Determination of elemental carbon emission

The studies on elemental carbon content in the atmospheric air, performed at the air monitoring station in Katowice (Poland), have revealed violations of allowable maximum average annual and diurnal concentrations. Elemental carbon is introduced into the atmosphere mainly as soot generated from combustion processes. This work presents the determination of elemental carbon in emission generated from coal combustion processes.     

The effect of mating frequency on female lifetime fecundity in the bulb mite, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizoglyphus robini </Emphasis>(Acari: Acaridae)

We investigated the influence of mating frequency on lifetime reproductive success in females of the bulb mite, Rhizoglyphus robini. This species is highly promiscuous, and its colonial lifestyle promotes mating frequencies of at least several times a day. We manipulated mating frequencies either by keeping females continuously in the presence of a male, with males replaced every second day, or by exposing females to a new male for 4 h every second day (4 h is enough for a male to complete at least one copulation). We used males that were isolated from females either for 2 days, and thus had large reserves of sperm and seminal fluid, or for 2 h. We found that females with continuous access to a male had lower lifetime egg output than those exposed to males intermittently. This effect was mediated through decreased fecundity and not longevity. Male mating history had no significant effect on female fecundity or longevity. These results confirm that mating frequencies observed in bulb mite colonies exceed those necessary for sperm replenishment, and suggests that frequent mating is costly to females. We discuss possible explanations for the maintenance of mating frequencies that are detrimental to females.     

Microbial Cretaceous park: biodiversity of microbial fossils entrapped in amber

Microorganisms are the most ancient cells on this planet and they include key phyla for understanding cell evolution and Earth history, but, unfortunately, their microbial records are scarce. Here, we present a critical review of fossilized prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms entrapped in Cretaceous ambers (but not exclusively from this geological period) obtained from deposits worldwide. Microbiota in ambers are rather diverse and include bacteria, fungi, and protists. We comment on the most important microbial records from the last 25 years, although it is not an exhaustive bibliographic compilation. The most frequently reported eukaryotic microfossils are shells of amoebae and protists with a cell wall or a complex cortex. Likewise, diverse dormant stages (palmeloid forms, resting cysts, spores, etc.) are abundant in ambers. Besides, viral and protist pathogens have been identified inside insects entrapped in amber. The situation regarding filamentous bacteria and fungi is quite confusing because in some cases, the same record was identified consecutively as a member of these phylogenetically distant groups. To avoid these identification errors in the future, we propose to apply a more resolute microscopic and analytical method in amber studies. Also, we discuss the most recent findings about ancient DNA repair and bacterial survival in remote substrates, which support the real possibility of ancient DNA amplification and bacterial resuscitation from Cretaceous resins.     

Distribution of mercury in different environmental compartments in the aquatic ecosystem of the coastal zone of the Southern Baltic Sea

The aim of this study was to characterize mercury (Hg) contamination in the coastal waters of the Southern Baltic Sea, and to investigate transformations of Hg in the initial links of the marine food chain. Concentrations of Hg in water, particulate matter, plankton and macrophytes at various stations in the coastal zone (a bay with restricted water exchange, near an industrial city, river mouths, and the open sea) were measured in 2006–2008. Hg concentrations observed in the Southern Baltic varied greatly, showing the highest average values in all environmental compartments near the river mouths. In shallow, sheltered parts of the gulf, where water exchange is restricted, Hg concentrations in the water and in macrophytes were elevated relative to those in the coastal zone of the deeper part of the bay and in the open Baltic. Distance to the river mouth, terrestrial runoff, and quantity and quality of organic matter were more important than seasonal variations in controlling Hg and HgSPM concentrations in water samples. Mercury concentrations in the surface microlayer at the air/sea interface were over 10 times higher than those in the bulk surface water. Concentrations of Hg in macrophytes in the winter were significantly higher than those in the warm seasons (spring, summer, autumn). This was probably the combined effect of higher availability of Hg in porewaters and leaf growth inhibition.     

Quality of groundwater contaminated by leachates from seven Polish landfills – chemical and ecotoxicological classifications

The article presents the results of screening research on acute toxicity of groundwater contaminated by leachates to the bacterium Vibrio fischeri (ToxAlert 100® test) and crustacean Daphnia magna (Daphtoxkit F? magna test according to PN-EN ISO 6341), as well as on chronic toxicity to D. magna (test according to ISO 10706). The groundwater samples were taken from seven large city landfills in the Pomeranian province (Poland), which were open before 1990 and designed without proper attention to being leak-tight. Due to the lack of either European or Polish classification of ecotoxicological qualities of surface and underground waters, an attempt was made to evaluate the ecotoxicological quality of the examined waters on the basis of the Helsinki Committee's recommendations for industrial effluents, the classification of sediment according to Krebs (Krebs F. The pT-value as a classification index in aquatic toxicology. GIT Edition Umweltanalytik-Umweltschutz 1988;1:57–63) and the classification system of toxicity levels for natural waters and sewers, recently proposed by Persoone et al. (Persoone G, Marsalek B, Blinova, I, Törökne A, Zarina D, Manusadzianas L, Nalecz-Jawecki G, Tofan L, Stepanova N, Tothova L, Kolar B. A practical and user-friendly toxicity classification system with microbiotests for natural waters and wastewaters. Environ. Toxicol. 2003;18 (6):395-402).     

Rapana venosa as a bioindicator of environmental pollution

The aim of this investigation was to examine biochemical differences in the gastropod Rapana venosa (R. venosa) from polluted (RvP) and nonpolluted (RvN) sites of the Black Sea's Bulgarian coast that may serve as bioindicators of environmental quality. Mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis (MMg) were collected from polluted (MMgP) and nonpolluted (MMgN) sites at the same time for comparison. Bioactive compounds and the antioxidant activity of dry matter (DM) methanol extracts from RvP and RvN were determined. Three-dimensional fluorometry (3D-FL) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analyses were used to evaluate polyphenols and proteins. DM methanol extracts from RvP, and to lesser extent RvN, showed high amounts of total phenolics (23.22±2.9 and 15.60±1.8 mg GAE · g^?1 DW) and exhibited high levels of antioxidant activity in some radical scavenging assays (μ MTE · g^?1 DW): 56.38±5.2 and 33.79±3.3 by 2,2azino-bis (3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diamonium salt (ABTS·⁺); 54.79±5.6 and 33.7±2.6 by cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC); 62.34±6.8 and 30.31±3.9 by the 1diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl method (DPPH). A correlation in the above indices was found between R. venosa and M. galloprovincialis, but all results were relatively higher for M. galloprovincialis than for R. venosa. The obtained indices of R. venosa may serve as a bioindicator of environmental ecological quality.     

Seasonal changes in radon concentrations in buildings in the region of northeastern Poland

In this study, seasonal observations of radon concentration changes inside buildings carried out in the northeastern region of Poland is presented. One-year measurements of radon concentrations were performed in chosen buildings. The integral method of Cr-39 trace detectors in diffusive chambers was used. Mean values of radon concentrations were determined in monthly, 2-, 3-, 6-month, and annual observations. The fraction of a mean annual concentration of the value obtained in a shorter observation was calculated. Monthly concentration values were from about 0.2 to 14.9 of the annual mean. All buildings revealed seasonal fluctuation of radon concentration. Negative correlation of indoor radon concentration in the buildings and the mean temperature outside was observed in most examined buildings. The lowest coefficient range, determining which part of the annual mean value would be obtained in the 6-month observation, was gained for exposure begun in April or October.     

Remediation of soils on municipal rendering plant territories using Miscanthus × giganteus

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Phytoremediation, as a cost-effective, highly efficient, environmentally friendly, and green approach, gained attention to the removal of metals,...     

Adsorption of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 4-chloro-2-metylphenoxyacetic acid onto activated carbons derived from various lignocellulosic materials

Adsorption of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 4-chloro-2-metylphenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) from aqueous solution onto activated carbons derived from various lignocellulosic materials including willow, miscanthus, flax, and hemp shives was investigated. The adsorption kinetic data were analyzed using two kinetic models: the pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order equations. The adsorption kinetics of both herbicides was better represented by the pseudo-second order model. The adsorption isotherms of 2,4-D and MCPA on the activated carbons were analyzed using the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models. The equilibrium data followed the Langmuir isotherm. The effect of pH on the adsorption was also studied. The results showed that the activated carbons prepared from the lignocellulosic materials are efficient adsorbents for the removal of 2,4-D and MCPA from aqueous solutions.     

A system coupling hybrid biological method with UV/O<Subscript>3</Subscript> oxidation and membrane separation for treatment and reuse of industrial laundry wastewater

The possibilities of application of a three-step system combining hybrid biological treatment followed by advanced UV/O₃ oxidation with in situ generated O₃ and membrane separation (ultrafiltration (UF) and nanofiltration (NF)) to treat and reuse the wastewater from an industrial laundry are presented. By the application of a hybrid moving bed biofilm reactor (HMBBR), the total organic carbon concentration was reduced for about 90 %. However, since the HMBBR effluent still contained organic contaminants as well as high concentrations of inorganic ions and exhibited significant turbidity (8.2 NTU), its further treatment before a possible reuse in the laundry was necessary. The UV/O₃ pretreatment prior to UF was found to be an efficient method of the membrane fouling alleviation. During UF, the turbidity of wastewater was reduced below 0.3 NTU. To remove the inorganic salts, the UF permeate was further treated during NF. The NF permeate exhibited very low conductivity (27–75 μS/cm) and contained only small amounts of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺; thus ,it could be reused at any stage of the laundry process.