The goal of the study was to determine the risk posed to soil, groundwater and plants by the application of sewage sludge from a mechanical-biological wastewater treatment plant of nominal capacity of 46 000 m3/d. as fertilizer. Soil samples were collected from an agricultural and vegetable production farm. The leaching experiment was carried out in PCV lizymeters (with percolation water outlet). With respect to the chemistry and biology, the analyzed sludge meets the standards set up for sludge used for agricultural purposes. After 8, 16 and 24 weeks of simulated leaching with atmospheric precipitation, the lecheate from lizymeters showed changes in pH (increasing tendency), electrolytic conductivity (decreasing tendency) as well as slightly lowering content of heavy metals. Heavy metal speciation in sewage sludge showed that they occur in forms of compounds sparingly releasable to the soil solution (fractions III, IV, V). The analysis of sequential chemical extraction carried out in soil with applied sewage sludge, after 24 weeks treatment with simulated atmospheric precipitation doses showed similar heavy metal occurrence tendency as in the case of pure sludge. The total heavy metal content in fractions I-III amounted from 18,6% for Cr to 44,8% for Zn. The remaining content of heavy metals was basically bound with fraction V, which is completely unavailable for plants.

Composting of municipal solid waste with a 1 % addition of pulverized metallic iron, iron oxide(III) and iron sulfide(II) has been carried out. The amounts of iron in the bioavailable forms have been assayed in the composts obtained by means of speciation analysis, and the influence of composting on iron mobility has been evaluated. It has been found that pulverized metallic iron introduced into the waste occurs in the compost in the fractions easily accessible to plants, mainly the carbonate fraction. In the waste contaminated with Fe203 iron remains in the residual fraction, and composting does not practically increase its mobility. Over half of the iron from FeS remains in the waste in the residual fraction however, after composting there was an increased iron concentration in the bioavailable carbonate fraction.

Bromate is well known by-product produced by the ozonation of drinking water; the allowed concentration for human consumption has to be regulated to few μg/dm3 ranges. A method using ion chromatography has been developed, which will quantify bromate on this level, even in the presence of high levels of common anions such as chloride, nitrate and sulphate. The present article presents results of study of bromate determination in drinking water by two ion chromatographic methods. First was a direct method according to ISO 15061 with conductivity detector and limit of detection 4,5 μg/dm3. The second was new post-column derivatization reaction to produce tribromide ions, which was detected by UV detector. Limit of determination in this method was 0,5 μg/dm3. Both these methods are suitable to determination of bromate anions, because acceptable contents of bromate in drinking water in UE countries are 10 μg/dm3.

The eastern area of Poland is the land of great natural worth both on a country and Europe's scale. This area encompasses the valley of the middle-Bug river that is preserved as the Landscape Park. In this research an attempt was undertaken to assess the heavy metal pollution of the environment in the area of the Landscape Park named ,,The Podlasie Ravine of the Bug River". The level of heavy metals in falling dust, soil, and Dandelion (Taraxacum ojficinale Webb.) was being examined in the five localities, situated in the area of the Park. The research showed that none of the mean permissible standard values of the falling dust, Pb, and Cd were outreached; however, it was observed that the fall of Pb was locally higher in relation to the standard Pb fall values in Janów Podlaski. The concentration level of the elements in the soil equaled the ,,O" degree of heavy metal pollution of the soils. In the circumstances of the reaction soil about pH 6- 7 and low concentrations of the metals in the soil the Cd, Pb elements accumulate in Dandelion in trace quantities. The obtained results indicate that there is no threat whatsoever existing in the shape of the heavy metals in the area of the Landscape Park ,,The Podlasie Ravine of the Bug River".

The aim of the present work was to analyse the results of investigations on the heavy metals content in the water of the Nakło-Chechło Reservoir. In this study the importance of this element in the characteristic of aquatic environment is stressed. Small content of heavy metals has excluded the possibility of the discharge of municipal and industrial sewage. All of these toxic substance included in water have confirmed that the Nakło- Chechło Reservoir is under strong hydrological and chemical influence of the precipitation and surface run off from the Reservoir basin area.

This study includes hydrologie characteristics of the Potok Toszecki basin area and the results of chemical analysis of water quality of the Potok Toszecki. These investigations were carried out in following periods: from March 1993 till May 1994 and from January 1997 till June 1998. The results of investigations on the chemical parameters of water quality were compared with analysis, carried out in 1976. Under the results of this investigations water quality of the Potok Toszecki - a watercourse, which flows to the Pławniowice Reservoir - was defined and essential factors, connected with character of the basin area have been shown. Classification of several parameters was achieved under the official decree of the ministry of environmental protection from November 5th 1991. On the basis of this classification it was found, that the main risk for the Pławniowice Reservoir are biogenie substances and suspension, inflowing to the Reservoir together with the water of the Potok Toszecki. Improvement of the existing situation will be possible only if firm waste-water managements action will be taken.

Size distribution of particulate matter (PM) emitted from coal combustion in residential furnaces as well as emission of Hg, Zn, Pb and Cu were investigated. The metals emission was characterised by partition factors K. The factor expresses the distribution of metal streams between the feed coal and its combustion products emitted to the atmosphere. The values of factors K for Zn, Pb and Cu were 0.59, 0.33 and 0.34 respectively; the relevant variance coefficients were 37, 46 and 44%. Much better variance coefficient of factor K (17%) appeared in the case of mercury. It was found that 52% of Hg in feed coal was emitted to the air in gaseous form. Particulate matter emission from 7 coal combustion sources was investigated and fine particles were found as the main fraction. About 76% of PM were emitted as the size fractions up to 12 μm. The share of size fractions between 12-29 μm was 9%. It means that the impact of PM emission from residential furnaces is not of local scale but the particles containing heavy metals can be transported on long distances in the atmosphere.

Results of toluene and p-xylene containing model gases biofiltration are presented. Process was carried out on columns packed with two kinds of non-modified composts. Velocity and efficiency of biofiltration was determined and plotted vs. impurities concentration and linear gas velocity. Highest, average for the top section of the column, values of the decomposition velocity were found to be ca. 80 g/m3 /h, and average for the whole column ca. 40 g/m3/h respectively. Fluctuations of these values at similar, well controlled, measurement parameters were however encounter, most probable due to varying hardly adjustable humidity of the column bed.

There have been presented results of perennial studies of sedimentation process. Several materials of diversified parameters which are characteristic for water and technological treatment process have been examined by means of model installations. For experiments there have been used lamella and multichannels packing with different geometric configurations. The correlation equations enabling design of industrial and highly effective settlers have been elaborated on the basis of fractional effectiveness model.

In this paper a method of analyzing air pollution data in an optional automatic measuring station, allowing for identification of the directions of the pollution inflow has been presented. The method is based on four parameters provided by the measuring station: pollution concentration, wind direction, wind speed and fluctuation of the wind directions. For the description of the wind direction fluctuation in 30-minutes' periods a coefficient of relative turbulent diffusion rr(3, 30) was used, which is defined as a deviation of 3-minutes' wind vectors from the 30-minutes' vector. The presented method was applied for identification of the inflow directions of SO2 and NO2 using the measuring data from a telemetric system OPSIS at the Institute for Ecology of Industrial Areas in Katowice-Załęże.

The results of ecotoxicological investigation of chosen components of textile wastewater have been presented. There were two detergents Awiważ and Tetrapol and one anthraquinone dyestuff. The toxicity of the compounds were checked by means of microbiological methods with the use of bacterial strains. In the case of pure cultures (Vibrio fischeri, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis) the values of effective concentration EC50 were found to be almost the same for a given compound with the use of various bacteria. Application of the test with mixed cultures from activated sludge gave difTerent results in EC50 for the investigated dyestuff.

The paper presents a new method of calculating the mixing length of pollutants, based on the coefficient of the degree of concentrations levelling. Two models have been used: of Bielski and of Boczar of advective transport of pollutants with transverse dispersion. A method of determining the coefficient a,, in Bielski's formula for rectangular or other concentration distribution of pollutants in the initial cross-section has been given. The differences which will occur when determining using any of these methods the mixing length and the concentration distribution on the width of water-course are analysed. It has been noticed, that the differences are due to the different method used when deriving the formula (9) and (11). It has been found, that in order to shorten the mixing length the pollutants should be disposed, as far as possible, near the river axis and also in such a way as to make the formed zone of inflow of pollutants, of the width 2L, as large as possible.

Investigations showing the possibility of BTX biodegradation present in the water environment under anoxic conditions have been presented. The effects of transformation of benzene, toluene, o-xylene and p-xylene by indigenous to sewage microorganisms as well as by isolated species of bacteria like Aeromonas sobria, Enterobacter sakazaki, Pseudomonas aeruqinosa, Staphylococcus lentus and the mixture of these species varied distinctively. The results and calculated degradation rates have been compared to some results given by other authors. In anoxic conditions all investigated aromates have shown to be biodegradable. The highest rate of degradation was found for isolated species of bacteria from municipal sewage.

Investigations showing the possibility of BTX biodegradation present in the water environment under aerobic conditions have been presented. The effects of transformation of benzene, toluene, o-xylene and p-xylene by indigenous to sewage microorganisms as well as by isolated species of bacteria like Aeronwnas sobria, Bacillus steareothermophilus, Enterobacter sakazaki, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Staphylococcus lentus and the mixture of these species varied distinctively. The results and calculated degradation rates have been compared to some results given by other authors. In aerobic conditions all investigated aromates have shown to be biodegradable. The highest rate of degradation was found for indigenous to municipal sewage microorganisms.

The probability density functions were used to forecast the air quality in several monitoring sites located in Worek Żytawski region. Prediction of percentile 99.8 value (the maximum allowable 30-minute pollutant concentration) was made on the basis of the frequency function, which represented the annual distribution of SO2. Analysing the historical SO2 concentration data sets identified the form of distribution. The parameters of the distribution were estimated basing upon the annual average concentration prognosis. Then, the preliminary predicted distribution of S02 was verified every month by taking into account successively upcoming concentrations values recorded during the analysed period. The results proved that the air quality estimation obtained with the presented method of verification at the end of September and the ones typically calculated at the end of the year were similarly accurate.

Charakterystyką objęto 12 próbek zwałowanych odpadów serpentynitowych oraz 2 próbki gliniastego nadkładu. Próbki odpadów odznaczają się obojętnym i alkalicznym odczynem, bardzo wysoką zawartością przyswajalnego magnezu, natomiast bardzo niską - przyswajalnego fosforu i potasu. Spośród badanych metali ciężkich, chrom i nikiel występują w największych ilościach (odpowiednio do 760 i 4130 mg/kg), potencjalnie toksycznych dla roślin. W odpadach stwierdzono również występowanie azbestu chryzotylowego. Obecność azbestu oraz niekorzystne właściwości chemiczne powodują konieczność przykrycia odpadów serpentynitowych warstwą czwartorzędowych glin występujących w nadkładzie złoża. Warstwa taka zabezpieczy sąsiadujące tereny przed emisją ze zwałowisk oraz stworzy korzystniejsze warunki wegetacji roślinności wprowadzonej w trakcie rekultywacji.

Zawartość cynku w glebach wokół huty cynku ,,Miasteczko Śląskie”