Thermally Induced Reaction of Potato Starch with Thiourea

Thermally induced reaction of thiourea with potato starch was carried out with involvement of either conventional or microwave heating. Under applied reaction conditions conventional heating provided a higher degree of transformation. The course of reaction was complex. Thiourea reacted with starch but the reaction products underwent further decompositions. Dextrins contaminated with isothiocyanates were obtained. Not necessarily they underwent alpha-amylolysis more readily than original starch.     

Modelling deposition and air concentration of reduced nitrogen in Poland and sensitivity to variability in annual meteorology

The relative contribution of reduced nitrogen to acid and eutrophic deposition in Europe has increased recently as a result of European policies which have been successful in reducing SO(2) and NO(x) emissions but have had smaller impacts on ammonia (NH(3)) emissions. In this paper the Fine Resolution Atmospheric Multi-pollutant Exchange (FRAME) model was used to calculate the spatial patterns of annual average ammonia and ammonium (NH(4)(+)) air concentrations and reduced nitrogen (NH(x)) dry and wet deposition with a 5 km × 5 km grid for years 2002-2005. The modelled air concentrations of NH(3) and dry deposition of NH(x) show similar spatial patterns for all years considered. The largest year to year changes were found for wet deposition, which vary considerably with precipitation amount. The FRAME modelled air concentrations and wet deposition are in reasonable agreement with available measurements (Pearson's correlation coefficients above 0.6 for years 2002-2005), and with spatial patterns of concentrations and deposition of NH(x) reported with the EMEP results, but show larger spatial gradients. The error statistics show that the FRAME model results are in better agreement with measurements if compared with EMEP estimates. The differences in deposition budgets calculated with FRAME and EMEP do not exceed 17% for wet and 6% for dry deposition, with FRAME estimates higher than for EMEP wet deposition for modelled period and lower or equal for dry deposition. The FRAME estimates of wet deposition budget are lower than the measurement-based values reported by the Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection of Poland, with the differences by approximately 3%. Up to 93% of dry and 53% of wet deposition of NH(x) in Poland originates from national sources. Over the western part of Poland and mountainous areas in the south, transboundary transport can contribute over 80% of total (dry + wet) NH(x) deposition. The spatial pattern of the relative contribution of national sources to total deposition of NH(x) may change significantly due to the general circulation of air.     

The Relationship Between the Difference in Prismatic Refractive Power of an Eye-and-Face Protector and Its Thickness,Radius of Curvature,and Material

With the help of the research results presented here and on the basis of a graphic analysis we aim to prove the existence of a relationship between the difference in prismatic refractive power and the thickness, curvature radius, and type of material used for panoramic oculars in protective spectacles, goggles, and face shields. The difference in the prismatic refractive power is a fundamental optical characteristic of a protective ocular without corrective effect. According to Standard No. EN 165:1995 (European Committee for Standardization, 1995) the difference in the prismatic refractive power is a difference in the prismatic effect at 2 observation points of an eye-protector.     

Distribution of mercury in di erent 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 runo , 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 e ect of higher availability of Hg in porewaters and leaf growth inhibition.     

Relationships between volatile organic compounds with an emphasis on terpene compounds and genetic matrix in inoculated and non-inoculated winter wheat cultivars

In the present study, we focus on the analysis of the volatile organic compound (VOC) contents in the grain of a representative set of winter wheat cultivars grown in Central Europe. The cultivars were grown in control conditions or were inoculated with the fungus Fusarium culmorum. In the analysed samples, hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes and ketones, aromatics, terpenes and others were found. Among them, results for terpenes seem particularly important. The discriminant analysis allowed complete separation of the quality groups of wheat based on VOCs. Simultaneously, a genetic matrix was created based on the genetic distance between the wheat cultivars and the Mantel test was used to compare it with the VOC matrix. The analysis revealed relationships between the genetic matrix and the overall VOCs, as well as terpenes. The obtained results indicate a significant relationship between microorganisms that exist in the environment, genetic features of plants and VOCs formed in the grain.     

Arsenic,cadmium, lead and thallium in coal ash from individual household furnaces

52 coal ash samples from individual households were analyzed to determine the pH and the concentrations of four toxic elements: arsenic, cadmium, lead and thallium. The method used was atomic absorption spectrometry with graphite-furnace atomization. The ash samples originated from various coal grades and statistical analysis showed existing correlations between the concentrations of studied elements, pH and the coal grades. The maximum concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, lead and thallium were 50,900, 43,500, 128,900, and 6660 µg/kg, respectively. The results were compared with the published data for the ash of industrial origin.

     

Survey of dioxin sources in the Baltic Region (extended summary)

The present paper summarises the results of the project: 'Survey of Anthropogenic Sources of Dioxins and Furans in the Baltic Region'. As a part of the project, inventories have been carried out in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland by applying the toolkit for quantification of dioxin and furan releases developed by UNEP Chemicals. The main route of direct releases to the environment is emission to air. Total emission to air from Poland was estimated at 490 (88-1,300) g I-TEQ/year, whereas the emissions from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were estimated as being 14 (2.4-54), 23 (2.6-63) and 17 (2.6-38) g I-TEQ, respectively. In general, the uncertainty on the estimates is very high, and recommendations regarding further development of the inventories have been made, and measures for reducing the releases have been provided.     

The present condition of the Vistula river catchment area and its impact on the Baltic Sea coastal zone

This review paper describes the state of the Vistula basin and the Baltic Sea area. The article is divided into two parts concerning the river and the Baltic coastal zone, respectively. Each part describes the geography and the environmental state of the region and gives an overview of the socio-economic conditions. The environmental state of the study regions is described in terms of annual monitoring data for the main physico-chemical and biological parameters. The data cover the last decade. The socio-economic overview includes parameters such as e.g. population density, industrialization, agricultureand land use.SI: Pirrone     

Organic pollutants in the Odra river ecosystem

The paper presents the results of the analysis of water and bottom sediment samples from different locations along the Odra river, collected during eight campaigns in the years 1997-2000. All the basic organic pollutants were determined. Pollution of water with PCBs was negligible while with PAHs was not critical. Concentrations of volatile organochlorine compounds in water were the highest in Brzeg Dolny and its surroundings. Concentrations of tetrachloroethene were exceptionally high in the Szczecin Lagoon. The Odra sediments were non-polluted or only slightly polluted with PCBs, pesticides and different classes of volatile organic pollutants. However, PAHs were present in rather large concentrations, especially in the upper course of the Odra river. The data obtained contributed to the evaluation of pollutants discharges to the Baltic sea via Szczecin Lagoon as well as to the characterization of pollution sources (point sources and area sources) in the Odra catchment area.     

Changes in the central and peripheral circulatory system in response to the cold: own studies using impedance plethysmography and Doppler ultrasound

The aim of the study was to determine the cardiovascular response to continuous (4 °C for 60 min) and intermittent (10 min at 4?°C and 10 min at room temperature alternately) exposure to the cold in 30 healthy young men. The subjects were equipped with a set of identical clothing (insulation 2.1 clo) and during the stay in the chamber and outside performed the same activities, i.e., walking on a treadmill at a speed of 0.5?km/h. The tests included assessing the central circulatory system using the Holter system and assessing the peripheral circulatory system using impedance plethysmography and Doppler ultrasound. The analysis of the parameters that describe the central and peripheral circulation poses a difficulty in determining which variant of exposure constitutes a greater load on the circulatory system. It should be noted that even the conditions used in the study may cause adverse effects in the cardiovascular system.