Scientific report

1. -Water, land and air analysis- Scientific report 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.

2. 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)

3. 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 Sóstó 8,5 pH Dongéri canal, near the school Sample 2 8 pH Dongéri canal, where thermal water is let into the canal Sample 3 Minerals, plants and algae; water is kind of green

4. WATER-Poland- 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.

5. Sample 1 A pond in the woods 6,5 pH Almost 7 pH A spring Sample 2 WATER-Poland- Pale colour; sand and remains of aquatic plants A little sand

6. WATER-Czech Republic- Sample 1 The Morava river Sample 2 A garden lake 7 pH 6,25 pH Slightly yellow, no odour Slightly green, a fishy odour Analysing the water samples, using a compact laboratory kit for water testing

7. WATER-Czech Republic- Microscopic findings

8. The first sample of water was taken from The Dâmboviţa River, in Budeşti town. The second sample of water was taken from The Danube River, in Olteniţa town. The third sample of water was taken from the Red Lake, a natural lake in the mountains. WaterRomania

9. The Red Lake The water has nearly no odour. The water is transparent. 350mg/l of natural remains in the water. Almost 7 pH. WaterRomania Dâmboviţa river in Budeşti town The water has a bad rotten odour. It is almost matte. 800 mg/l of residues. 6,3 pH. The Danube river in Olteniţa town The water has a bad odour. It is almost matte. 900 mg/l of residues. 6,5pH.

10. 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

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

12. Air-Hungary- 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. We have found a lot of lichens around our school.

13. 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.

14. Air-Poland- The outskirt of the surveyed area Sample 1 A large dust content Sample 2 A small dust content In the woods Sample 3

15. Air-Czech Republic- Dub nad Moravou is a village far away from industrial centers. The corner of a school building Sample 1 Large pollution – dust and dirt No dust or dirt At the church, near the village park Sample 2

16. 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-

17. The schoolyard Outskirts of Bucharest Trees with significant discoloration and a dust layer Healthy green plants Air-Romania-

18. 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)

19. Soil-Hungary- In Kiskunhalas, students found mainly sandy soil with humus and lick soil. Roots, leaves, microorganisms, residues, twigs. A soil sample Nearby fields 8,8 pH

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

21. Soil-Poland- A soil sample In the forest 5,5 pH 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.

22. Soil-Czech Republic- 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. A nearby field A soil sample Small plant roots, remains of soil microorganisms, residues, leaves and twigs 5,7 pH

23. 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.

24. SoilRomania 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.

25. Moieciu town land pH = 4,5 - 5 Ilfov district land pH = 8 - 8,5 Our schoolyard land pH = 6 - 6,5 SoilRomania

26. 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! We don't want the future to be a disaster, do we?! Good luck for saving our planet!