Abstract. In areas of urban infrastructure, ponds play an important role. They are places of rest and recreation, and they facilitate contact between city dwellers and the aquatic environment. They are also a place for living waterflow and ichthyofauna. Urban ponds are susceptible to anthropogenic influences, and their self-cleaning capacity is limited due to their small size. The city of Słupsk is located in northern Poland. Coal combustion in domestic boilers and transport cause dust emissions to be released into the atmosphere. The concentration of particulate matter and heavy metals in PM10 in Słupsk is much higher than in neighbouring village Gać. This affects metals deposition from the atmosphere. Two urban ponds in Słupsk were the object of the research. Sampling station No. 1 was located in the southern part of the Raj Pond situated deep into the forest area, a considerable distance from urban buildings. Sampling station No. 2 was located at the Juniorów Pond located near the city centre. Water samples were taken from a depth of 10 cm. To investigate the deposition from the atmosphere, atmospheric precipitation was collected in a collector located in the city of Słupsk. The concentrations of Li, Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Se, As, V, Sr, Cd and Pb were analyzed in the obtained water samples. Measurements were made using an ICP-MS mass spectrometer. From the obtained results, it was observed that the concentrations of Li, Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Se, Sr and Cd were higher at station No. 2 located near the city centre.
Analyses were conducted concerning the accumulation of four metals representing the group of macroelements, i.e. sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium in two ponds located in the city of Słupsk. Water samples for chemical analyses were collected from the surface microlayer using a Garrett net. At the same time subsurface water samples were collected. Concentrations of metals were determined using a mass spectrometer. Generally, amounts of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium were similar in surface microlayer and subsurface water. Only in the case of potassium and calcium was low enrichment observed in the surface microlayer in one pond, while the greatest extent for magnesium enrichment was observed in the spring period.
Exposure of foundry workers to mixtures of different heavy metals is a very important toxicological problem. In this paper the estimation of the effects of lead, zinc, and copper on erythrocyte metabolism is presented. Concentrations of copper and zinc at work posts of the group examined did not exceed TLV, while lead concentration was 1.5 to 4 times higher than TLV. Erythrocyte metabolism was measured through activities of such glycolytic pathway enzymes as PFK, PGI, PK, aldolase and G6-PD from the hexose monophosphate pathway. Additionally the free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP) level, D-ALA activity, serum GSH level, 2,3 DPG level in erythrocytes and lactic acid production during a 2-h incubation of red blood cells (RBC) was estimated. The blood-lead level, FEP level, copper concentration in erythrocytes in exposed group were significantly higher than in control group while the zinc level in erythrocytes was significantly lower. Measuring erythrocyte metabolism we showed that the activity of PGI, PFK, aldolase, lactic production and 2,3 DPG levels was significantly higher in the exposed group, probably as a result of anaerobic glycolysis activation.
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