illegal landfills were found near the school and in the center of Romana Square.

SoilRomania

Moieciu townland pH = 4,5 - 5

Ilfov districtland pH = 8 - 8,5

Our schoolyardland pH = 6 - 6,5

SoilRomania

After analyzing the most important elements of our planet and, definitely, the indispensable things for our life, we found out that the Earth is in trouble. This trouble isn't big, provided that we care about it. We must think twice before doing something that might be harmful to the inhabitants of our planet.

But if we don't care, it's going to be a disaster!