Our study was carried out on three peat bogs that since the 1960s have been subjected to different degrees of anthropopression. The main objective of the research was assessment of heavy metal accumulation potential in peat bogs and in leaves of species growing on these peat bogs, namely Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), birch (Betula pendula Roth), and wild rosemary (Ledum palustre L.). The concentrations of lead and cadmium in peat of Bagno Bruch (the Upper Silesian Industrial Region) exceeded the permissible levels for soils of protected natural areas. Heavy metal concentrations in plants growing in all analyzed sites show no toxic levels. Among the examined species, birch showed the highest ability to accumulate cadmium and zinc.

Investigation has been carried out in the vicinity of an aluminum smelter located in the industrialized town of Konin. Concentrations of 14 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in grass, spruce needles, and soil collected in the period of the smelter operation and several years after its closing. Significant changes in the quantity of PAHs and their profiles observed in the two measuring periods, stressing the importance of aluminum production with regard to PAH emission. It was confirmed by very high values of the carcinogenic potential (CP) found for PAHs accumulated in grass and soil when compared to the values found in urban and remote sites. PAH ratio rates used as a tool for identifying emission sources showed a pyrogenic origin of PAHs in both periods; the ratios in the period of the smelter running activity were similar to those found in other studies carried out near aluminum smelters. Grass turned out to be a good biomonitor of PAHs similarly to commonly used leaves of various tree species. The use of four age classes of spruce needles, some of which were subjected to emission from the smelter, showed that such approach could serve as an analysis tool for describing retrospective pollution.

Underground coal gasification (UCG) can be considered as one of the clean coal technologies. During the process, the gas of industrial value is produced, which can be used to produce heat and electricity, liquid fuels or can replace natural gas in chemistry. However, UCG does carry some environmental risks, mainly related to potential negative impacts on surface and groundwater. Wastewater and sludge from UCG contain significant amounts of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, phenols, ammonia, cyanides and hazardous metals such as arsenic. This complicated matrix containing high concentrations of hazardous pollutants is similar to wastewater from the coke industry and, similarly to them, requires complex mechanical, chemical and biological treatment. The focus of the review is to explain how the wetlands systems, described as one of bioremediation methods, work and whether these systems are suitable for removing organic and inorganic contaminants from heavily contaminated industrial wastewater, of which underground coal gasification wastewater is a particularly challenging example. Wetlands appear to be suitable systems for the treatment of UCG wastewater and can provide the benefits of nature-based solutions. This review explains the principles of constructed wetlands (CWs) and provides examples of industrial wastewater treated by various wetland systems along with their operating principles. In addition, the physicochemical characteristics of the wastewater from different coal gasifications under various conditions, obtained from UCG’s own experiments, are presented.

Nature-based solutions are promising for climate adaptation and environmental management in urban areas, but urban conditions are stressful for vegetation. In particular, the interaction of drought and high temperatures may be detrimental. Guiding plant selection for urban greening with native species requires a far better knowledge of plant adaptations and stress acclimation. We tested the physiological responses of four candidate calcareous grassland species for green roofs and walls to the combined effects of drought and high temperatures under controlled conditions. The tested species proved relatively resistant to stress despite different strategies to protect the photosynthetic apparatus, maintain water balance, and repair damages. Based on the physiological responses, we rank the species in descending order of resistance to the stress factors tested: Trifolium medium > Festuca ovina > Carex flacca > Potentilla reptans, but all four can serve as potential candidates for green walls and roofs. Physiological stress screening of plant species for use on green roofs and walls supplements the habitat template approach to provide a stronger and wider base for prioritizations.

The research was carried out in the Beskid Śląski and Beskid Żywiecki mountains which were affected, among others, by air pollution from the Upper Silesian Industrial Region, the largest industrial zone in Poland. The aim of the study was to assess the heavy metal load in the soils of the studied area and to determine their potential impact on soil metabolism. The research was carried out on 6 permanent sites. For each site, the total content of zinc (Zn), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) was determined for three soil levels (A, B and C). Moreover, the following were determined: total nitrogen, organic carbon, pH and soil moisture and the amount of heavy metals in soil solutions. The metabolic activity of the soil was assessed by measuring: soil enzymes activity, soil respiration and by studying community-level physiological profiling (CLPP) using Biolog ECO-plates. In the case of Pb and Cd their increased content in the topsoil was found, which indicates their anthropogenic origin. Statistical analysis showed that in the case of very acidic forest soil even slightly elevated lead level probably can affect the functional biodiversity of soil microorganisms. The study showed that it is not easy to assess the impact of heavy metals on soil metabolism. Some indicators such as the activity of soil enzymes used individually may not be sufficient to illustrate the changes occurring in the soil environment.