Interactions between a well-characterized, purified, peat humic acid and pentachlorobenzene were studied in equilibrium and kinetic experiments. The kinetic experiments, performed with a gas-purge method, showed the presence of a fast-desorbing, labile fraction and a slow-desorbing, nonlabile fraction. Increased contact time did not change the measured continuous desorption curves. A desorption experiment with interrupted flow and the measured isotherm suggested nonlinear sorption behavior. A first-order model consisting of two parallel “sites” could describe the continuous desorption curves but failed to describe the adsorption isotherm and the desorption curve with interrupted flow. A Langmuir model with one site was able to describe the characteristics of the desorption experiments and of the adsorption isotherm, but it did not describe the observed nonlabile fraction. Expanding the model with an additional Langmuir or first-order site did not lead to a good description of the various experiments. We speculate that the nonlabile fraction is a consequence of a change of conformation of the humic acid after the binding of pentachlorobenzene. This structural change leads to entrapment of pentachlorobenzene within the humic acid structure.

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The results of this study provided accurate guidance on the possibility of using common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) in phytoremediation practices for mineral soil or organic soils contaminated with Cd or Pb. Based on a model pot experiment, the tolerance of buckwheat to elevated contents of cadmium and lead in organic and mineral soils was examined. The soils were differentiated into neutral and acidic, and amended with metals at doses of 10 mg Cd kg−1 DM and 100 mg Pb kg−1 DM of soil. The growth, development, biomass, translocation coefficient, and tolerance index (TI) of the tested plants were examined. The use of metals caused a weakening of plant growth and development, as well as intensified chlorotic and necrotic changes to the buckwheat leaves. The application of Cd caused a statistically significant decrease in shoot biomass. The plants growing in organic acidic soil were most vulnerable to Cd toxicity. The (TI) values confirm the generally low tolerance of buckwheat to Cd, except for the treatment in organic neutral soil, and the high tolerance of this plant to Pb in all the studied soils.

The electricity sector in the 21st century should be associated with renewable energy sources (RES), which the majority of society currently equates with solar photovoltaics, wind power, and hydroelectricity, with this energy being used mainly in households. Households consume only 20% of energy, with the remainder used in various sectors of the national economy. In these sectors, the possibilities of using renewable energy sources should be sought. Many experts express the opinion that myths about renewable energy sources exist only “in our minds and opinions, that we formed years ago”, mainly under pressure from the decreasing number of supporters of conventional energy sources. Currently, we observe much greater possibilities of using renewable energy sources globally, and all forecasts suggest that—by 2050—the economy, transport, and industry may become almost emission-free and rely on RES. Of course, we cannot present renewable energy sources only in terms of superlatives, because they also involve many unknowns and myths which we will present in the article. Considering the complexity of factors influencing the involvement of young people in shaping the socio-economic reality, a group of people aged between 18 and 40 was selected for the study. The aim of this study was to identify the attitudes of young inhabitants of south-eastern Poland regarding the issues of climate change and renewable energy, and to identify the level of acceptance for changes in Poland’s energy mix. The conducted research shows that the studied group of people appreciated the importance of climate change and considered the anthropogenic impact on this phenomenon to be of key importance. The perception of renewable energy was positive, and respondents saw the solution to the problems of the energy deficit in increasing the use of renewable energy sources. Respondents also showed significant support for nuclear energy and expected government support programs for activities related to energy conservation. The survey shall be repeated on a random sample at the time when the energy price changes caused by the transformation of the energy mix occur—i.e., around 2025.

This paper focuses on the analysis of trends in the development of nuclear energy in selected European and non-European countries in the context of the pace of renewable energy development in the world. The perception of Poles related to their openness to various energy sources against the background of European trends was also examined, as well as their ecological approach to the quality of the environment in this context. The survey was carried out using the Computer Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) technique. The total number of correctly completed forms was 923. To identify the ecological attitude, purchasing attitude, and the perception of nuclear energy, the research tool contained a number of statements on the issues studied, and the respondents assessed compliance with their opinion using a seven-point bipolar scale. The semantic differential was also used to gather opinions on the characteristics of nuclear energy. This paper shows that global trends are promoting the development of unstable renewable energy sources and the reduction of the share of nuclear power plants as an energy source. It has also been shown that the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries are more skeptical about nuclear power than countries that do not belong to the OECD (for example, China and Africa).

Socioeconomic progress, diseases, and the constantly changing pace of life and lifestyles of consumers worldwide require food to be improved and tailored to meet the needs of purchasers. The produced food is functional, convenient, and enriched. This is achieved, i.e. with food additives. Nowadays, food additives are very widespread in the human diet, but not all of them are synthetic and invasive on human health. All food additives, and their application and dosage, are subject to strict regulations. The purpose of this work was to investigate which food additives are the most common in our everyday diet and how they affect our health.

Abstract"pplying zeolites to natural environment is important from the point of view of monitoring the toxic metals mobilization "l III , Mn II , Cd II , and Pb II as well as microelements Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu . These elements influenced food chain and their deficiency as well as excess and determined plant quality and health of humans and animals. Furthermore, zeolites, while having particular physical, physicochemical, and chemical properties, interact with physical, physicochemical, chemical, and biological features of the soil and may lead to alterations in their properties. This exchange is dependent on many factors, i.e. pH, concentration of metal ions in solution. When natural zeolites are applied, one should bear in mind that they are ecological material and do not show any harmful action neither to humans nor to animals. Studies in this chapter will show the influence of described and tested zeolites on the properties and quality indicators of the first food chain link soil-plant as well as on the quality of food. It would allow to understand, predict, and control the behavior of these elements in natural environment as well as evaluate their potential toxicity and bioavailability.

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