Surface soil samples were collected near the Open Pit Bor (S1) and Open Pit Cerovo (S2), a grassland along the Borska Reka River (S3) and an unpolluted garden near Slatina village (reference site). Spontaneous plants (dandelion, nettle, coltsfoot, and creeping buttercup) and vegetables (onion, garlic, carrot, parsley, celery, potatoes, dill, and sorrel) were obtained from the former three sites and the reference site, respectively. The samples were analyzed for Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Pb via FAAS. Pollution indices indicated low-to-moderate soil contamination at sites S1, S2, and S3. Cu was the main contaminant of environmental concern, being above the maximum admitted concentration at site S1. Metal levels in spontaneous plants were below phytotoxic levels. Cu content of leafy vegetables and celery roots and Pb content of most vegetables were not safe for human consumption. Metal concentrations tended to be significantly lower in plants than in soils, with only Cu occurring at significantly elevated levels in celery roots and sorrel leaves. Non-carcinogenic risk assessment showed that consumption of carrot roots and especially celery roots grown on unpolluted soils from the Bor area might pose long-term health risks for females and males, with the main contributors being Cu and Fe.

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The present study quantified the effect of difenoconazole (DFC) on bacteria and mold communities grown in laboratory conditions, in treated soil microcosms difenoconazole, using the following concentrations: control, half dose (0.037 mg DFC / g soil, HD), normal dose (0.075 mg DFC / g soil, ND) and double dose (0.150 mg DFC / g soil, DD). The microbiological analysis included mesophilic bacteria involved in the nitrogen cycle: aerobic and anaerobic nitrogen-fixing, ammonifying, nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria. The mesophilic bacteria were incubated at 37�C and identified qualitatively on solid growth medium (Nutrient agar), whereas soil fungi were identified both quantitatively and qualitatively on solid growth medium (Potato-Glucose-Agar). In high doses, the DFC decreased the microbial communities involved in nitrogen cycle, namely aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and denitrifying bacteria. Noticeable was the response of two genera, namely Mucor sp. and Actinomucor sp., that showed resistance to the toxic effect of DFC, underlying their potential further practical use in the decontamination of polluted soils.