Toxicological assessment of pesticide contaminated soils with use of biotests

The paper presents the results of experiments on ecological toxicity assessment performed for 12 soil samples collected at 3 obsolete pesticide “tombs” in Poland, before their final disposal. Bioavailability of the main pollutants: p,p’-DDT, lindane and methoxychlor was assessed for selected samples by consecutive solid phase extraction using a Tenax TA sorbent. Several toxicity bioassays were also carried out, including: reducers (Microtox Soild Phase), producers (Phytotox) and consumers (tests of avoidance, acute toxicity and reproduction with use of the earthworm Eisenia foetida). Data from toxicity tests were discussed against the results of the chemical analysis of a wide range of pesticides determined by GC-ECD and GC-NPD. This part of the study enabled the evaluation of the applicability of the aforementioned bioassays in the assessment of pesticide soil pollution. Results of toxicity tests showed a slight to severe impairment of habitat function for all of the contaminated samples, which was only partially reflected by the analytical data. The most sensitive biotest was earthworm reproduction, followed by Phytotox and earthworm acute toxicity. Earthworm avoidance and Microtox tests were found to be of rather limited usability

Do Land Use Changes Balance out Sediment Yields under Climate Change Predictions on the Sub-Basin Scale? The Carpathian Basin as an Example

The issue of whether land use changes will balance out sediment yields induced by climate predictions was assessed for a Carpathian basin (Raba River, Poland). This discussion was based on the Macromodel DNS (Discharge–Nutrient–Sea)/SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) results for the RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios and LU predictions. To track sediment yield responses on the sub-basin level the studied area was divided into 36 units. The response of individual sub-basins to climate scenarios created a mosaic of negative and positive sediment yield changes in comparison to the baseline scenario. Then, overlapped forest and agricultural areas change indicated those sub-basins where sediment yields could be balanced out or not. The model revealed that sediment yields could be altered even by 49% in the selected upper sub-basins during the spring-summer months, while for the lower sub-basins the predicted changes will be less effective (3% on average). Moreover, the winter period, which needs to be re-defined due to an exceptional occurrence of frost and snow cover protecting soils against erosion, will significantly alter the soil particle transfer among the seasons. Finally, it has been shown that modeling of sediment transport, based on averaged meteorological values and LU changes, can lead to significant errors

Nitrate Vulnerable Zones Revision in Poland—Assessment of Environmental Impact and Land Use Conflicts

Despite concerted efforts through the European territory, the problems of nitrogen pollution released from agricultural sources have not been resolved yet. Therefore, infringement cases are still open against a few Member States, including Poland, based on fulfilment problems of commitments regarding the Nitrate Directive. As a result of the litigation process, Poland has completely changed its approach to nitrate vulnerable zones. Instead of just selected areas, the measured actions will be implemented throughout the whole Polish territory. Additionally, further restrictions concerning the fertilizer use calendar will be introduced in areas indicated as extremely cold or hot, based on the average temperature distribution (poles of cold, and heat). Such a change will be of key importance to farmers, whose protests are already audible throughout the country, and can be expected to intensify. To assess the impact of the introduced modifications a modelling approach has been adopted. The use of the Macromodel DNS/SWAT allowed for the development of baseline and variant scenarios incorporating details of stipulated changes in the fertilizer use for a pilot catchment (Słupia River). The results clearly indicate that the new restriction will have a substantial effect on the aquatic environment by altering the amount of released total nitrogen

Assessment of total nitrogen loads discharged from agricultural catchments in the context of changes in the nitrates directive implementation

Znowelizowana ustawa Prawo Wodne wraz z „Programem działań mającym na celu zmniejszenie zanieczyszczenia wód azotanami pochodzącymi ze źródeł rolniczych oraz zapobieganie dalszemu zanieczyszczeniu” została przyjęta w sierpniu 2018 r. Nowe przepisy całkowicie zmieniły sposób wdrażania dyrektywy azotanowej, uznając cały kraj jako jeden wielki obszary szczególnego narażenia (OSN). Dodatkowo wyznaczyły obszary „bieguna zimna” i „bieguna ciepła”, gdzie terminy nawożenia odpowiednio skrócono lub wydłużono. Nowe przepisy obowiązują zbyt krótko, żeby można było na podstawie danych monitoringowych odpowiedzieć na pytanie, czy są skuteczne i rzeczywiście spowodowały ograniczenie ładunku azotu wprowadzanego do wód powierzchniowych. W artykule przedstawiono możliwość wykorzystania makromodelu DNS/SWAT, jako narzędzia prognostycznego, na podstawie którego zbudowano trzy scenariusze wariantowe symulujące skutki ograniczenia lub wydłużenia okresów nawożenia w przykładowej zlewni Przymorza (rzeka Słupia, profil Charnowo). Otrzymane wyniki pozwoliły precyzyjnie określić zarówno wartości ładunku azotu ogólnego w wybranym profilu obliczeniowym, jak i przewidywany stopień jego zmniejszenia lub zwiększenia w zależności od przyjętej długości okresu nawożenia. Wyniki symulacji wykazały jednoznacznie, że bardziej restrykcyjne przepisy dotyczące okresów nawożenia wpłyną na zmniejszenie ładunku azotu w wodach powierzchniowych. Powstałe w ostatnim czasie narzędzia, takie jak Polski Atlas Natężeń Deszczów (PANDa), mogą znacząco poprawić weryfikację użytych modeli, w których moduł meteorologiczny odgrywa podstawową rolę, tak jak ma to miejsce w przypadku makromodelu DNS/SWAT przystosowanego do prowadzenia analiz jakości wód, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem zabiegów agrotechnicznych prowadzonych w zlewni.The amended Water Law Act together with the “Program of measures aimed at reducing the pollution of waters with nitrates from agricultural sources and prevention of further pollution” was adopted in August 2018. The new regulations completely changed the implementation of the Nitrates Directive, recognizing the whole country as one large area of NVZ (nitrate vulnerable zone). In addition, “pole of cold” and “pole of heat” areas were designated where fertilization timelines were shortened or extended accordingly. It is too early to confirm the efficiency of the new regulations based on monitoring data or quantify their contribution to limiting nitrogen load in surface waters. Therefore, in this article, a DNS/SWAT macromodel was employed as a prognostic tool to develop three variant scenarios simulating the effects of limitation or extension of fertilization periods in the exemplary catchment of Przymorze (Slupia river, Charnowo profile). The results obtained allowed for a precise determination of both the total nitrogen load in the selected calculation profile and the anticipated degree of its reduction or increase depending on the assumed length of the fertilization period. The results indicate that more restrictive regulations regarding fertilization periods translate into a reduction in total nitrogen load in surface waters. Recently developed tools such as Polish Atlas of Rainfall Intensity (PANDa rainfall model) may significantly improve validation of the models employed. In these models, the meteorological module plays a central role like in the DNS/SWAT macromodel equipped to perform water quality analyses with a particular focus on agrotechnical measures implemented in the catchment