Research was conducted on the most polluted river system in Poland, impacted by active and historical mining. Bottom sediment, suspended particulate matter and river water were collected in 2014 from Przemsza river and its tributaries. Sampling points remained the same as those chosen in a 1995 study. This allowed the comparison of heavy metal accumulation in bottom sediment over a span of almost two decades. It was concluded that Przemsza river water and its tributaries are heavily contaminated with the following (in μg/dm3): Pb (0.99–145.7), Zn (48–5020), and Cd 0.12–12.72). Concentrations of metals in bottom sediment exceeded the background values by a factor of several hundred (100 times for Zn, 150 times for Pb, and 240 times for Cd). The arithmetic mean for metal concentration in fractions <63 μm sampled in 2014 has remained comparable to the level found in 1995 (in mg/kg): Zn 16,918 and 13,505, Pb 4177 and 4758, and Cd 92 and 134. It was determined that 20–50% more metals have accumulated in suspended matter, rather than in bottom sediment (in mg/kg): 20,498 Zn, Pb 5170, and 164 Cd. This exceeds the limits of the most polluted LAWA Class IV classification. Since the concentrations of Zn, Pb, and Cd increase drastically after the outlet of the Przemsza into the Vistula, it was concluded that river Przemsza is the cause of significant degradation of Vistula’s bottom sediment and suspended matter. A two-decade legacy of extremely high contamination of the Przemsza river sediments has persisted despite decreasing mining and smelting activity in the vicinity.
Abstract:The main objective of this article is an attempt to use snow as an indicator in the process of assessing and identifying vehicle-derived elements pollution. The aim of the present study is to characterize traffic-related elements in snow collected from three sites: a parking place, a highway and a relatively unpolluted airfield. Several recent studies suggest that road traffic is considered to be one of the major sources of environmental pollution in urban areas. In order to avoid the problem of low emission from household furnaces, samples were collected far away from residential buildings. Snow located near roads with heavy traffic seems to be a very useful tool and indicator of trafficrelated elements released into the environment. Snow acts as a natural filter for various chemical elements and particles. Snow is an efficient scavenger of aerosol and air pollutants, usually remains on the ground for sampling after the event; moreover, snowmelt contaminates soil. In the present study filtered (0.45 µm) samples of melted snow were analyzed with ICP-MS. The results show significantly higher concentrations of elements in snow collected at the parking lot and at the highway when compared to samples taken from a relatively unpolluted airfield. Research on exploitation dust (break, tire, clutch) was performed with SEM-EDS.
IntroductionRiver bottom and flood sediments as well as soils in the historical recent mining and smelting areas need special management and monitoring. Heavy metals as the main contaminants of the soil-river system undergo many reactions and processes in the river channel, riverine floodplain, and estuarine. The fate and transport of heavy metals depends on topography, oxic-anoxic conditions and kinetics of the sorption/desorption processes. Moreover, pH, salinity, and the presence of organic matter, clay minerals, sulfates, and carbonates also affect metal mobility in floodplain sediments and soils [1][2][3].For centuries Cracow has been exposed to floods caused by the high flush of the Vistula River. Among different types of floods in the Upper Vistula catchment, Cracow has been mostly exposed to a profuse rain, which persists from a few to several days and usually appears in summer months. During such rains in a large area of the Carpathian Mountains total precipitation ranges from 100Pol. J. Environ. Stud. Vol. 24, No. 3 (2015), [1317][1318][1319][1320][1321][1322][1323][1324][1325][1326] AbstractThe discharge of high flood water (2010) into reservoirs located in the Upper Vistula River catchment and into the overloaded Vistula River channel may strongly affect water and sediment quality. To investigate the contamination of the flooded area in the center of Cracow, total of 32 sediment samples were collected along the length of the Vistula River and also from the cross section in the floodplain area. Additionally, 12 samples of the flooded sediments were collected along the Wilga River -a tributary of the Vistula located within the investigated area. The concentrations of Zn, Pb, Cd, Cu, Mn, Zn, and Fe in the bulk samples and size fraction <20 µm were studied. The metals concentration in the Vistula River flood sediment samples varied in wide ranges (mg/kg): Zn 59-1013, Pb 17-263, Cd 2.6-23, Mn 145-469, and Fe 0.70-3.59%, and was considerably higher in the size fraction samples. The concentration of Cu was low and reached up to 40 mg/kg. The highest amount of Zn was found in the sediment sample from the cross section, located 38 m from the Vistula River channel. Three-step sequential extraction revealed the most mobile metals in the sediment fraction <20 µm, which were as follows: Cd (77% of the total amount), Pb (55%), and Zn (42%). The contamination of the Wilga River flood sediments was lower when compared with Vistula River contamination.
Urban rainwater samples, collected in various districts of Kraków during the period from the spring of 2019 to the winter of 2020, were investigated, and relevant risk implications were assessed. The contents of 31 components were determined, including: bacteria, fungi, pH, EC, Cl-, N-NO3, P-PO4, SO42-, SiO2, K, Mg, Ag, Al, Ba, Ca, Cu, K, Mg, Mo, Na, Pb, Sb, and Zn. The highest contents of the investigated elements were determined in the industrial (eastern) part of Kraków. The values of toxicity potential were <1, indicating a lack of ecological risk. The value of contamination degree indicated moderate rainwater contamination in all analyzed elements (Cdeg = 9.44). The total non-carcinogenic risk values, in both adults (hazard quotient (HQ) = 1.38) and children (HQ = 2.54), exceeded the acceptable level of one. Regarding individual elements in dermal contact, the acceptable level of 1 × 10−6 was exceeded in Pb (adults carcinogenic risk (CR) = 4.87 × 10−5, children CR = 2.23 × 10−5). The contents of the analyzed chemical compounds did not exceed the permissible levels adopted for drinking water; however, rainwater was significantly contaminated with respect to its microbiological parameters. Rainwater was suitable for non-potable use.
The de-icing of roads and streets in the winter season is a necessity in many European countries, where the mean day temperature drops below 0°C for long periods. Among the many chemicals used for winter road maintenance, the most popular in Poland is sodium chloride in various forms and mixtures, due to its relatively low price and availability. This agent, however, contributes to the increase of salinity in the soil environment and may lead to disturbances in soil properties and premature plant necrosis. The impact of the usage of chloride salts on the soil environment was researched in Krakow's city centre by means of the examination of soil samples collected prior to the de-icing season (November) and afterwards (February) as well as snow samples taken in February. A general deterioration of the examined parameters (pH, conductivity, chloride concentrations, carbonate concentrations) was observed after the winter season, but still the results for most samples did not pose a serious threat to the soil environment or plants. This was mainly the result of the fact that the winter seasons in European countries have become increasingly mild and warm, which contributes to decreased usage of chloride salts. However, the state of soils in the Main Square was disturbing, as demonstrated by the clearly elevated chemical parameters of samples, despite a ban on the use of salt in this area. These results indicate the most probable reason for the withering of trees growing there, leading to them being frequently replaced.
Aquatic systems are a very important part of the environment, which requires special attention due to the constant deterioration of the quality and quantity of water globally. Aquatic environments in Poland are mostly affected by the mining and smelting industry, which is especially visible in the south of the country, and one of such anthropogenically affected rivers is the Wilga—a small tributary of the Vistula River (the biggest river in Poland). For many years, the catchment area of the Wilga River accommodated a functioning industry that was based on the use of metals (fur, leather processing, foundry and galvanizing plants), as well as the “Solvay” Kraków Soda Works, which have left behind soda waste piles, and currently, along the course of the river, there are ongoing works connected with the construction of the “Łagiewnicka Route”, which required the relocation of a section of the Wilga river bed, among other things. To determine the general condition of the river, selected physico-chemical parameters were analysed in the water (pH, conductivity, anions: Cl−, N-NO3, P-PO4 and SO4 and cations: Al, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sr and Zn), suspended particulate matter and sediment (Al, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sr and Zn). Samples were taken before the relocation of the river bed (2019) and after its relocation (2021). The obtained data were compared with recorded historical data and this revealed that over the years, the condition of the Wilga environment has improved significantly, especially in terms of the contamination of sediments with metals, the concentrations of which fell several ten-fold. This is attributed to the closure of most industrial plants located within the river’s catchment area and to the modernization and legal regulation of the functioning of the remaining plants. An effect of leachates from the soda waste piles on the waters of Wilga has been observed (in the form of higher pH, mineralization and concentration of chlorides), which has however gradually decreased over time. However, no visible impact of road transport on the river’s environment has been observed, or any impact of the construction works or the related relocation of the river bed for that matter. The river should still be classified as polluted, but the level of this pollution has decreased significantly and the qualitative composition of the pollution has also changed.
Bromhexine hydrochloride (BRX) is widely applied as an active pharmaceutical ingredient of oral solutions and tablets for the treatment of the infections of the respiratory tract. However, fulfillment of the present regulations, required for the registration process of BRX, might constitute a challenge, due to the occurrence of (3RS)-6,8-dibromo-3-cyclohexyl-3-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinazolin-3-ium, specified as impurity E by European Pharmacopeia. To overcome this issue, a novel BRX orodispersible tablets (ODT) with improved chemical stability were developed that contain low level of impurity E. Herein the analytical methods, elaborated for the determination of BRX and the related impurities in this product are presented. Stability of the product was tested at accelerated (ACC), intermediate (INT) and long-term (LT) conditions for ICH zones II and III. The degradant E was the most common impurity detected. In the samples stored in INT and LT conditions only a slight increase in the impurities and a slight drop in the assay of the BRX was observed, however the results did not exceed the pre-established acceptance criteria. In the samples stored at ACC conditions, an increase of the known impurities, including degradant E, degradant B and N-oxide, was noted. Noteworthily, even after three years of the product’s shelf-life, the level of the degradant E is still below 0.2 % which corresponds to the ICH identification threshold for the BRX related impurities.
This research consisted of a physico-chemical evaluation of the streams and wastewaters within Krakow Valleys Landscape Park in the Kluczwody, Bolechowicka, Będkowska and Kobylańska valleys. The following set of parameters were determined in the samples: pH, Eh, conductivity, oxygen content, concentration of metals' cations and selected anions. The results revealed that the wastewaters discharged as well as the streams that feed into the Rudawa river are mainly polluted with nitrates. Additionally, the examined wastewaters contained a high concentration of phosphate exceeding class II purity maximum permissible values.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.