A history of interdisciplinary research on Lake Wigry

Lake Wigry is one of the best explored lakes in Poland, a feat which has been achieved thanks to the pas-sion and efforts of numerous scientists. This tremendous endeavour was supervised and coordinated by Professor Jacek Rutkowski and January 2021 marked the fifth anniversary of the professor’s death. To mark this occasion, a history of research on the lake was compiled on the basis of oral accounts and an overview of the works that have been created thanks to his ideas, supervision, and boundless empathy. It is crucial to continue the research, since it will allow for the even better protection of the environment, as well as the natural and landscape attributes of the Wigry region

Contrasting sediment and water chemistry indicates the extent of the hyporheic zone in a polluted river system

The concentrations of zinc and cadmium were determined in the sediment cores sampled from the floodplain and the channel in the middle reach of the Biała Przemsza River valley (southern Poland). The results were compared to the river water and groundwater chemistry in order to reveal the average extent of the hyporheic flow. The loss of river waters through the river bed due to the natural migration modified by the drainage of the lead-zinc ore mine caused the strong pollution of the river bed sediments with heavy metals to the depth of almost three meters below the water table in the river. Moreover, the similar groundwater and river water chemistry at that depth suggests that the vertical extent of the hyporheic zone, which exceeds a depth of several meters below the channel, can be affected by the drainage of river waters by the lead-zinc mine. The lateral extent of the hyporheic flow, indicated by changes in groundwater chemistry and elevated heavy metal concentrations in the sediments, was of the order of dozen of meters. The investigation documents the large impact of the secondary in situ enrichment of sediments with heavy metals in the hyporheic zone

Urban soil contamination with lead and cadmium in the playgrounds located near busy streets in Cracow (South Poland)

Pollution of urban soils with heavy metal caused by traffic activities is increasingly becoming a great threat to human health and environmental quality. This paper presents the results of research of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) distribution in soils located on playgrounds situated near busy streets in Cracow (Poland). Samples of sand and soil were taken from the top layers (0-10 cm) of ground. Concentrations of examined metals are within the ranges: Pb from 6.80 to 54.04 mg/kg and Cd from 1.60 to 2.61 mg/kg. The highest concentrations were found in the points near the most traffic roads, but this phenomenon is much more visible in the case of lead than cadmium and for places where there is soil on the surface. For sand samples metals amounts are much lower. Although the results have not indicated a high degree of soil’s contamination, they point to the problem of the children's exposure to toxic metals. Urban soil should be monitored particularly in such special places as playgrounds

Comparative analysis of Helix pomatia L. shells found in soils with varying degrees of contamination (southern Poland)

Soil samples and snails - Helix pomatia (Linnaeus, 1758) specimens were collected from the region of Lesser Poland. Research based on soil from this area showed a differentiated degree of environmental contamination, which influenced the composition of elements that build mollusc shells. Concentrations of Pb, Mn, Cd, Fe, Zn and Cu in the snail shells and soil varied between localities. The highest of these concentrations were found in the soil in the city of Cracow. They were higher than those measured in the regions outside the city, 7 times in the case of Cd, and up to 123 times higher for Cu. Positive association between soil pollution and shell contamination can be observed (rs≈0.9). A high concentration of metals in the environment and their bioavailability causes long-term accumulation of these elements in Helix pomatia shells

Investigating the content of microplastics and other extraneous particles in Polish bottled water

Bottled water has enjoyed a global increase in popularity since it is generally perceived to be superior in quality to tap water and necessary when tap water is non-potable. As a result, ensuring that it meets the requisite quality standards is of vital importance. This work aims to examine the content of solid particles, including microplastics, in bottled water available in Polish stores. The second aspect is the preliminary determination of the influence of the water gassing process, together with thermal and light factors, on the content of particles in the water. The number of particles was counted by colour and shape, with the number ranging from 87 to 188 per litre of water; on average, there were 136 ±32 particles per litre of water, demonstrating that water from disposable plastic bottles is contaminated with various substances. The difference in the number of particles may be due to the origin of the waters, the processes they were subjected to prior to bottling, the properties of the bottles as packaging, and the conditions and length of storage and transport. Additional Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis confirmed that about 75% of the particles were polymers, and 50% of them were plastics. Particularly alarming is the fact that the bottled waters mostly contained microplastic particles (MP) of smaller sizes, the kind which is recognized as being the most dangerous to human health. In the study, most particles were in the form of irregular shapes, which may indicate that they come from the destruction of waste or plastic products. This is also indicated by the domination of colourless particles. More particles were found in waters exposed to high and low temperatures than in waters stored at room temperature, potentially indicating that storage conditions for drinking water are important. Taking into account the results obtained, increasing attention should be paid to the health risks posed by such microplastics and there is a clear need to introduce legal regulations on the matter. The lack of any legal guidelines or unified standards in the field of MP research means that the results are not always representative, and it also makes it difficult to compare the results from different studies

The occurrence of microplastics in freshwater systems – preliminary results from Krakow (Poland)

The results of research conducted in recent years indicates that microplastic particles are widely distributed in the aquatic environment. The investigations are mostly focused on marine waters and there is still a lack of information about their presence in both surface water and groundwater. In this paper, preliminary results of research conducted in Poland are presented. Different types of water samples were collected. Five litres of each sample were filtered through 0.4 μm glass fibre filters. In the first stage, visual identification was conducted using a stereomicroscope. Additionally, some interesting fragments were examined by means of SEM/EDS method. In the case of rivers water samples, which were characterized by a high content of organic matter and minerals, the visibility of microplastics could be reduced. In the sample from the Vistula River, some particles similar to microplastics were found. In the groundwater samples, some blue and green particles which supposed to be plastic were found by the stereomicroscope. Additional analysis with the DXR Raman Microscope method gave no clear results. The samples were too small and the plastic particles were very dispersed which prevented correct analysis. SEM analysis showed irregularly shaped particles which were considered to be microplastics. Considering the chemical composition, carbon predominated

Wastewater Treatment Methods for Effluents from the Confectionery Industry – an Overview

Wastewater from the confectionery industry is characterized by daily and seasonal variability of composition and quantity which adversely affects the process of their disposal. Confectionery plants discharge about 300-500 m3 per month of technological wastewater. Sewage from the confectionery industry belongs to biologically degradable. It is characterized by high values of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological oxygen demand (BOD). The article reviews various methods used to treat wastewater from the confectionery industry. Attention was paid to the applicability of a particular method, its advantages and disadvantages and the costs of implementation. The technology of industrial wastewater treatment uses both mechanical and physicochemical methods as well as biological ones. Techniques of sewage treatment usually consist of several stages which use different processes. Low-cost materials such as natural minerals, agricultural waste, industrial waste, biosorbents, and others contribute to the improvement of aerobic sewage conditions. The main weakness of typical sewage treatment plants is their large area, high investment, and exploitation costs. Therefore, a good solution may be the use of the membrane biological reactor which combines the classical technique of activated sludge and filtration on micro-filtering membranes

Urban soil contamination with lead and cadmium in the playgrounds located near busy streets in Cracow (South Poland)

Tyt. z nagłówka.Bibliogr. s. 14-16.The pollution of urban soil with heavy metals caused by traffic activity is increasingly becoming a great threat to human health and environmental quality. This paper presents results of research of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) distribution in land on playgrounds situated near busy streets in Cracow (Poland). Samples of sand and soil were collected from the most top layer (0–10 cm). Concentrations of examined metals are: Pb from 6.80 to 54.04 mg/kg and Cd from 1.60 to 2.61 mg/kg, respectively. The highest concentrations were found in sampling points near the busiest roads, and are particularly visible in the case of lead concentration in soil samples. For sand samples, metal concentrations are much lower. Although the results have not determined a high degree of soil’s contamination, they indicate the problem of the children’s exposure to toxic metals. Urban soil should be monitored particularly in such special places as playgrounds.Dostępny również w formie drukowanej.KEYWORDS: urban soil, heavy metals, traffic pollutants, playgrounds

Metal Mobility in Afforested Sites of an Abandoned Zn-Pb Ore Mining Area

Heaps of waste material constitute a serious environmental problem in regions where the historical exploitation and processing of metal ores has taken place. The presented paper describes the trace metal distribution in selected heaps in the lead-zinc mining area of an abandoned mine in Poland, as well as the soil horizons beneath. The study aims at the estimation of the metal remobilization rate in vertical profiles in the spontaneously afforested area in the context of the potential danger it poses to the local groundwater. Individual samples were taken from profiles dug in heaps found in deciduous and coniferous forests. The bulk density, pH, organic matter and carbonate content, as well as the concentration and chemical forms of metals were analysed. Buffer properties and the mineralogical composition were also determined for the selected samples. The investigation indicates excessive cadmium, zinc and lead concentrations in the analysed heap material and the significant secondary enrichment of former soil horizons. A large percentage of these metals occur in potentially mobile forms. It suggests that, despite the high pH of the heap material and the good buffer properties of soil, cadmium and to a lesser extent, zinc, has migrated downwards to depths of at least several dozen centimetres over a period of about 200 years. This is related to soil acidity, particularly in profiles abundant in organic matter resulting from the encroachment of forest communities, particularly of coniferous forest. Spontaneous afforestation forming the litter cover contribute to the stabilization of the heap material and limiting groundwater pollution. Even though specific remediation measures are not needed in this area, it requires long-term monitoring