V3 7 Tóth R., Hiller E., Špirová V., Jurkovič Ľ., Polčan I., Ševčíková Ľ., Macek J. Auxt A. (2024): Application of Active Soil Gas Screening for the Identification of Groundwater Contamination with Chlorinated Hydrocarbons at an Industrial Area – a Case Study of the Former Refrigerator Manufacturer Calex (City of Zlaté Moravce, Western Slovakia. Applied Sciences (2024), 14(23), 10842; (MDPI) (Q1 – 100%) https://doi.org/10.3390/app142310842

V3 Faragó, T., Špirová V., Blažeková, P., Lalinská-Voleková, B., Macek, J., Jurkovič, Ľ., Vítková, M., Hiller, E., 2023: Environmental and health impacts assessment of long-term naturally-weathered municipal solid waste incineration ashes deposited in soil—old burden in Bratislava city, Slovakia. Heliyon, s. 1-18, Art. No. e13605. IF - JRC: 2022 - 4. Q2 [Multidisciplinary] 2022.

V3 Hiller, E., Pilková, Z., Filová L., Mihaljevič, M., Špirová, V., Jurkovič, Ľ.: 2022: Metal(loid) concentrations, bioaccessibility and stable lead isotopes in soils and vegetables from urban community gardens. Chemosphere, Vol. 305, s. 1-10, Art. No. 135499. IF – JRC: 2021 - 8,493. wos-jrc – Q1 [Environmental sciences] 2021.

V3 Hiller, E., Mihaljevic, M., Filová, L., Lachká, L., Jurkovič, Ľ., Kuliková, T., Fajčíková, K., Šimurková, M., Tatarková, V. 2017: Occurrence of selected trace metals and their oral bioaccessibility in urban soils of kindergartens and parks in Bratislava (Slovak Republic) as evaluated by simple in vitro digestion procedure. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. Vol. 144, s. 611-621, IF - JCR: 2017 - 3,974 wos-jcr -- Q1 [environmental science] ; Q1 [toxicology] -- 2016

V3 Tatarková, V., Hiller, E., Vaculík, M., 2013: Impact of wheat straw biochar addition to soil on the sorption, leaching, dissipation of the herbicide (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)acetic acid and the growth of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. - Vol. 92, s. 215-221. IF - JCR: 2013 - 2,482.

V3 7 Tóth R., Hiller E., Špirová V., Jurkovič Ľ., Polčan I., Ševčíková Ľ., Macek J. Auxt A. (2024): Application of Active Soil Gas Screening for the Identification of Groundwater Contamination with Chlorinated Hydrocarbons at an Industrial Area – a Case Study of the Former Refrigerator Manufacturer Calex (City of Zlaté Moravce, Western Slovakia. Applied Sciences (2024), 14(23), 10842; (MDPI) (Q1 – 100%) https://doi.org/10.3390/app142310842

V3 Faragó, T., Špirová V., Blažeková, P., Lalinská-Voleková, B., Macek, J., Jurkovič, Ľ., Vítková, M., Hiller, E., 2023: Environmental and health impacts assessment of long-term naturally-weathered municipal solid waste incineration ashes deposited in soil—old burden in Bratislava city, Slovakia. Heliyon, s. 1-18, Art. No. e13605. IF - JRC: 2022 - 4. Q1 [Multidisciplinary] 2022.

V3 Hiller, E., Pilková, Z., Filová L., Mihaljevič, M., Špirová, V., Jurkovič, Ľ.: 2022: Metal(loid) concentrations, bioaccessibility and stable lead isotopes in soils and vegetables from urban community gardens. Chemosphere, Vol. 305, s. 1-10, Art. No. 135499. IF – JRC: 2021 - 8,493. wos-jrc – Q1 [Environmental sciences] 2021.

V3 Hiller, E., Mihaljevic, M., Filová, L., Lachká, L., Jurkovič, Ľ., Kuliková, T., Fajčíková, K., Šimurková, M., Tatarková, V. 2017: Occurrence of selected trace metals and their oral bioaccessibility in urban soils of kindergartens and parks in Bratislava (Slovak Republic) as evaluated by simple in vitro digestion procedure. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. Vol. 144, s. 611-621, IF - JCR: 2017 - 3,974. [o1] 2021 - Rozanski, S. - Castejon, J. M. P. - McGahan, D. G. - Child risk assessment of selected metal(loid)s from urban soils using in vitro UBM procedure. - In: Ecological Indicators, Vol. 127, 2021 ; Art. No. 107726

V3 Hiller, E., Mihaljevic, M., Filová, L., Lachká, L., Jurkovič, Ľ., Kuliková, T., Fajčíková, K., Šimurková, M., Tatarková, V. 2017: Occurrence of selected trace metals and their oral bioaccessibility in urban soils of kindergartens and parks in Bratislava (Slovak Republic) as evaluated by simple in vitro digestion procedure. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. Vol. 144, s. 611-621, IF - JCR: 2017 - 3,974. o1] 2020 - Sahakyan, L. - Tepanosyan, G. - Maghakyan, N. - Melkonyan, G. - Saghatelyan, A. - Mercury contents and potential risk levels in soils and outdoor dust from kindergartens of the city of Vanadzor (Armenia). - In: Human and Ecological Risk Assessment, Vol. 27, No. 5, 2020 ; s. 1258-1275

V3 Tatarková, V., Hiller, E., Halko R., 2014: Retention Characteristics of Acetochlor in Soils Collected from Different Depths in Relation to Soil Properties (Zitny ostrov Area, SW Slovakia). Soil and Water Research. Vol. 9, No. 2, s. 58-65. IF - JCR: 2014. - 0,659. [o1] 2018 - Gopalan, N.K. - Chenicherry, S. - In: Sustainable Environment Research, Vol. 28, No. 4, 2018 ; s. 179-185

V3 Tatarková, V., Hiller, E., Vaculík, M., 2013: Impact of wheat straw biochar addition to soil on the sorption, leaching, dissipation of the herbicide (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)acetic acid and the growth of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. - Vol. 92, s. 215-221. IF - JCR: 2013 - 2,482. [o1] 2020 - Sashidhar, P. - Kochar, M. - Singh, B. - Gupta, M. - Cahill, D. - Adholeya, A. - Dubey, M. - In: Science of the Total Environment, Vol. 703, February, 2020 ; Art. No. 134892

V3 Hiller, E., Tatarková, V., Šimonovičová, A., Bartal', M., 2012: Sorption, desorption, and degradation of (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)acetic acid in representative soils of the Danubian Lowland, Slovakia. Chemosphere. - Vol. 87, No. 5, s. 437-444. IF - JCR: 2012 - 3,137. [o1] 2018 - Wu, D. - Yun, Y. - Jiang, L. - Wu, C. - In: Science of the Total Environment, Vol. 616-617, March, 2018 ; s. 1449-1456

Principal investigator

Project Nr.: 09I01-03-V04-00067. Project duration: 1.9.2024-30.6.2026. Project title: Supporting the circular economy by utilizing waste materials in innovative remediation technologies focused on removing micropollutants from solid matrices. Akronym: PANACEA. Financially supported by: Recovery and Resilience Plan

Anotácia: Micropollutants are organic or inorganic pollutants of natural or synthetic origin, which are found in trace amounts (ng to µg) in environment. Despite their very low concentration, they have a negative impact on individual environmental compartments and are toxic to living organisms. The PANACEA project is focused on the laboratory study of the removal of micropollutants from solid matrices (soils, sludges, sediments) using reagents prepared from waste and/or natural materials and at the same time applying innovative and environmentally acceptable approaches. The aim of the project is the degradation, transformation or immobilization of micropollutants and thus reducing their concentration and mobility in the environment. The use of waste materials for the remediation of contaminated matrices is also in line with the principles of the circular economy and the long-term strategy of the European Union in the field of environmental protection and waste management.

Partner

Project Nr.: 101112723. Project duration: 1.10.2023 - 30.9.2027. Project title: Achieving Remediation And GOverning Restoration of contaminated soils Now. Acronym: ARAGORN. Financially supported by: EUROPEAN RESEARCH EXECUTIVE AGENCY (REA)

Annotation: Soil contamination is a severe hazard to humans and the environment. We propose Achieving Remediation And GOverning Restoration of contaminated soils Now (ARAGORN) through development and implementation of a complete framework. The framework starts from the identification of contaminated sites and presents a decision-making tree to identify remediation and restoration strategies, and

contribute to the aims of the EU Soil Strategy. The framework is grounded in scientific progress and adapted to fully support public and

private land managers to take effective actions to protect, remediate and restore the environment on Europe’s polluted soils. ARAGORN

will provide better insights into contaminated sites and improve remediation and restoration decision-making by implementing robust

mapping and monitoring tools that are fit-for-purpose and covers a wide range of contaminants. Neglected hotspot polluted sites will be

identified by fit-for-purpose monitoring and decision strategies. This will enable public and private stakeholders of contaminated sites to

move from regrettable remediation to restorative remediation. ARAGORN will compile and test remediation strategies and sustainable

soil decontamination solutions, and will develop and put in practice nature-based solutions, improve knowledge on biodiversity and

deliver a framework for step-by-step decision making in terms of what is the best approach for resilient restoration in various European

countries. The complete framework will be developed together with strategic engagement of land managers throughout Europe, and by

rooting knowledge through co-creative processes and sustainable infrastructures. The implementation will be done through a strong team

of multidisciplinary scientists and practitioners with ongoing commitments with a diverse set of stakeholders across Europe at the local,

national and EU level. We will interlink land managers and sectors across Europe to take effective action on soil health and provide

longevity links and support to several EU policy and international commitments.

Scientific co-worker

Project Nr.: VEGA1/0246/23. Project duration: 1/2023-12/2025. Project title: Spatial distribution, geochemical fractionation, oral bioaccessibility and bioaccumulation of hazardous trace metals/metalloids in soils and vegetables of urban community and private gardens in Bratislava city. Financially supported by: Vedecká grantová agentúra MŠVVaM SR a SAV

Annotation: Gardens in urban areas have many functions; one of them is self-supply of the residents with home grown vegetables and fruits. On the other hand, soil and cultivated products can pose a human health risk as urban areas are characterized by many emission sources of hazardous chemical elements. The main aim of this project is to determine the contents of trace metals characteristic for the urban environment (arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg) and zinc (Zn)) in soils and vegetables of urban gardens in Bratislava city (Slovakia). This project will include the measurement of oral bioaccessibility of trace metals using „in vitro“ tests, which is a more appropriate indicator of the potential human health risks. Moreover, the project will seek an answer whether soil properties, geochemical fractionation and mineralogy influence the bioaccessibility and bioaccumulation of hazardous metals in soils and vegetables.

Scientific co-worker

Project Nr.: APVV-22-0134. Project duration: 1.7.2023 - 30.6.2027. Project title: Complex model of the W-Mo deposit Ochtiná-Rochovce and environmentally acceptable possibilities of its exploitation. Acronym: Model of W-Mo deposit Ochtiná. Financially supported by: Agentúra na podporu výskumu a vývoja

Annotation:The project deals with a unique, economically usable accumulation of tungsten in Slovakia, which is also important from the point of view of the entire European Union, as tungsten is considered the critical metal with the highest index of economic importance. At the W-Mo porphyry deposit Ochtiná-Rochovce, the recent exploration enabled to identify extractable reserves of this metal and obtain a mining permit, but many basic geological, mineralogical and genetic information as well as data on potential environmental risks of mining are missing. The project will generate a new geological-structural-genetic model of the W-Mo deposit, which will allow a more rational and efficient search for mineralized structures, even in the wider vicinity of the deposit, where the occurences of base and precious metal mineralisations are known. The prevention of the negative impact of mining activities on the environment will also be addressed. Hydraulic and hydrogeochemical models of the deposit area will be generated in order to prevent the risk of groundwater infiltration into mining works and pollution of both surface and groundwater. Potential mining wastes and wastes after ore processing will also be comprehensively assessed. The creation of complex 2D and 3D GIS models of the deposit and its surroundings will significantly contribute not only to the formulation of a geological-genetic model of the deposit, but also to more efficient planning of exploration and environmentally acceptable mining activities at the deposit and in its vicinity. The project's outputs will also have the potential to make a significant contribution to the efficient exploration for this rare and poorly -studied type of ore deposits throughout the European Union, but also in other parts of the world.

Scientific co-worker

Project Nr: APVV-21-0212. Project duration: 1.7.2022 - 30.6.2026. Project title: Selected environmental burdens as a stress factor influencing biodiversity and health risks for exposed groups of the population. Acronym: BURDENS. Financially supported by: Agentúra na podporu výskumu a vývoja.

Annotation: Environmental burden is the pollution of an area caused by human activity that poses a serious risk to human health or the rock environment, groundwater and soil, with the exception of environmental damage. Within the project, a detailed research of the composition of the deposited material on individual organic farms will be carried out using the most modern field and laboratory methodologies in the field of geochemistry and mineralogy. Previous knowledge from individual studied localities will be supplemented by current analyzes of waters, soils, river sediments and ocher precipitates collected during the project. A new direction in the assessment of organic farming could be the interdisciplinary connection of geological and biological research with a focus on the impact of environmental contamination on biodiversity in the monitored localities. The acquired knowledge should then be used in the assessment and calculation of health risks, especially in terms of the involvement of scenarios of consumption of contaminated inputs into the food chain of the studied exposed groups of the population. We can also consider the testing and design of remediation technologies as an important goal of the project, which should be tested within the project in laboratory as well as pilot (pilot) experiments directly at the investigated localities.