United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change obliges member countries to make an inventory of greenhouse gases emission and, among others, an inventory of fugitive emission from coal mining system. To comply with this obligation, basing on 1992 data. Poland has evaluated so-called "emission factors" for identified sources of methane emission. According to IPCC/OECD guidelines, the emission factors multiplied by coal output allow simple evaluation of methane emission. Since the time when the emission factors were evaluated in 1994, coal industry in Poland has undergone major organisational and technical changes. At the same time significant development of basic knowledge on geology of methane in coal-bearing strata have occurred. Both these facts make the emission factors evaluated earlier inaccurate. A wide range of research indispensable for accurate evaluation of new emission factors is described in the paper. It is also recommended in the paper that by the time the research results are known, the improved emission factors. which take into account organisational changes of mining industry should be used. Methane emission from coal mining system in 1999 evaluated using those emission factors equals 527,889 Gg.

Considering the fact that water quality monitoring programs in Poland are mostly based on physicochemical variables and saprobie systems, it is important to evaluate also the possibility of applying biotic index methods for water quality assessment. The investigation was carried out at the Ścinawa Niemodlińska river (Opole Voivodeship). Benthic macroinvertebrates from seven sampling sites were sampled twice in 1999. Belgian Biotic Index values were calculated on the basis of the results of qualitative and quantitative analyses of the macroinvertebrate community, as the example of the biotic index application. BBi values indicated a low, but different in particular sites, pollution level of the studied ecosystem.

Meteorological parameters which are most significant for ozone forecasting were chosen in the multiple regression analysis for the daily time series. Then correlations between the variables we~e investigated, both for the daily and temporary values. There was confirmed a strong relationship between atmospheric conditions and ozone concentrations as well as autocorrelations of the temporary time series of ozone from different monitoring stations. Diversification of autocorrelation values arises probably from different receptor locations which was confirmed by the principal component analysis. There were also shown dependences between the ozone time series from different monitoring stations. Strong space-time relationships of ozone concentrations and meteorological conditions in the Black Triangle region can be used in modeling and forecasting of ozone episodes.

Conductivity measurements of distilled water and some electrolytic solution due to the SO2 and CO2 absorption have been performed in the laboratory and on the site. CO2, has been found to cause a decrease in the conductivity of alkaline solutions and an increase in that of CaCO3, and MgCO3, aqueous suspensions. The importance of the direct SO2 absorption was proved to be limited to the zones of extremely high concentrations of this gas in the ambient air.

In the years I 999-2002 bryological investigations were carried out within the ,,Morzyk" (Jasienica commune, Bielsko-Biała district) and ,,Skarpa Wiślicka" (Skoczów commune, Cieszyn district) nature reserves located in the western part of Silesian Foothills. The area under study covers 11.47 ha (,,Morzyk") and 24.17 ha (,,Skarpa Wiślicka"). In both studied areas deciduous forests (mainly Den/ario glandulosaeFagetum, Tilio-Carpinetum and Carici remotae-Fraxinetumi predominate. As a results of this research, the occurrence of 11 taxa of liverworts and 69 taxa of mosses have been noted (7 liverworts in ,,Morzyk" and 9 in ,,Skarpa Wiślicka" as well as 51 mosses in ,,Morzyk" and 57 in ,,Skarpa Wiślcka"). The analysis of the frequency range shows, that overwhelming majority of the bryoflora consists of very rare taxa ("Morzyk" - 50%; "Skarpa Wiślicka" - 50%). The most important components of the flora are new or rare for this area bryophytes, such as: Brachythecium campestre, Bryum klinggraeffii, Fissidens exilis, F. gracillifolius, Homomallium incurvatum, Orthodicranum tauricum, Riccio rhenana and Taxiphyllum wissgrillii. Six main ecological groups of species are characterised in detail.

Chromium usually occurs in the (III) or (VI) oxidation state. Cr(III) is essential for mammalian systems to influence maintain several metabolic pathways. In contrast. Cr(YI) exerts toxic influence on biological systems and is strongly canccrogcnic. Cr(Vl) compounds arc usually highly soluble, mobile and bioavailable compared to sparingly soluble trivalent chromium compounds. Chromium is most often analysed using instrumental methods such as AAS or ICP. These methods are precise and sensitive but make determination of only total chromium. Possible content of Cr(VI) is estimated from the difference of total chromium content and Cr(III), which is analysed using photometric methods. This so-called "difference method" makes the calculated concentration of Cr(VI) is inaccurate. This paper describes sensitive and selective determination of Cr(VI) in various waters at ug/dnr' levels using a simple ion chromatography system with UV detector.

The aim of this research work was determination of humidity impact on yeast and moulds survival in fibrous filters. It was revealed that water content of about - 53-113% stimulated growth of fungi, especially in case of moulds. In stable filters humidity conditions (50% of weight), a number of fungi reached I 04 CFU/cm2 after 84 days, with the most intensive growth during first 7 days of the experiment. In the case of very low humidity ( 13% and less), the growth of fungi was not observed.

The paper presents the conversion dynamics of basic nitrogen and phosphorus forms as main factors initiating eutrophication process in Naklo-Chechlo reservoir. Limnological investigations of recreation reservoir were carried out in the period from January to December 1996. The results of chemical analyses of water samples taken in two collecting points of the reservoir and a composition of surface run-off from the basin area, have been presented.

Synanthropic Flora of The Post-Mine Sites of ,,Saturn" Coal-Mine (Dąbrowa Basin)

The purpose of this paper was Io study the water chemism in hydrokinetic arrangement Elbląg Bay - Elbląg River - Lake Druzno, which may be qualified as quasiestuary arrangement because of only periodical penetration of salty waters upwards of it. The measurements showed, that in about 20% of taken samples these was evidence of water intrusion from the Vistula Bay to estuary. It was found out that inlets were either into the whole estuary, so-called complete intrusion, or only into the part of it, in such case, salty waters reached only the northern part of Lake Druzno, so-called incomplete intrusion. The registered inlets occurred only in favorable hydrometeorological conditions. The kind of intrusion, complete or incomplete, was depended of hydrometeorological situation