Volume 26 (2015): Issue 4 (December 2015)

Chemical pollution of anthropogenic origin such as heavy metals, pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls are some of serious threats to the environment. Their main sources are industry, transport, and agriculture. Chemical substances pollute the air, water and soil, where ultimately most of them reach and accumulate.

Soil constituent involved in the adsorption of impurities is organic matter (OM), the structure of which can be divided into three fractions: humic acids (HA), fulvic acids (FA) and humin (H). The impact of pollution with OM allows the presence of active functional groups, among others, -OH, -COOH, -NH₃, -OCH₃. Strongly adsorbed contaminants are not available for soil microorganisms.

This article studied the extent of accumulation of aqua regia extractable metallic elements (Al, Mg, Pb, Zn, Hg, Cd) into peaty (histic) epipedon (EP) of fen soils, transitional bog soils, peaty gley soils and peaty podzols. The accumulation coefficients (Kac) of the elements in EP were estimated in relation of forest floor (FF, as an input) as a comparison to deeper levels (SS, as a past background). The study revealed that the extent of accumulation and its order depend on soil (peat) type or pedo-ecological conditions of peatification. In the forming of EP from FF, the concentrations of Al and Pb were increased on an average 2.5-5.0 times, but that of Hg increased significantly only in peaty soils (on an average 1.5-1.6 times). The contents of Zn were significantly decreased (Kac 0.1-0.5) in all soil groups. The comparison of EP peats concentrations with SS data demonstrated a considerable accumulation of Pb, Cd, Zn and Hg into thin (~20 cm) superficial peat layer.

Wetlands around the upper part of the Ina valley are the area of great natural value, free from negative industrial impact. In the possible sources of contamination, we could include herbicides and artificial fertilisers from fields and meadows or municipal waste discharge from a small town Recz and local farms. The soils of wetlands, situated in the left part of the Ina valley near Sławęcin, were studied. Four characteristic profiles were made, from which soil samples were collected for laboratory analysis. In the soil samples, the content of organic matter and reaction in 1 mol KCl·dm^-3 were determined, whereas in mineral horizons, granulometric composition and the concentration of total and exchangeable forms of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Co, Zn, Fe). As a result of conducted studies, it was found that the soils of wetlands in the Ina valley near Sławęcin, do not exhibit contamination with heavy metals but their greater accumulation was observed in the surface muck layers than in fen peat and lower lying sediments.

The problem of exposing to toxins in places frequented by people (especially children) for a longer time is an important aspect of environmental studies. Therefore, in Rabka-Zdrój, one of children health resorts, the contents of nine heavy metals, with a special focus on Cd, Pb and Zn, were determined in soils, grass, sands and dusts. The highest concentrations of Cd, Pb and Zn occur in soil samples: 2-3, 32-48 and 33-291 mg∙kg^-1, respectively. Slightly lower are the concentrations in the sands taken from sandboxes: 1-3, 25-36 and 7-20 mg∙kg^-1 of Cd, Pb and Zn, respectively. In the grass, commonly growing in playground areas, the average concentrations of the metals are: 1.8, 20 and 60 mg∙kg^-1 of Cd, Pb and Zn, respectively. While the contents of the three metals in soils and sands do not exceed natural concentrations, the contents of Cd and Pb in grass exceed the values considered natural. The urban atmospheric dusts, suspected to be the major source of pollution, were analysed for the three metals. Their ranges (in mg∙kg^-1) are: 6-15 for Cd, 80-215 for Pb and 104-260 for Zn. The lowest effects of pollution characterise the playground in the park no. III located in Orkana Street, whereas the highest the playground in the park no. I located in Parkowa Street. However, in none of the locations, the levels of Cd, Pb and Zn exceed the potentially harmful elements (PHE) considered as threatening the health and even life of children.

In the present study, copper tolerance by a mixed culture of sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) were evaluated. These sulphidogenic microbial communities were isolated from soils polluted by crude oil, oil-derived products and heavy metals (from selected areas of crude oil mines in south-eastern Poland).

Copper tolerance of SRB was tested in modified Postgate C medium with ethanol and lactate as the sole carbon source and copper chloride at concentrations ranging from 0 to 1500 mg/l. Bacterial growth and sulphate reduction were possible between 100 and 1500 mg/l of initial copper concentration. Active sulphate reduction - maximum of 53% was observed in the cultures.

Molecular analysis indicated not only the presence of SRB but also other microorganisms that are capable of living in environments contaminated by heavy metals. The high environmental sulphide concentrations produced by SRB lead to the precipitation of any biogenic mineral phases such as metal sulphides. As a result, soluble metal ion concentrations in the microenvironment of SRB are, therefore, extremely low. This process allows SRB to grow in environments containing high levels of toxic metals. Studies on SRB tolerance to heavy metals are extremely important because of the possibility of using this group of microorganisms for the bioremediation and microbial revitalisation of areas contaminated by heavy metals.

The aim of the investigation was is to identify differences in an elemental composition (P, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu) and their total flavonoids contents of medicinal herbs originating from 9 botanical species, harvested in Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine. Metallic elements were determined by FAAS technique in mg∙kg^-1 of dry weight (d. wt) in the order: Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu in plant materials, and in infusions: Mn > Zn > Fe > Cu. The ratio of water-soluble form to total amount of a metal was as follows: 66.2% for Cu, 22.4% for Mn, 19.7% for Zn and 3.8% for Fe. The contents of P total, P inorganic and total flavonoids were determined by UV/Vis spectroscopic methods. By using of analysis of variance, correlation and cluster analyses it has been shown that a significant impact on the diversity of samples has the genetic factor - belonging to a particular botanical species of medicinal plant. The origin of investigated plants proved to be statistically significant only in the case of total Fe concentration, which was higher (α < 0.05) for the samples grown in Ukraine. A number of significant correlations was also obtained (r > 0.7) between: P total - P inorganic, Mn total - Mn extractable and Cu total - Cu extractable, also ( r > 0.5) between: total flavonoids - Cu extractable, P total - Cu total, P total - Cu extractable, P inorganic - Zn total. Moreover, comparison of the results of P, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu determination in infusions of medicinal plants with the norms of RDA has shown that a significant amount (several percentage) of Mn and Cu can be supplemented to human organism with 2 cups of infusions prepared from Helichrysi inforescentia and Hyperici herba.

Effective tools for evaluation of diversity in the collected gene resources of a given species are multivariate statistical methods. They provide information on phenotypic and genetic variability of collected material. The subjects of this study were nine inbred lines and three F1 generations of winter rye (Secale cereale L.), growing in experimental plots of the Polish Academy of Sciences Botanical Garden, Centre for Biological Diversity Conservation in Powsin. The evaluation was performed over the period of 3 years. Observations were made of the following traits: length of stem, length of spike, number of nodes in spike rachis, number of kernels per spike, weight of kernels per spike, weight of 1000 kernels, length of flag leaf, length of subflag leaf, length of third leaf, width of flag leaf, width of subflag leaf, width of third leaf, area of leaves per stem, number of stems per plant and area of leaves per plant.

On the basis of cluster analysis and principal components analysis, two genetically homogeneous groups were identified. Mean values and standard deviations were calculated for each trait in each group and for all genotypes together. Multivariate distance matrix permitted identification of the most genetically similar and most distant forms.

The study compared the fertility of common segetal weeds of the Polygonum type: Polygonum persicaria L., Polygonum lapathifolium L. subsp. lapathifolium and Polygonum lapathifolium L. subsp. pallidum (With.) Fr. from different agrocenoses from the area of the Wigry National Park and its buffer zone. These taxa are particularly found in large numbers in root crops and spring cereals. Owing to favourable habitat conditions in a potato crops they reach large sizes and produce a much larger number of seeds compared with specimens from other agrocenoses. On the stubble, they constitute a component of secondary infestation, reaching fertility similar to that of cereal crops.

In addition, the germination of seeds P. persicaria L., P. lapathifolium L. subsp. lapathifolium and P. lapathifolium L. subsp. pallidum (With.) Fr. tested in various combinations, in light and darkness, after the treatment of stratification and using gibberellic acid. It was shown that regardless of the conditions, the seeds that best germinated were P. lapathifolium L. subsp. pallidum (With.) Fr.

Total of 54 samples (of sediments taken from the surface of 5-cm layer of profundal zone of lakes in the catchment of the river Brda) were tested in presented research. The collected samples were analysed for the concentrations of Ag, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sn, Sr, V and Zn, and Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, P and S, using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), after sample digestion in aqua regia. The Hg concentration was determined from solid samples using atomic absorption spectroscopy (TMA). The organic carbon content was determined using the coulometric method. Sediments of most of lakes examined in the Brda catchment area are characterised by low concentrations of trace elements. Sediments contained an average of 0.9 mg/kg of Cd, 0.107 mg/kg of Hg, 8 mg/kg of Ni, 46 mg/kg of Pb, 8 mg/kg of As, 78 mg/kg of Ba, 12 mg/kg of Cr, 94 mg/kg of Zn, 3 mg/kg of Co, 12 mg/kg of Cu, 1.3 mg/kg of Mo, 105 mg/kg of Sr and 16 mg/kg of V. The presence of elevated concentrations of chromium, copper, nickel and vanadium is controlled by a geogenic factor - weathering of glacial deposits containing fragments of igneous and metamorphic rocks which are the source of heavy metals. The presence of elevated contents of Pb, Zn, Hg and Cd is caused by anthropogenic factor. Most of the lake sediments show low concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg and Ni, which do not pose a threat to aquatic organisms. The concentrations of lead in almost half of the samples are elevated to a level at which a negative effect of this element can be observed. In the case of zinc, the proportion of such samples is about 25%.

Diatoms are widely used for bioindication because of their sensitivity to anthropogenic pressures (e.g. eutrophication or acidity of waters). In many countries in the world, work has been undertaken to develop and implement diatom indices. Since 2000, in the Member States of the European Union, this has been done as part of the implementation of the Water Framework Directive. The results of lake assessment obtained using the Polish method based on epiphytic diatoms (IOJ - Indeks Okrzemkowy Jezior = the Diatom Index for Lakes) are greatly different from those provided by the other ecological status assessment methods. The purpose of this article is to review the scientific literature on the use of phytobenthos for bioindication in order to identify the advantages and disadvantages of the Polish IOJ method and to indicate the possible directions of improvements in this method. The literature evidencing the variability of phytobenthos related to its habitat, the spatial variability at the scale of a lake and the variability in the growing season was reviewed. The cited writings indicate that the further specification of guidelines for the sampling procedure and an increase in the number of survey sites could enhance the functionality of the Polish lake assessment method. It has also been suggested that it may be useful to test the effect of the seasonal variability of a phytobenthos assemblage on its bioindicator value.

The article presents the database ‘Protected areas in Poland’, its actualisation, further modernisation and consequent abilities to search for information and to use them for analysis and researches on protected areas in Poland. Database is carried out at the Institute of Environmental Protection - National Research Institute.