The aim of the study is to present the FAPPS (Forecasting of Air Pollution Propagation System) based on the CALPUFF puff dispersion model, used for short-term air quality forecasting in Krakow and Lesser Poland. The article presents two methods of operational air quality forecasting in Krakow. The quality of forecasts was assessed on the basis of PM10 concentrations measured at eight air quality monitoring stations in 2019 in Krakow. Apart from the standard quantitative forecast, a qualitative forecast was presented, specifying the percentage shares of the city area with PM10 concentrations in six concentration classes. For both methods, it was shown how the adjustment of the emissions in the FAPPS system to changes in emissions related to the systemic elimination of coal furnaces in Krakow influenced the quality of forecasts. For standard forecasts, after the emission change on June 7, 2019, the average RMSE value decreased from 23.9 μg/m3 to 14.9 μg/m3, the average FB value changed from -0.200 to -0.063, and the share of correct forecasts increased from 0.74 to 0.91. For qualitative forecasts, for the entire year 2019 and separately for the periods from January to March and October to December, Hit Rate values of 5.43, 2.18 and 3.48 were obtained, the False Alarm Ratios were 0.28, 0.24 and 0,26, and the Probability of Detection values were 0.66, 0.75, and 0.74. The presented results show that the FAPPS system is a useful tool for modelling air pollution in urbanized and industrialized areas with complex terrain

The alternative waste fuels have a significant share in the fuel mix of the cement industry in Poland. The conditions inside cement kilns are favorable enough for environmentally-friendly use of waste fuels. In the article, the authors discuss the current situation concerning the use of alternative fuels in Poland, from difficult beginning in the 1990s to the present time, different kinds of fuels, and the amounts of used fuels. The use of fuels in Poland is presented against the global and EU consumption (including Central European countries and companies). The increased use of waste-derived fuels, from the level of about 1% at the end of the 1990s to the present level of about 70%, allowed for the limitation of waste storage, including avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions and consumption of conventional energy sources; those effects also contributed to the implementation of the sustainable development and circular economy conceptions. The experiences of the cement plants worldwide prove that the use of waste fuels is ecological and economical. The examples showed in the article confirm that cement plants are greatly interested in using waste fuels from waste, as they invest in the infrastructure allowing to store bigger amounts of waste and dose them more efficiently. Thus, the cement industry has become an important element of the country’s energy economy and waste management system.

Atmospheric deposition, vehicular transportation and de-icing agents are major sources polluted snow in urban. This study investigates the current trace elements concentrations of snow and de-icing using ICP-MS, and phytotoxicity using three vascular plants in snow. The study assesses the contamination, classification and phytotoxicity of snow quality removed from roads of residential areas and piled on children’s playgrounds in residential territories. The research found that according to Russian environmental quality standard for water has been identified the exceeding trace elements in snow by W, Se, Mn, Cu, V, Mo, Ni and Zn. The pollution indices ( PLI, CF and Zc) were identified pollution level of snow piles from moderate contamination to very high contamination. Based on average germination index values for Sinapis alba L., Lepidium sativum L., and Triticum aestivum L., the degree of inhibition in snow piles varied from no inhibition to strong inhibition. The trace elements content in de-icing “Galit А” and salt sand mix are defined in the following descending order: Zn > Mn > Ba > V > Rb > Sr and Mn > Ba > Cr > V > Sr > Ni, respectively. High concentrations of trace elements in snow piles are a source of environmental pollution. To prevent snow storage and disposal in residential areas should be involved in future studies of environmental pollution and circular economy, so that environmental managers can reduce threats to the environment and public health, as well as initiate circular economy projects in urban areas.

Ultrasonically improved electrochemically generated adsorbent (UEGA) has been synthesized and used for adsorption of fluoride ions from fluoride laden waste water. UEGA was prepared in two major steps, firstly electrochemically generated adsorbent (EGA) was prepared using electrolytic method followed by ultrasonication treatment. Ultrasonication causes size reduction which leads to increase in surface area viz. active site which helps to enhance attachment of negatively charged fluoride ion on positively changed UEGA from waste water. UEGA was prepared at three different amplitude i.e. 50, 70 and 90% respectively. Taguchi optimization for defluoridationwas carried out considering operating parameters such as initial concentration; contact time; adsorbent dose; and temperature. The results obtained demonstrated that adsorption showed different fluoride removal at varying frequency. This study proved that varying percentage amplitude of ultrasonication significantly affects defluoridation efficiency.

Injection of lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells is known as useful for activation of cellular immune system. Although the effect of LAK cells has been clarified in human or mice, this effect on function of immune cells has not been examined in calves. Healthy ten Holstein calves were injected with the LAK cells 2 days after birth (LAK Group), and another eight calves were observed as controls (Control Group). All calves received the colostrum formulation on the day of birth, and then, were inoculated with a live attenuated vaccine of bovine herpesvirus (BHV)-1 at 2 (the first vaccination) and 6 (the second vaccination) weeks after birth. Peripheral blood of their dam obtained 3 weeks before calving was used for preparation of LAK cells. Blood samples were taken prior to vaccine inoculation and 3 days after the first inoculation, as well as 3 and 6 days after the second vaccination from all calves. Numbers of CD8+ and CD21+ cells increased significantly after the second vaccination in the LAK Group compared with Control Group. The present study suggested the improved effect of injecting LAK cells originated from dams on immune cells function of young calves after BHV-1 live vaccine.

In 25 krill samples (Euphausia superba) collected at the Scotia Sea and in the area of South Georgia, South Orkney and South Sandwich Islands, Antarctic Peninsula and the eastern part of the Bellingshausen Sea the concentrations of Cd, Pb. Zn, F, 90Sr, 137Cs, U and 239, 240 Pu has been determined. The corresponding average concentrations were found to be: Cd — 2.5, Pb — 3.4, Z n — 123.1 , F — 50 (ppm dry weight), 90Sr— 1.9, 137Cs — 4.7 (mBq x -1 dry weight), U — 11.1 (ppb dry weight) and 239, 240Pu - 0.08 (mBq x g-1 dry weight).