Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are organic compounds characterized by carcinogenic, toxic and mutagenic effect on life organisms. The mining and burning of coal are widely practiced in the tundra zone which results in the release of PAHs. The studies of PAHs content in organogenic horizon of tundra soil and southern tundra plants were performed at the control sites and at areas affected by coal industry. The soil and plants were analyzed for PAHs by HPLC. It was established that tundra soils, lichens and mosses are contaminated with polyarenes to a larger extent in the areas affected by the coal mining. The peak of PAHs concentration in the area affected by the Vorkutinskaya coal mine was observed within the distance of 0.5 km, and within 1.0 km in the area affected by the thermal power station. We propose to use diagnostic correlations of fluoranthene/ chrysene and fluoranthene/benz[b]fluoranthene in soils and mosses Pleurozium schreberi (Brid.) Mitt. to characterize the origin of polyarenes in tundra ecosystems. The similar polyarenes distribution is found in the soils and plants under the influence of coal industry. With polyarenes supply from industrial sources decreasing, their bioaccumulation level in the plants is reduced. We recommend Pleurozium schreberi to be used as a pollution indicator of tundra phytocenoses with PAHs and leaves of Betula nana L. for assessment of short-time changes of polyarene contents. The general contents rather than the surface accumulations are more suitable for the monitoring studies.

Results of research on the hazard posed by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons contained in the dusts emitted from motor vehicle braking systems have been presented. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) constitute a group of chemical compounds that pose a serious danger to the human health, chiefly because of their carcinogenic properties. Investigations into the issue of environmental pollution with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons generated by motor vehicle traffic were carried out in connection with the work being done at PIMOT on systems to reduce dust emission from motor vehicle braking systems. The investigations included determination of PAH contents of the dust emitted from vehicle braking systems as well as the PAH concentrations in the indoor air in a room with the stand for testing dust emissions from braking systems and in the duct to carry away gases from that room. Moreover, the PAH contents of soil were measured in the context of location of the soil sampling points in relation to traffic routes. The PAH contents were measured in Warsaw and in Zabrze. The investigation results confirmed that PAHs considered as being most harmful to the human health due to their carcinogenic properties were actually present in the dusts emitted from braking systems. The PAH contents of soil were found to be very sensitive to the location of the soil sampling points in relation to traffic routes and this is a confirmation of the thesis that motor traffic is an important source of environmental pollution with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

The content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water and sediments of the Blachownia

reservoir (South Poland) was investigated. Spatial variability of PAH concentrations in the longitudinal profi le of the

tank was determined. PAHs in samples were determined by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometric

detection (GC-MS QP-2010 Plus Shimadzu) using an internal standard. Concentrations ranged from 0.103 μg/L to

2.667 μg/L (Σ16 PAHs) in water samples and from 2.329 mg/kg d.w. to 9.078 mg/kg d.w. (Σ16 PAHs) in sediment

samples. A pollution balance was calculated and it was estimated that the infl ow load was 17.70 kg PAHs during

the year and the outfl ow load was 9.30 kg PAHs per year. Accumulation of about 50% of the annual PAH loads

(8.90 kg) is a threat to the ecological condition of the ecosystem. It was calculated that the PAH loads in bottom

sediment were about 80 kg, which limits their economic use. Improvement of the ecological status of this type of

reservoir can be achieved by removing the sediment. Analysis of the diagnostic ratios obtained for selected PAHs

showed that the potential sources of PAH emissions in small agricultural – forest catchments can be combustion

of a coal, wood, plant material (low emission, forest fi res, burning grass, etc.). Transportation is also signifi cant.

The impacts of long-term polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metal pollution on soil microbial communities functioning were studied in soils taken from an old coke plant. The concentrations of PAHs in the tested soils ranged from 171 to 2137 mg kg-1. From the group of tested heavy metals, concentrations of lead were found to be the highest, ranging from 57 to 3478 mg kg-1, while zinc concentrations varied from 247 to 704 mg kg-1 and nickel from 10 to 666 mg kg-1. High dehydrogenase, acid and alkaline phosphatase activities were observed in the most contaminated soil. This may indicate bacterial adaptation to long-term heavy metal and hydrocarbon contamination. However, the Community Level Physiological Profiles (CLPPs) analysis showed that the microbial functional diversity was reduced and influenced to a higher extent by some metals (Pb, Ni), moisture and conductivity than by PAHs.

The subject of this work was the investigation of zeolite as a sorbent of toxic gases. In Nizny Hrabovec in the Slovak republic, two layers of zeolite with the active component clinoptilolite can be found. The study presented here investigated the ability of this natural zeolite to reduce polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and NO emissions from engine exhaust. Exhaust gases from combustion engines include toxic components such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are a component of hydrocarbons causing harmful influence on life forms. The experiments focused on the potential reduction of these toxic gases based on the sorption and catalytic properties of natural zeolite. Also observed was the influence of chemical adjustment including incorporation of certain metal elements. Chemical analysis by mutually independent technologies served to observe the sorption of PAH with carcinogenic properties on the natural zeolite tested. The experiments showed that chemical modification improved the sorption and catalytic properties of natural zeolite. The PAH were analysed in an extract of the contaminated, thermally-activated natural zeolite and modified zeolite after washing with ammonium chloride, cobalt chloride and copper sulphate. The study also presents results of NO measurements obtained by testing the filter-sorptive automobile system.