Volume 27 (2016): Issue 4 (December 2016)

The aim of this research was to assess the impact of forest site types on the ionic composition of the soil sorption complex and soil water extracts in a soil profile. Three forest site types: coniferous forest (CF), coniferous-deciduous forest (CDF), and deciduousconiferous forest (DCF), were selected for the studies. Three dominant soil types were distinguished on the studied plots: Haplic Podzol, Dystric Arenosol, and Dystric Cambisol. Calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), sodium (Na), and aluminium (Al) in the soil sorption complex and soil water extracts were determined. Ca is a dominant cation in the soil sorption complex in organic horizon, while Al in mineral soil horizons. The differences between forest site types in ionic composition of soil water extracts were observed, mainly in the organic horizon and the horizons below the rooting zone. The vegetation affected the Ca/Al and base cations to Al molar (BC/Al) ratios. The Ca/Al and the BC/Al molar ratios increased in the sequence of sites: CF < CDF < DCF.

The main purpose of the work was to determine the scope and degree of the influence of exploitation on changes of plant cover of the raised peat-bog Baligówka, located in the Orawsko- Nowotarska Valley. The analysis was carried out based on 47 phytosociological surveys using the Braun-Blanquet method. Results of investigations allow to state that excessive drying and fires that took place on the examined object caused wastage of many precious species of plants, especially from the Oxycocco- Sphagnetea class. Their place occupied species belonging to other classes, such as Nardo-Callunetea and Molinio-Arrhenatheretea. The basic cause of drying of the peat-bog and, in consequence, dying of peat formation species is intensified exploitation and connected with this drainage, carried out in the half of the 20th century. Unfortunately, local people up to now illegally have harvested the peat on the investigated object. Decrease in groundwater level leads to accelerated decay of peat, changes in physical and chemical properties of a substratum and, in consequence, changes in trophic values of habitat, what causes great changes in species composition of plant communities.

In the work, evaluation of agricultural production space of the area at the Węglowa street in Jastrzębie Zdrój is presented. The method of the synthetic indicator proposed at the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation in Puławy was used in the calculation. The determined synthetic indicator of agricultural production space of the investigated area classifies it as the area of mean conditions for agricultural production. Geomechanical and hydrological degradation of soil increasing in time may cause changes of values of this indicator and also high deterioration of environmental conditions of agricultural production.

The paper presents the results of the research on content of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in samples of runoff waters collected in Siedlce city. The samples were collected in March, July and October 2015. The highest mean total concentration of 16 PAHs amounting to 12.54 μmolּdm^-3 was determined in water samples collected at Łukowska Street, whereas the lowest concentrations (1.90 μmolּdm^-3) were found in samples collected at Warszawska Street. In some samples, small amounts of benzo(a)pyrene were present; the average content ranged from 0.02 μmol⋅dm-3 at Warszawska Street to 0.20 μmolּdm^-3 at Garwolińska Street.

Municipal waste plants can be a source of biological contamination of the environment, depending on the method of operation and the type of collected waste. The aim of this study was the quantitative characteristics of airborne microorganisms at the Barycz municipal waste sorting plant in Cracow. Bioaerosol measurements of indoor and outdoor air of the municipal waste sorting plant were performed during the summer season using a six-stage Andersen cascade impactor. The highest concentration of bacterial and fungal aerosol was observed in the medium fraction sorting room (129.02×10³ cfu·m^-3 and 116.21×10³ cfu·m^-3, respectively). There were statistically significant differences in the concentrations of bacterial and fungal aerosol between indoor and outdoor air. The calculations showed a significant correlation between the concentration of bioaerosol and particulate matter. Based on the analysis of bioaerosol particle size distribution, it was found that the concentration of bacteria and fungi has a maximum value in the diameter range 3.3-7.0 μm. The study confirmed that the municipal waste sorting plants can be causing exposure to microbiological agents.

The paper presents an analysis of the selected anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHG) emission sources in industrial processes, as well as the mitigation policies and measures in Annex I Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. [Text of the United Nations … 1992].The main gas in this category is carbon dioxide, but several countries have a dominant share of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) with a clear upward trend in their emissions. In Poland, the majority of the GHG emissions from industrial processes come from three categories: refrigeration and air-conditioning (HFCs), cement production (CO₂) and ammonia production (CO₂). An analysis of the policies and measures implemented or planned in this group of countries shows that voluntary programs and agreements among governments and stakeholders are the most effective. A crucial element of the voluntary programs is the support to assist enterprises in the transition to the best low carbon technologies and practices.

This article is part of a series devoted to discussing strategies for the synthesis of ion-imprinted polymers and molecularly imprinted polymers, their chemical structure and great potential, which may be used in porous material design, analytical chemistry, environmental protection and other areas of science. The presented work constitutes a basis for a better understanding of what porous polymers are, how we can synthesise them and how to foresee their properties, which can be later used in studies of environmental pollution and analytical chemistry.