Exploited lubricants are dangerous contaminants because of their toxicity and low biodegradability. In this study, microbial culture active in exploited lubricant oil Mobil I was isolated and inoculated to sandy soil containing 0.5 g of contaminant per 100 g of dry soil. Microorganisms were used as free cells and immobilizate on wood chips, soil was also properly supplied with water and nutrients. The bioaugumantation seems to enhance biodegradation process. After 5 months, 93% of non-polar compounds were eliminated from soil containing immobilized biomass. Comparatively, in non-treated soil (control system) the contaminant elimination was at the level of 47%. Bacterial number in treated and non-treated soil was similar for about 3 months; however enzymatic activity (dehydrogenascs and hydrolascs) in control soil was much lower. Finally, after 5 months of treatment the content of bacteria active in contaminant decomposition in inoculated soil was 100-fold higher than in control system. Presumably, the main reason of low remediation results in non-treated soil seems to be low enzymatic activity of the biomass.

Genetic-environmental controls of the tolerance of forest trees to industrial pollution arc discussed on the example of the Scots pine. Within the pine population under study, various responses to man-made stress were observed in individual specimens, which gave rise to the hypothesis about a genetic origin of the phenomenon. The research procedure was preceded by an assessment of the environmental conditions which focused especially on the pollution of the atmosphere and pedosphere as a background for estimating the level of variation and examining the genetic structure of specimens sensitive to, or tolerant of, the pollution. The analysis covered a pine population coming from natural forest regeneration growing in the zone of direct impact of pollution from the Miasteczko Śląskie Zinc Works. Two groups of trees were distinguished: S (sensitive) and T (tolerant), characterized by different genetic parameters. The observed tendencies (slower cell division rates, lower values of the mitotic index than in the control group, a high level of chromosomal aberrations) indicate a direct effect of the pollution on the genetic material of the trees.

Granulometrie composition of dust coming from main technological nodes - i.e. from the sinter plant, blast furnace and lead refinery - of the zinc smelter in Poland was investigated. Samples of dust trapped in bag filters were collected. The sieve analysis, sediment analysis and a laser analyzer of granulomeric composition were used in investigations. Mass and particle number contributions of the dust to nine granulometrie fractions having aerodynamic diameters in intervals: 0-2.5, 2.5-5, 5-10, 10-20, 20-32, 32-40, 40-63, 63-100, I 00-250 μm were determined. To determine mathematical functions describing (mass and particle number) changes in the fractional composition of each dust the results were statistically analyzed by applying the nonlinear estimation. Using of the polynomial regression provided a very good correlation between the sought functions and results of measurements. The results of measurements are presented in tables and charts. High degree of granulometrie diversity of the investigated dust samples, depending on the dust formation mechanisms, i.e. on the technology used and composition of raw materials, was noted. High share of the fine particles in the dust may be a serious hazard to human health, especially in the case of breakdown in functioning of dust collectors.

Accidental oil spills at open sea is a common environmental problem. They lead to degradation of sea and shoreline life. In the last ten years there has been an increased interest in bioremediation using the enzymatic activity of the naturally occurring microorganisms. In this work the potential of mixed microbial cultures for biodegradation of crude oil in seawater and sand has been examined. Artificial seawater supplemented with nitrogen and phosphorus was inoculated with cultures isolated from refinery sludge. The same cultures were used for experiments in sand polluted by 5% (v/w) of crude oil. These experiments were performed in sterile and semi-natural (not sterile) conditions to see the degradation potential of isolated cultures, their growth characteristics and possible antagonisms between supplemented microorganisms and natural microflora. During the experiments the oxygen demand, number of bacteria (cfu) and optical density (OD660 ) were monitored. After 14 days of cultivation, the concentration of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in all samples was measured. All tested cultures had a potential for degradation of hydrocarbons in seawater and sand. After two weeks of experiment, loss of hydrocarbons in seawater polluted with crude oil was between 56.8% (A2 culture) and 64.4% (Al culture). The most effective culture for bioaugmentation of seawater does not have to be the best solution for bioaugmcntation of sand. In sand the best degraders in sterile and semi-natural conditions were found in the mixed cultures isolated from Corinth refinery sludge. For this culture concentration of hydrocarbons in sterile sand was 73.2% lower than in control sample and in non-sterile sand 70.5% lower than in control (sterile sand) without bioaugmentation. Finally, the addition of seawater and fertilizers to sand had also a positive influence on contaminants degradation by naturally occurring microorganisms (48%). Experiments performed with different environments (seawater and sand) and under different conditions (sterilized material and semi-natural conditions) confirmed that cultures should be tested in semi-natural conditions especially when indigenous microflora cans posse's high degradation potential. Allochtonie cultures, very active in sterile conditions, after inoculation to natural environment can even slow down the degradation.

Surfactants can interfere with the biological wastewater treatment processes. They contribute to the changes in activated sludge floes structure. In order to quantify the influence of surfactants on sludge floes morphology the series of experiments in the flow continuous system were conducted. Sodium dodccyl sulphate, which belongs to the most ubiquitous anionic surfactant in everyday use, was selected to be the object of investigations. The results of its biodegradation in continuous flow system at influent concentration of 250 mg -dm' are presented. It turned out that SDS diminished the mean projected area of floes from 50 OOO to 15 OOO μm' with the increase of dilution rate from 0.029 to 0.192 h·1• At the same time the obtained data confirmed that there was a correlation between the morphological parameters of floes and other biomass indicators. The linear relation between mean projected area of floes and volatile suspended solids was found.