Mine rescuers’ heat load during the expenditure of physical effort in a hot environment,using ventilated underwear and selected breathing apparatus

Mine rescuers’ heat load under the same physical effort load (25% of the maximal oxygen uptake), using three types of breathing apparatus, in newly developed heat-removing underwear and outerwear was assessed for typical work conditions of mine rescuers, under milder and harsher ambient conditions of 32 and 38?°C, respectively, both at relative humidity of 85% and air velocity of 1.0?m/s. Expending physical effort at the same load while using different kinds of breathing apparatus resulted in a similar heat load. Under both milder and harsher ambient conditions, heat storage and sweating intensity were greater than the average limit value recommended by hygienic standards, which indicates that the use of breathing apparatus significantly hinders heat exchange with the environment. The developed clothing for mine rescuers was highly rated, and was considered by most people to be better than that used currently.     

EDTA and urease effects on Hg accumulation by Lepidium sativum

The phytoextraction process was conducted under laboratory conditions with the use of garden cress plants (Lepidium sativum). The experiment was carried out in a model soil, which was characterized before conducting the process. Inorganic forms of mercury (HgCl(2), HgSO(4), Hg(NO(3))(2)) were used for contamination of the soil. The phytoextraction process was conducted after EDTA application to the soil and after urease application. Also the influence of simultaneous addition of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and urease into the soil on phytoextraction process was measured. In all variants of phytoextraction process the total mercury concentrations in roots, stems and leaves of garden cress were determined. The result showed that garden cress accumulated mercury from soil. The overall maximum concentration of mercury in its compounds was found in roots of the plant. In all cases, before addition of urease and EDTA, the translocation process and distribution of mercury in the plant tissues were limited. The addition of urease caused an increase of enzyme activity in the soil and at the same time caused an increase of mercury concentration in plant tissues. Application of EDTA increased solubility of mercury and caused an increase of metal accumulation by plants. After simultaneous addition of EDTA and urease into the soil garden cress accumulated about 20% of total mercury concentration in the soil. Most of mercury compounds were accumulated in leaves and stems of the plants (46.0-56.9% of total mercury concentration in the plant tissues).     

Management of packaging waste in Poland--development agenda and accession to the EU.

In recent years the issue of the municipal waste in Poland has become increasingly topical, with a considerable rise in the waste generation, much of which can be attributed to a boom in product packaging (mainly plastic). The annual production of plastics packaging has been constantly increasing over the last 20 to 30 years, and now exceeds 3.7 million tons. Due to a lack of processing technologies and poorly developed selective segregation system, packaging waste is still treated as a part of the municipal solid waste (MSW) stream, most of which is landfilled. As a result of Poland's access to the European Union, previous legal regulations governing municipal waste management have been harmonized with those binding on the member countries. One of the main changes, the most revolutionary one, is to make entrepreneurs liable for environmental risks resulting from the introduction of packaging to the market, and for its recycling. In practice, all entrepreneurs are to ensure recovery, and recycling, of used packaging from products introduced to the market at the required level. In recent year, the required recycling levels were fulfilled for all types of materials but mainly by large institutions using grouped and transport packaging waste for that matter. Household packaging gathered in the selective segregation system at the municipalities was practically left alone. This paper is an attempt to describe the system and assess the first year of functioning of the new, revamped system of packaging waste management in Poland. Recommendations are made relating to those features that need to be included in packaging waste management systems in order to maximize their sustainability and harmonization with the EU legal system.     

Assessing village authenticity with satellite images: a method to identify intact cultural landscapes in Europe

The village with its characteristic zones of different land use from the center to the periphery is a basic unit of Europe's cultural landscapes. However, loss of the authentic pre-industrial village structure characterized by a fine-grained structure of arable land and wooded grasslands is a threat to both cultural heritage and biodiversity in many rural landscapes. Therefore, it is important that the extent and rate of change of such authentic villages in a landscape can be monitored. We studied to what extent loss of authenticity with increasing time after abandonment can be assessed by quantitative analysis and visual interpretation of satellite images. The study was carried out in the Bieszczady Mountains, SE Poland in 1999. Using Landsat Thematic Mapper data from 1998, both the grain size of landscape elements (size of fields) and land-cover composition (encroachment of shrub and forest) were quantitatively described 6 type villages representing different stages of deterioration of the authentic village structure. Historical maps were used to delineate the border of the villages and the former extension of forest and open land was measured. The present land use and the degree of abandonment expressed as grain size and forest encroachment were mapped using satellite data. Deterioration occurred along 2 transformation paths: abandonment and ultimately becoming forest, or intensified agriculture, respectively. To validate these results we classified 22 other villages in a 1000 km2 area by visual interpretation of the original satellite images into 1 of 4 types. We then collected historical data on human population changes over the past six decades. The classification of village authenticity was clearly related to the rate of human population decline. We address the importance of validating and applying this approach for rapid assessment of the authenticity of cultural landscapes in European regions being subject to ongoing as well as expected future change, related to expansion of the European Union. Finally, we argue that the village represents a scale at which integration of natural and social sciences is possible.     

Investigations of ash topography/morphology and their relationship with heavy metals leachability

The leachability of heavy metals such as chromium (Cr), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) from the ash material obtained from waste combustion was studied. The effects of ash surface topography and morphology on the leachability of these elements were examined using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The AFM (scan size 10 x 10 microns) and SEM images of the simulated ash pellet obtained at various operating temperatures (1000, 1400 and 1500 degrees C) showed significant microstructural and topographical changes. Ash pellets treated at 1000 degrees C contain porous and non-continuous surface. On the other hand, the ash pellet obtained at higher temperature (1500 degrees C) was found to contain a smooth, continuous and non-porous surface. The AFM height profile studies indicated that the top surface variation of the ash pellet at 1000, 1400 and 1500 degrees C were found to be -40.0 to 25.5, -3.7 to 4.7 and -0.10 to 0.66 nm respectively. The SEM analyses also confirmed the presence of smooth, non-porous outer surface of ash formed at 1500 degrees C. In addition, it also showed the presence of compact and rigid interior for the same ash pellet. The leachability of the heavy metals was determined using standard toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) test and the samples were analysed using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The results showed that the TCLP leaching ratios of the heavy metals were Cr = 0.30, Pb = 0.05 and Cd = 0.09 at 1000 degrees C. However, the ash obtained at 1400 degrees C showed negligible heavy metals leaching ratio while at 1500 degrees C no leachability was detected (TCLP concentration dropped to nondetectable levels). The use of high temperature treatment enabled the immobilization of heavy metals in the ash preventing their leaching. Such ash can be considered as a non-hazardous material for reuse or safe disposal.     

Isolation and identification of intermediates from biodegradation of low chlorinated biphenyls (Delor-103)

Microorganism Pseudomonas species P2 metabolizes polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and biphenyl, producing the whole spectrum of intermediates, among them coloured intermediates, which are suitable for the monitoring of PCBs degradation by optical sensors. Knowledge of chemical structures and conditions of development of colour metabolites is necessary for application of optical analytical methods. The main goal of this work was the isolation and identification of intermediates from the biodegradation of the mixture of low chlorinated biphenyls (Delor-103), which is based on the solid phase extraction (SPE) of the whole mixture using LiChrolut EN cartridges, then silylation of the extract as one way to the identification of one part of intermediates by GC-MS, and acetylation of the extract as a way for the further concentration and analysis of more polar chlorobiphenylols and chlorobiphenyldiols. The combination of SPE and following acetylation allows to obtain chlorobiphenylols and chlorobiphenyldiols as an almost pure fraction. The acetylation method could be also used instead SPE procedure with the same final concentration effect. Using the simulation mass spectrometry program, two new compounds, dihydrodihydroxytrichloro- and tetrahydrodihydroxytrichlorobiphenyl, as silylderivatives, were identified.     

Vegetation of the selected forest stands and land use in the Carpathian Mountains

Within the framework of the project "Effects of forest health on biodiversity with emphasis on air pollution in the Carpathian Mountains" 26 permanent study sites were established in the vicinity of the ozone monitoring sites. The study sites were located on the NW-SE transect through the Western (12 sites), Eastern (11 sites) and Southern (3 sites) Carpathians in forest ecosystems typical of each area. Some of the forest monitoring sites were located in national parks, biosphere reserves and areas of protected landscape. Each permanent site of 0.7 ha area consisted of 5 small 500m(2) circular plots, arranged in the form of a cross, i.e. four placed on the cardinal points (N, E, S, W) and one in the center. Phytosociological records were done twice during the 1998 growing season using the Braun-Blanquet's method. The study sites represented various types of forest: Picea abies stands (8), beech (Fagus sylvatica) stands (10), fir (Abies alba) stands (2) and mixed beech-fir, spruce-fir and beech-spruce stands (6). Age of most stands was 80-100 years. Degree of crown damage varied greatly between sites, a percentage of damaged trees decrease in Carpathians from West to East. It corresponds well with the O(3) level in these areas. Typical damage by O(3) in herb layer species in several Carpathian sites were found. Land-use map for the entire Carpathian Mountains and two detailed land use maps for Tatras (Western Carpathians) and Retezat (Southern Carpathians) are presented. A little more than half of the Carpathian territory is forested. The most densely forested are Eastern Carpathians, while the most sparsely Western Carpathians. Arable lands occupy 22.6% of the Carpathians, pastures and meadows 6.2%, water bodies 1.9%, and build up areas several percent. In the highest elevation of the Carpathians alpine meadows (11.3%) and rocks (3.5%) are distributed.