The Occurrence of Unfavorable Thermal Conditions on Human Health in Central Europe and Potential Climate Change Impacts: An Example from Cracow,Poland

Progressive global warming exerts strong influence on the lives and on the health of urban residents, many of who are weather sensitive people (meteoropaths). In the temperate zone, air temperature changes largely determine the seasonal oscillation of morbidity and mortality frequency. The present study analyzes the influence of air temperature on living conditions in central European urban areas, particularly Cracow (Poland), and examines this influence against the background of climate change. During the warmer months, there is a noticeable increase in the unfavorable occurrence of especially strong thermal stimuli (e.g., hot days) which can lead to overheating of the human organism. On the other hand, the increasing frequency of mild winters contributes to the appearance of weak and moderate thermal stimuli, which in the case of the former, is a negative phenomenon. Weak thermal stimuli are liable to make the human body oversensitive and, thus lose the ability to adapt if stronger thermal stimuli were to occur. Residents of large urban areas should be prepared for the possibility of dynamic weather changes and should take thermal variability into consideration with regards to spatial urban planning and socioeconomic activities.     

Determination and analysis of PM10 source apportionment during episodes of air pollution in Central Eastern European urban areas: The case of wintertime 2006

Source apportionment of air pollution due to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <10 μm (PM₁₀) was investigated in Central Eastern European urban areas. A combination of four methods was developed to distinguish long-range transport (LRT) and regional transport (RT) from local pollution (LP) sources as well as to discern the involvement of traffic or residential sources in LP. Sources of PM₁₀ events of pollution were determined in January 2006 in representative Polish cities using monitored air quality and meteorological data, backward air mass trajectories, correlation and principal component analysis (PCA). Daily patterns of PM₁₀ levels show that several peak episodes were registered in Poland; January 21–30th being the most polluted days. Air mass back-trajectory analysis shows that all cities were under the influence of LRT from North-eastern origins (Russia–Belarus–Ukraine), most were also under LRT from Southern origin (Slovakia, Czech Republic), and northern cities were under national RT influence. PCA analysis shows that ion-sums of secondary inorganic aerosols account for LRT pollution while arsenic and chromium represents markers of RT (industrial) and LP (residential) sources of PM₁₀, respectively. Determination of several ratios (REG/UB, REG/TRAF, TRAF/UB) calculated between PM₁₀ levels measured at regional background (REG); urban background (UB) and traffic (TRAF) monitoring sites shows that, with ratios REG/UB ≥ 0.57, PM₁₀ episodes in both Szczecin and Warsaw bore a marked RT origin. The lower REG/UB ≤ 0.35 in the Southern cities of Cracow and Zabrze indicates that LP was the main contributor to the observed episodes. Only PM₁₀ episodes in Southern-western Poland (Jelenia Góra) were clearly of LP origin as characterized, by the lowest REG/UB ratio (<0.2). The high TRAF/UB ratios obtained for all cities (close to 1) indicate that there was a great uniformity of PM levels on an urban scale owing to the meteorologically stagnant conditions. A high correlation between PM₁₀, NO₂ and CO confirms that traffic emission represented a common and an important LP source of urban pollution in most Polish cities during January 2006. On the other hand PM₁₀ which is also highly correlated with SO₂ in 4 cities out of 6, indicates that coal combustion through domestic heating or industrial activities was also an important LP source of PM₁₀. Finally, extremely unfavourable meteorological conditions caused by the influence of a Siberian high-pressure system were found to be associated with the occurrence of severe PM₁₀ episodes of pollution.     

Input of heavy metals to the forest floor as a result of Cracow urban pollution

The influence of Cracow's urban pollution on small forest ecosystems was studied during 1998-2000. Seven sites located at different distances from the Cracow conurbation and from busy road were selected. Two sites were situated 26 and 31 km from Cracow town along an eastern transect, the other five-3, 8, 14, 26 and 35 km respectively, from Cracow-along a southern transect. At the beginning of September, five litter traps were set at each site. The quantity of litter fall, along with percentage composition of each species, were estimated for an area of 1 m(2). The concentration of Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn and Fe in the litter fall and the input of these metals to the forest floor were determined. The input of cadmium ranged from 84 microg m(-2) at Kornatka in 1998 to 382 microg m(-2) at Bonarka in 2000. The input of lead was about 10 times higher than cadmium and varied from 406 microg m(-2) at Weglówka in 1998 to 3717 microg m(-2) at Bonarka in 2000. Input of Cu, Zn and Fe to the forest floor showed the similar tendency. During 1998-2000, the highest heavy metal concentrations in the litter fall and their impact on the forest floor were always found at sites close to the Cracow conurbation and, in the eastern transect, close to a steel works. Input of metals to the forest floor tended to decrease with increasing distance from the centre of Cracow.     

Accumulation factors of mercury in mushrooms from Zaborski Landscape Park, Poland

Total mercury concentrations were determined by cold-vapour atomic absorption spectroscopy (CV-AAS) in 117 samples of caps, 117 of stalks and 47 of whole fruiting bodies of 13 species of wild mushrooms and in 164 underlying soil substrate collected from Zaborski Landscape Park during 1997 and 1998. The study area is a background, forested site with rural landscape and no known local sources of mercury emission. Mean mercury concentrations in mushrooms varied widely (range: 50 +/- 20 to 3700 +/- 1700 ng/g, dry matter) depending on the site and mushroom species investigated. However, mercury concentrations in soil samples varied less (range: 3.0 +/- 3.0 to 43 +/- 17 ng/g dry matter). Fruiting bodies of Common Puffball (Lycoperdon perlatum) and King Bolete (Boletus edulis) contained the greatest concentrations of mercury of 3700 +/- 1700 and 2600 +/- 1200 ng/g dry matter, respectively. A positive correlation existed between mercury concentrations in the caps of Slippery Jack (Suillus luteus) and Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) (p < 0.01) and mercury concentrations in corresponding soils. However, concentrations of mercury in The Sickener (Russula emetica) was negatively correlated with its soil substrate (p < 0.01). Bioconcentration factors (BCFs: concentrations ratios of mercury in mushroom to soil) of total mercury in whole fruiting bodies or caps were greatest for Common Puffball (L. perlatum), Larch Bolete (Suillus grevillei) and King Bolete (B. edulis) and varied between 130 +/- 78 and 160 +/- 120, while for the other species BCFs were between 4.0 +/- 6.0 and 61 +/- 20 in caps, and 4.4 +/- 3.1 and 70 +/- 68 in stalks. The concentration ratios of Hg in cap to stalk were from 1.1 +/- 0.5 for Poison Pax (Paxillus involutus) to 2.7 +/- 1.7 in Larch Bolete (S. grevillei).     

Agricultural and non-agricultural directions of bio-based sewage sludge valorization by chemical conditioning

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This literature review outlines the most important—agricultural and non-agricultural—types of sewage sludge management. The potential of...     

LC-MS/MS method validation for determination of selected neonicotinoids in groundwater for the purpose of a column experiment

The work was carried out to develop and validate a method based on liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the simultaneous detection and quantification of five neonicotinoid insecticides: acetamiprid, clothianidin, imidacloprid, thiacloprid and thiamethoxam in groundwater samples for the purpose of a further column experiment. This experiment will be used to analyze breakthrough curves of neonicotinoids under a saturated water flow to set transport parameters, where the reliability of the results of chemical analysis plays an important role. The validation was performed in a concentration range from 0.09?µg L^?1 to 100?µg L^?1 using an Infinity 1290 (Agilent, USA) chromatograph coupled with a QTrap 5500 mass spectrometer (Sciex, Canada). The calibration curves were obtained on the basis of the results of six standard solution analyses. Linearity was not lower than 0.998. The limit of detection was set at the lowest concentration which can be determined with an acceptable accuracy and precision. All pesticides had recoveries in the range 85–109% with relative standard deviation values less than 8.1%. The estimated measurement uncertainty did not exceed 30%, so the LC-MS/MS method fits for the intended purpose.     

Energy and environment as the foundations for sustainable development

Environmental Science and Pollution Research -     

Analysis and DNA interaction of the profluralin herbicide

Environmental Chemistry Letters - The increasing use of pesticides is a major health issue. There is therefore a need for improved analytical methods and more knowledge on the interaction of...