The impacts of industrial wastewater contamination on the geotechnical properties of clayey soil have been studied in the research presented in this paper. The contaminant in question is industrial wastewater released from Thi-Qar oil refinery as a by-product of production, and the soil samples obtained from Thi-Qar oil refinery plant in Al-Nassyriah (a city located in the south of Iraq). The geotechnical properties of contaminated soil samples were compared with those of intact soil to measure the effects of such a contaminant. The soil samples were obtained from three locations in the study area; representing the highly contaminated area, the slightly contaminated area, and the intact area used as a reference for comparison of test results. The results of the tests showed that the contaminant causes an increase of natural moisture content, field unit weight, Atterberg’s limits, and maximum dry unit weight, as well as an increase of the compression index and the coefficient of vertical consolidation. Also, the contaminant causes a decrease in specific gravity, the optimum moisture content initial void ratio, the swelling index, the coefficient of permeability, and cohesion between soil particles.

What kind of contamination poses the greatest hindrance to our experience of the world? Do the most important cognitive faculties in epistemology – reason and the senses – truly cooperate with one another? What might be getting in the way, polluting and contaminating our image of the world, effectively keeping us unable to ever directly access the truth that we assume exists somewhere out there?

In 25 krill samples (Euphausia superba) collected at the Scotia Sea and in the area of South Georgia, South Orkney and South Sandwich Islands, Antarctic Peninsula and the eastern part of the Bellingshausen Sea the concentrations of Cd, Pb. Zn, F, 90Sr, 137Cs, U and 239, 240 Pu has been determined. The corresponding average concentrations were found to be: Cd — 2.5, Pb — 3.4, Z n — 123.1 , F — 50 (ppm dry weight), 90Sr— 1.9, 137Cs — 4.7 (mBq x -1 dry weight), U — 11.1 (ppb dry weight) and 239, 240Pu - 0.08 (mBq x g-1 dry weight).

Soil contamination with petroleum hydrocarbons is a serious problem. In the soil in the location of highways, fuel pumping station and airfields high pollutant concentrations are found. The contents of total hydrocarbons (THC) and 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analysed in the surface (0-20 cm) soil samples from airfields in Dęblin Marked differences in the pollution level of the above areas were noted. The PAH contents ranged from 113 to 5638 μg/kg and THC contents range from 40 to 430 mg/kg. The analysis was carried out by reverse phase HPLC (PAHs) and SOXTEC apparatus according to Polish norm PN-86/C-04573/01.

The aim of the study was to determine the contamination transport condition with sediment in the Widawa River, which inflows to the Odra River below Wrocław city. The transport simulations have been performed by means of HEC-RAS model, which was calibrated. Study and geochemical analyses indicate that pollutions are cumulated mainly in sediment of grain size, less than 0,20 mm. It was stated that the main sources of contaminations occurring in the Widawa River bottoms are: superficial run-off, municipal and industrial wastes. Sediment bed quality from the Widawa River in selected cross-sections has been analyzed. Samples of suspended load were collected and divided into eight fractions, for which the phosphorus concentration P was calculated. Deposit particles less than 0,20 mm contained most phosphorus, i.e. 73% (3,52 ppm), and particles greater than 0,20 mm about 27% (1,30 ppm) for the whole sample volume. Relationship between the phosphorus concentration P and the sediment grain size was determined. Analysis showed that the initiation of contamination-sediment suspension in the Widawa River is well described by Engelund criterion. Simulations of the migration of pollutions together with deposits in the Widawa River showed that during average flow discharge, the transport intensity of pollution was equal 2 mg/s, and sediments 6 kg/s. In the present work the water quality of the Widawa River has been also presented.

The paper presents results of research concerning possibilities of applications of reporter-genes based microorganisms, including the selective presentation of defects and advantages of different new scientific achievements of methodical solutions in genetic system constructions of biosensing elements for environmental research. The most robust and popular genetic fusion and new trends in reporter genes technology – such as LacZ (β-galactosidase), xylE (catechol 2,3-dioxygenase), gfp (green fluorescent proteins) and its mutated forms, lux (prokaryotic luciferase), luc (eukaryotic luciferase), phoA (alkaline phosphatase), gusA and gurA (β-glucuronidase), antibiotics and heavy metals resistance are described. Reporter-genes based biosensors with use of genetically modified bacteria and yeast successfully work for genotoxicity, bioavailability and oxidative stress assessment for detection and monitoring of toxic compounds in drinking water and different environmental samples, surface water, soil, sediments.

Heavy metal contamination often accompanies pollution with petroleum oil derivatives. Metal ions may considerably affect the process of hydrocarbon biodegradation. The results obtained for bacterial strains Gordon ia a/kanivorans S7 and Pseudom on as fluorescens SL3 indicated the limitation of cell growth and reduced ability of degradation of petroleum oil hydrocarbons in the presence ferric ions in the range of 15-100 mg Fe/dm3. However, the addition of these ions in the range of 1-7 mg Fe/dm3 might appear to be advantageous for biodegradation process. Supplementation with ferric ions in the range of 50-100 mg Fe/dm' decreases emulsifying activity of tested strains. The excess of these ions is accumulated in the bacterial cells.

The method of solid-phase extraction on TENAX TA beads was applied in order to assess the content of potentially bioavailable PAH fractions in soils highly contaminated with these compounds. The extraction was carried out at 20°C and 60°C to enable separation of two fractions: ,,easily bioavailable" and ,.hardly bioavailable", correspondingly. The data obtained indicated a relatively low content of potentially bioavailable PAHs in soils with 4 and 5+6-ringed compounds as dominant groups.

In the present work, bacteria of the Pseudomonas genus native to the Ecuadorian Amazon with the capacity to treat contaminated water and soils were selected. For this purpose, 20 soil samples from Amazon region with evidence of contamination were analysed. For identification, each sample was assigned a code according to the sampling area: Joya de los Sachas (S), Minga (M) and Siete de Julio-Shushufindi (SH). The cultures were performed in the combination of Bushnell Hass (BH) + Luria Bertani (LB) and Müeller-Hinton (MH) + Brucella agar (BA) media, all with the addition of diesel to verify their efficacy in the growth of bacteria capable of surviving in contaminated media. The combination with ideal results was that of BH + LB, by means of Gram-staining it was determined that 19 of the samples had interest microorganisms. To characterize the isolates at the species level, biochemical tests of: catalase, citrate, glucose, hemolytic activity and urease were applied, which allowed to confirm the existence of the Pseudomonas of interest. The results indicated that P. stutzeri (in samples S1 and M1), P. aeruginosa (in SH2 and SH5) and P. putida (in S7, S8, S10 and SH4) obtaining a total of 8 isolates (40%) of interest from the initial 19. With the results obtained from this work, an optimal culture method was standardized for the selection of bacteria with potential for treating contaminated soils and water.

The objective of the research presented in the paper was to study the process of adsorption of oil impurities with the use of clinoptylolite and diatomite. The effect of various factors on process course was determined, the process was described with isotherms and the adsorptive capacities of tested minerals were determined on their basis.

The aim of this study was to assess soil contamination with toxic metals in the area of Piekary Śląskie (Silesian Voivodeship), taking into consideration various land use patterns. The scope of research covered the determination of lead and cadmium concentration in soil in the following areas: allotment gardens, fallow lands and kindergarten playgrounds. The lead and cadmium concentrations in soil samples were determined using a flame atomic absorption spectrometry technique, after the aqua regia extraction in a MDS 2000 microwave digestion system. The metal contents in the analyzed soil samples varied remarkably, depending on the sampling location and its distance from the main emitter of toxic metals in Piekary Śląskie, i.e. "Orzel Bialy" Non-Ferrous Metal Smelter. Metal concentrations determined in all soil samples significantly exceeded the concentration levels accepted in Poland for arable lands and residential areas. The lead and cadmium concentrations in soil should become the basis for stopping edible plants cultivation in the area of Piekary Śląskie. The contaminated soil in kindergarten playgrounds can be an important source of lead and cadmium contamination, posing hazard to the children's health. Contamination of playgrounds with toxic metals should stimulate undertaking actions aimed at modernization of playgrounds and reduction of the children's contact with soil. In the context of the applied result assessment criteria the soil concentrations of these metals observed in the region of Piekary Śląskie should arouse great concern among its users and local authorities.

Wild boars use natural feed such as ground cover for about half a year. In this work the contamination of boar muscles with caesium-137 and contamination of ground cover were compared. The level of caesium- 137 was measured by spectromertic method. Muscle samples from total 86 wild boars were collected just after Chernobyl accident (years I 986-1988 and in years I 998-1999). The results of the studies indicate that there is a relationship between radiocontamination of the environment as well as muscles of wild boars. It seems that animals at large can be good indicators of radiocontamination of the environment.

Heavy metal (As, Mn, Ni, Sn, Ti) concentrations were determined in soil and plant samples collected in different areas of the railway junction Iława Główna, Poland. Soil and plant samples were collected in four functional parts of the junction, i.e. the loading ramp, main track within the platform area, rolling stock cleaning bay and the railway siding. Four plant species occurring in relatively higher abundance were selected for heavy metals analysis, although in the loading ramp and platform areas only one species could be collected in the amount which makes chemical analysis possible. The selected species included three perennials (Daucus carota, Pastinaca sativa and Taraxacum officinale) and one annual plant (Sonchus oleraceus).

The entire area of the railway junction showed elevated concentrations of heavy metals when compared to the control level. It was most pronounced for the platform area and railway siding. The concentration of arsenic, manganese and nickel in plants growing in these parts of the junction exceeded the toxic level. The highest contamination of soil and plants found in the platform area suggested advanced emission process of the analyzed metals from wheel and track abrasion. Literature review showed that the concentration of the investigated metals in soil was generally higher than that found in centers of cities and along traffic roads proving that the railway is an important linear source of soil contamination

The aim of this research was to evaluate the microbiological indoor air contamination level in chosen facilities of the primary health-care for adults and children. The total numbers of mesophilic bacteria, staphylococci, coli-group bacteria and moulds in both surgery rooms and patients’ waiting rooms were determined. Air samples were collected with a MAS 100 impactor and the concentration of microorganisms was estimated by a culture method. The microbiological air contamination level was diverse: the number of mesophilic bacteria ranged from 320 to 560 CFU/m3, number of staphylococci - 10-305 CFU/m3, coli group bacteria - 0-15 CFU/m3 and moulds - 15-35 CFU/m3. The bacteriological contamination level of the air in examined community health centers was higher than described in the literature for hospitals and exceeded the acceptable values proposed for the surgery objects.

Changes in activity of amylase, cellulase, protease and dehydrogenase during biodegradation of petroleum contaminants were investigated in laboratory studies. Refinery soil polluted for a long time was modified by commercial biological preparation and natural biological preparation (prepared from this soil). These modifications did not influence cellulase and protease activity. Activity of amylase and dehydrogenase changed in these samples. In the sixth week the highest activity of dehydrogenase was noticed, especially in soil with commercial biological preparation. Modifications had a great influence on contaminants degradation. The highest elimination of TPH (20,4%) and heavy fractions (10,5%) took place in soil modified by commercial biological preparation. The highest PAH elimination was in soil with natural bacterial preparation

Study on water and bottom sediment quality of the Kozłowa Góra drinking water reservoir in Silesian province was carried out. Heavy metal concentrations in water body and bottom sediment of the reservoir were determined. Water quality assessment was perform by comparing concentration of heavy metals to standards for I class water quality. The degree of sediment contamination was carried out by calculating cumulation coefficient: sediment/water and sediment/ geochemical background. Present water and sediment contamination in the reservoir was compared with the state 20 years ago, which was a period of intensive metallurgical industry development in this region. At the same time, heavy metals speciation in sediment for those of high rate accumulation: Zn, Pb and Cd was determined. The results of heavy metal speciation in sediment provided a basis to secondary water pollution assessment, due to migration of these metals to water body.

The study was aimed at evaluating microbial contamination on the premises of the sewage treatment plant by determining the concentrations of selected groups of airborne microorganisms. Another objective was to determine the antibiotic sensitivity patterns of isolated strains of staphylococci. The research was conducted in a seasonal cycle, by the impaction method using Merck MAS-100 air sampler. Samples were collected at six sites, each representing a different stage of sewage treatment. The susceptibility of isolated staphylococci was assessed with the disc-diffusion method, following the recommendations of the EUCAST. The results indicate that the microbial population in the air of the investigated area was dominated by mold fungi, whose highest average concentration was recorded at site IV located near the final clarifier (7672 CFU•m-3). Heterotrophic bacteria and mannitol-positive staphylococci were the most numerous at locations where sewage undergoes primary treatment. In each subseuqent stage the number of microorganisms emitted into the air from the sewage was lower. Antibiograms show that more than 50% of Staphylococcus spp. exhibited resistance to penicillin and 20% to rifampicin. In addition, 90% of the analyzed strains were sensitive to other antibiotics. The fungal community included the following genera: Cladosporium, Fusarium, Alternaria, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Aureobasidium, and Acremonium.The highest air contamination with all studied groups of microorganisms was recorded at the locations where mechanical sewage treatment was performed. During the subsequent stages lower numbers of heterotrophic bacteria were emitted into the air. The air in the investigated sewage treatment plant did not contain multidrug-resistant staphylococci.

Principles of bioluminescence have been described as well as some examples of the biotests that utilize natural bacterial luminescence for assessment of the effects of environment contamination and remediation have been reviewed. The achievements of the last eight years and a new outlook on using rapid biotests for waters, wastewaters, sediments and soils toxicity investigations have been taken into account.

If we throw something into a river, how long will it take to reach a certain location downstream? We talk to Prof. Ian Guymer from the University of Sheffield about our increasingly complex models of this deceptively simple problem.

The aim of the presented investigations was to irnprovc the quality of CFO numerical modeling of the propagation of gaseous contaminations in a test laboratory with a tracer gas source and a local exhaust in general mixing ventilation. The investigations were carried out making use of experimental identification of the flow. Concise information is presented concerning the CFO method applied in the modeling of the airflow and gaseous contaminant. The tested object has been characterized, as well as its respective experimental data. The ways of generating its simulation model has been described, paying special attention to the simulation of the diffuser. TI1e results of prediction have been compared with the results of measurements of the air velocity and the concentration of gaseous contaminant. Attempts have been made to improve the quality of the obtained results of prediction of the distribution of tracer gas concentration by increasing the accuracy simulating the diffuser, the jct leaving the diffuser and the airflow pattern in surrounding the contarninant source and suction nozzle. It has also been tried to utilize the results of numerical prediction for the purpose of determining the effectiveness of the local exhaust.

The aim of the study was to assess the degree of soil contamination by PAHs in the area of charcoal kiln basis, located in the East Carpathian Biosphere Reserve. The concentrations of PAH in soil samples derived from various sampling locations pointed to a strong or a very strong contamination of the ecosystem by these compounds (8,95 μgxg·'-283,53 ugxg'). PAH concentrations in the soil differed significantly between the sampling locations. Analysis of samples from different soil layers (to 30 cm) pointed to a threat of washing out into groundwater. The highest concentrations of PAH corresponded to soil samples collected near kilns (distance of 1.5 m), and were in the range of 17.81 ugxg' - 435.54 ugxg'. PAH content in soil gradually decreased with increasing distance from the kilns to values < I μgxg-'. The analysis of the data from three sampling periods (June-August) pointed to higher concentrations of PAHs in soil collected in the middle of the burning season, what was probably due to their more intense emission and a relatively small amount of precipitation.

The aims of the current study are the physicochemical characterization, spatial assessment and monitoring of hydrocarbon contamination in quagmire of three sites (Agreb, Gassi and Zotti) in the Hassi Messaoud region (Algerian Sahara), as a result of the presence of an important oil industry rejecting industrial wastewater. Samples were obtained from three different depths for each site. Total Hydrocarbons (THC) were determined by a gravimetric method, and the four (F1:C6-C10), (F2:C10-C16), (F3:C16-C34) and F4>C34) hydrocarbon fractions and BTEX (Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl-benzene and Xylene) were determined by using gas chromatography (FID). The results obtained show a high contamination with hydrocarbons in different sites and depths. The concentrations of THC, four hydrocarbon fraction and BTEX recorded on Agreb site in different depth were in this order: 51200–120000 mg/kg d.w.; <LOD – 59500 mg/kg d.w.; 2.4–90.8 mg/kg d.w. respectively; and for Gassi site, in this order: 59600–70300 mg/kg d.w.; < LOD – 43000 mg/kg d.w.; 8.5–112 mg/kg d.w. Finely they were in the following order: 18100–19200 mg/kg d.w.; <LOD – 9130 mg/kg d.w.; 2.75–65 mg/kg d.w. for Zotti site. Statistical analysis demonstrated an important site effect of THC and the three hydrocarbon fractions except for F4. However, there is no site and depth effect for BTEX. On the other hand the depth effect is significant just for THC, F1 and F2 of hydrocarbons. This variation can be attributed to the difference of physicochemical parameters between studied sites.

Cytostatic drugs have become one of the greatest environmental hazards. They exhibit toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic effects on flora and fauna, including people. They are poorly eliminated in conventional wastewater treatment plants and their mixtures could possess higher ecotoxicity than individual drugs. Fungi are organisms with enormous potential for biodegradation of a variety of toxic chemical pollutants. The aim of this work was to estimate tolerance of five fungal strains to selected anticancer drugs, which will be useful to determine the potential for their possible use in cytostatics removal and may be significant in the context of wastewater treatment application. Test was conducted on Fomes fomentarius (CB13), Hypholoma fasciculare (CB15), Phyllotopsis nidulans (CB14), Pleurotus ostreatus (BWPH) and Trametes versicolor (CB8) and the chosen drugs were bleomycin and vincristine. Their ability to grow in the presence of selected cytostatics was evaluated in cultures conducted on two solid media which differed in the richness of nutrient compounds. Fungal strains tolerance was expressed as a half maximal effective concentration. Results showed that fungi display better tolerance to high cytostatics’ concentrations in the medium rich in carbon source. Regardless of the medium used, the differences in growth ability were lower for bleomycin (the tolerance was higher). The greatest tolerance for bleomycin was shown by Pleurotus ostreatus. Results suggest that more efficient elimination of bleomycin would be possible to obtain, strain BWPH seems to be the best fungal candidate for this drug degradation assay and, probably, in wastewater treatment application tests in a longer perspective.

According to the Nitrate Directive it is necessary to established a protective belt (ecotones) around lakes. Inside these belts, it is forbidden to use fertilize for agricultural purposes. It is believed that it is the most imported measure to protect water quality in the lake. The analysis were conducted to estimate the sources of nitrogen entering the waters of the lake. Some analysis were conducted to estimate the sources of nitrogen entering waters of the lake. It was proved that the biggest load (more than 80%) of contamination is entering the lake with water flowing in streams and ditches. Only 10% of the chemicals are entering the lake with the groundwater filtrating to the lake. It is very important to use a proper methods of agriculture with proper methods of fertilization in the whole area of river basin flowing to the lakes.