PM2.5 in the central part of Upper Silesia, Poland: concentrations, elemental composition, and mobility of components

The paper discusses ambient concentrations of PM_2.5 (ambient fine particles) and of 29 PM_2.5-related elements in Zabrze and Katowice, Poland, in 2007. The elemental composition of PM_2.5 was determined using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF). The mobility (cumulative percentage of the water-soluble and exchangeable fractions of an element in its total concentration) of 18 PM_2.5-related elements in Zabrze and Katowice was computed by using sequential extraction and EDXRF combined into a simple method. The samples were extracted twice: in deionized water and in ammonium acetate. In general, the mobility and the concentrations of the majority of the elements were the same in both cities. S, Cl, K, Ca, Zn, Br, Ba, and Pb in both cities, Ti and Se in Katowice, and Sr in Zabrze had the mobility greater than 70%. Mobility of typical crustal elements, Al, Si, and Ti, because of high proportion of their exchangeable fractions in PM, was from 40 to 66%. Mobility of Fe and Cu was lower than 30%. Probable sources of PM_2.5 were determined by applying principal component analysis and multiple regression analysis and computing enrichment factors. Great part of PM_2.5 (78% in Katowice and 36% in Zabrze) originated from combustion of fuels in domestic furnaces (fossil fuels, biomass and wastes, etc.) and liquid fuels in car engines. Other identified sources were: power plants, soil, and roads in Zabrze and in Katowice an industrial source, probably a non-ferrous smelter or/and a steelwork, and power plants.     

Vegetation dynamics on the Łeba Bar/Poland: a comparison of the vegetation in 1932 and 2006 with special regard to endangered habitats

Coastal dune ecosystems are among the most dynamic habitats with high conservation value in Europe but are also under strong anthropogenic pressure regarding coastal protection and recreation. Hence, it is of high importance to know about long-term natural and anthropogenic changes and development of protected dune habitats for nature conservation, as well as for coastal management. This paper aims to identify the vegetation dynamics on the Łeba Bar/Poland over a period of 74 years by cartometric comparison using modern Geographical Information System (GIS). To quantify the rate of vegetation dynamics two aerial photographs dating from 1932 and 2006 were digitalized and analyzed with GIS to produce digital vegetation maps. Information about decrease, increase and stability of vegetation types of this area are discussed. The results show that there has been a clear reduction in the total area of bare sand and a considerable increase of woodlands and dense grass communities. Nevertheless, the remaining extensive drift sand areas and deflation hollows on the Łeba Bar offer one of the most important habitats for pioneer vegetation on bare sand of migrating dunes and dunes at the Southern Baltic coast. The present work proved the need to observe the future development of the vegetation communities and to implement management measures to maintain the dynamic of this unique dune landscape.     

A laboratory assessment of the toxic attributes of six 'reduced risk insecticides' on Galendromus occidentalis (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

The modified excised leaf disc method was used to measure the effects of six insecticides on eggs, larvae, adults, and female fecundity of Galendromus occidentalis (Nesbitt) in a ‘worst case laboratory exposure’. This study identified insecticides that would be recommended for tier II field evaluations for an integrated pest management program. Commercially formulated insecticides were applied with a thin-layer chromatography sprayer adjusted to 10.34 kPa (1.5 psi), at the recommended label concentrations in Canada. LC₅₀ values were estimated from aliquots above and below that concentration. Spinetoram and spirotetramat were toxic at label concentrations. The label concentration for spinetoram was 34.3-fold the LC₅₀ estimate (0.006 g L⁻¹) and for spirotetramat the label concentration was 7.7-fold the LC₅₀ estimate (0.03 g L⁻¹). Clothianidin was considerably less toxic and the label concentration was 0.15-fold the LC₅₀ estimate (2.29 g L⁻¹). Estimates of LC₅₀ for novaluron and chlorantraniliprole could not be established. Both materials showed slight toxicity to at least one growth stage of the predator. Novaluron, clothianidin and chlorantraniliprole should be evaluated in the field for compatibility in IPM programs. Flubendiamide was harmless to all growth stages and it is recommended for inclusion in IPM programs without additional tier II field evaluations. Field evaluations with spinetoram and spirotetramat should be pursued only if alternatives are unavailable.     

The effect of bed properties on methane removal in an aerated biofilter--model studies

The capacity of laboratory-scale aerated biofilters to oxidize methane was investigated. Four types of organic and mineral-organic materials were flushed with a mixture of CH₄, CO₂ and air (1:1:8 by volume) during a six-month period. The filter bed materials were as follows: (1) municipal waste compost, (2) an organic horticultural substrate, (3) a composite of expanded perlite and compost amended with zeolite, and (4) the same mixture of perlite and compost amended with bentonite. Methanotrophic capacity during the six months of the experiment reached maximum values of between 889 and 1036 g m⁻² d⁻¹. Batch incubation tests were carried out in order to determine the influence of methane and oxygen concentrations, as well as the addition of sewage sludge, on methanotrophic activity. Michaelis constants K_M for CH₄ and O₂ were 4.6-14.9%, and 0.7-12.3%, respectively. Maximum methanotrophic activities V_max were between 1.3 and 11.6 cm³ g⁻¹ d⁻¹. The activity significantly increased when sewage sludge was added. The main conclusion is that the type of filter bed material (differing significantly in organic matter content, water-holding capacity, or gas diffusion coefficient) was not an important factor in determining methanotrophic capacity when oxygen was supplied to the biofilter.     

Removal of petroleum pollutants and monitoring of bacterial community structure in a membrane bioreactor

The long-term operational stability (159 d) in removal of organics and ammonia from synthetic wastewater was investigated. The experiment was carried out in two identical plug flow membrane bioreactors (MBR) (each with a submerged A4 Kubota membrane) operated under aerobic conditions. The vacuum distillate of a crude oil fraction in the emulsified state, which was used to model the petroleum pollutants, was added into the feed medium. The performance of biological treatment was evaluated by physicochemical analyses such as nitrogen forms, COD, and BOD. Additionally, monitoring of PAHs in the wastewaters was performed using HPLC-diode array detector. Moreover, the community structure of bacteria was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. The MBR treatment was very effective with reduction by more than 90% of COD and Total Organic Carbon. Nearly complete removal of petroleum originated non-polar micropollutants was observed. The influence of the highest dosage of petroleum pollutants (1000 μLL(-1)) on the bacterial community was noted.     

Analysis of annual fluctuations in the content of phenol,chlorophenols and their derivatives in chlorinated drinking waters

Purpose  

Chlorophenols are widely represented, toxic, and persistent environmental pollutants. In this work, we analyzed annual fluctuations in the content of phenol, guaiacol, chlorophenols, chlorocatechols, and chlorinated methoxyphenols in drinking water collected in Warsaw and Tomaszów Mazowiecki (Poland). Moreover, the effect of dissolved organic matter content on the occurrence of phenolic compounds in drinking water was studied.     

Variations of arsenic species content in edible Boletus badius growing at polluted sites over four years

The content of arsenic (As) in mushrooms can vary depending on the concentration level of this metalloid in the soil/substrate. The present study evaluated the content of arsenic in Boletus badius fruiting bodies collected from polluted and non-polluted sites in relation to the content of this element in overgrown substrate. It was found that mushrooms from the arsenic-polluted sites contained mean concentrations from 49 to 450 mg As kg^?1 dry matter (d.m.), with the greatest content found for specimens growing in close proximity of sludge deposits (490±20 mg As kg^?1d.m.). The mean content of total arsenic in mushrooms from clean sites ranged from 0.03 to 0.37 mg kg^?1 It was found that B. badius could tolerate arsenic in soil substrate at concentrations of up to 2500 mg kg^?1, at least. In different years of investigation, shifts in particular arsenic forms, as well as a general increase in the accumulation of organic arsenic content, were observed. The results of this study clearly indicate that B. badius should not be collected for culinary purposes from any sites that may be affected by pollution.