ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Environmental Risk Evaluation for Specific
Organic Micropollutants in Protected
Area of Lake Zobnatica, Serbia
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1
University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Department of Environmental Engineering and Occupational
Safety and Health, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 6, Novi Sad, Serbia
2
InoSens doo, Sonje Marinković 18, Novi Sad, Serbia
3
Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology in
Bratislava, Radlinského 9, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
4
University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Department of Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Trg Dositeja
Obradovića 6, Novi Sad, Serbia
Submission date: 2024-11-08
Final revision date: 2024-12-30
Acceptance date: 2025-02-24
Online publication date: 2025-04-16
Corresponding author
Ivana Mihajlović
University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Department of Environmental Engineering and Occupational
Safety and Health, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 6, Novi Sad, Serbia
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ABSTRACT
This work aimed to determine the most relevant organic pollutants, especially pesticide residues,
in water samples from the protected area of Lake Zobnatica in the Vojvodina region, Serbia. Sampling
campaigns were conducted within different seasons related to different agricultural activities in the
vicinity of the protected area. The intensive use of pesticides led to the more frequent detection of specific
pesticides such as Terbuthylazine, alpha-Cypermethrin, and Aminomethyl phosphonic acid (AMPA)
during the summer, compared to the autumn campaign. In addition to these pesticide residues, other
organic pollutants, including phthalate esters, fatty acids, phenols, and aldehydes, were also detected.
The characterization of water from collectors in the protected area of Lake Zobnatica, in the Vojvodina
region, provided reliable data on the contamination of the selected wetland locality required for effective
risk assessments and risk management standards of the selected ecosystem. Additionally, three different
water pollution indices were calculated using physicochemical data, offering a comprehensive water
quality evaluation in the wetland. Environmental risk evaluation identified five compounds with highrisk
quotients: diisobutyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, eicosane, phenol, 2,4-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-, and
diphenyl sulfide. Obtained results would enable a more in-depth understanding of wetland problems
such as organic pollution and better management of wetland areas to mitigate pollution problems.