Arsenic content was determined in the soil profiles collected from the former dumping ground of post-crystallization lye (presently under recultivation) in the area of the chemical plant in Luboń, near Poznań. Of particular concern was the content of the two most toxic species ofAs(lll) and As(V) in the environmentally available exchange fraction. Extraction was performed with a phosphate buffer of pH= 6.0 ± 0.2, and the analytical method applied was HPLC-HG-AAS. As(V) species were found in all samples, whereas As(III) species in a few samples collected at different depths. The concentration of As(V) varied from 91 to 1228 ng/g, while that of As(ll I) - from 17 to 48 ng/g. As there are no watertight rock formations underneath the dumping site, the polluting substances can he easily washed out by ground waters and carried into the Warta River, which is a main source of water for the city of Poznań.

Codeposition of antimony and tin from acidic chloride and chloride-sulfate baths was investigated. The calculations of distribution of species showed domination of neutral SnCl2 and anionic SbCl4 – complexes in chloride solution, while in the presence of sulfate ions neutral SnSO4 and cationic SbCl2+ complexes were found. Cyclic voltammetry, anodic stripping analysis and potentiostatic measurements showed that antimony deposited favorably and the reaction run under limiting control. Analysis of chronoamperometric curves suggested instantaneous nucleation of the solid phase in the chloride bath, but progressive model was more probable in the presence of sulfate ions.

Study on water and bottom sediment quality of the Kozłowa Góra drinking water reservoir in Silesian province was carried out. Heavy metal concentrations in water body and bottom sediment of the reservoir were determined. Water quality assessment was perform by comparing concentration of heavy metals to standards for I class water quality. The degree of sediment contamination was carried out by calculating cumulation coefficient: sediment/water and sediment/ geochemical background. Present water and sediment contamination in the reservoir was compared with the state 20 years ago, which was a period of intensive metallurgical industry development in this region. At the same time, heavy metals speciation in sediment for those of high rate accumulation: Zn, Pb and Cd was determined. The results of heavy metal speciation in sediment provided a basis to secondary water pollution assessment, due to migration of these metals to water body.

The study presents the results of the research into different phosphorus forms in the bottom sediments of anthropogenic limnic ecosystems i.e. the reservoirs of Pławniowice, Rybnik and Goczałkowice (SP). The bottom sediments of dam reservoirs were investigated by chemical extraction procedure for phosphorus forms. The lowest value of the mean AAP form percentage in the Pławniowice bottom sediments reflected the effect of reclamation with the hypolimnetic removal that had been conducted in the reservoir since 2003. The highest percentage of the RDP form (2%) was found in the Goczałkowice bottom sediments. The order of the specific speciation forms in the bottom sediments of the examined reservoirs was:

Rybnik: AAP > EP > WDP > RDP; 4,630> 3,740 > 117 > 65 > 3.5 mgP/kg

Pławniowice: AAP > EP > WDP > RDP; 916 > 783 > 107 > 15 > 1.4 mgP/kg

Goczałkowice: AAP > WDP > EP > RDP; 686 > 628 > 51 > 7 > 0.14 mgP/kg

The mutual correlations between the phosphorus speciation forms (AAP : EP : WDP : RDP) were as follows:

Rybnik: 1,323 : 1,068 : 33 : 18 : 1;

Pławniowice: 654 : 559 : 76 : 11 : 1;

Goczałkowice: 4,900 : 4,485 : 364 : 50 : 1.

The comparison of the mean concentration values for specific phosphorus forms in the bottom sediments of the three investigated reservoirs demonstrated that the Rybnik sediments had the highest contents of phosphorus. The contents in Pławniowice and Goczałkowice were 5-7 times lower

Water and bottom sediment samples collected from a few fish-breeding ponds/reservoirs were subjected to tests. The aim of this paper was to determine the total content of aluminium and its fractions in the samples tested to estimate the potential risk to fish caused by the toxic forms of aluminium. The monomeric inorganic aluminium in waters was determined using the ion exchange and extraction-colorimetric method with oxychinoline according to Barnes's-Driscoll's procedure. The bottoms were fractionated using a three-step sequential extraction procedure and the microwave mineralisation. The total content of aluminium in waters and extracts was determined using the spectrophotometric method with eriochromocyanine R, and comparatively using the ICP OES technique. The results were subjected to statistical analysis. The level of concentration of labile Al in the waters about 26-34 μg/dm3 and content of exchangeable Al 5-34 mg/g range in bottom sediments are possibly hazardous to aquatic organisms.

The aim of this study was to evaluate foundry waste used for various applications in terms of heavy metals quantity of fractions of their binding. The novelty of these studies is the use of speciation procedures to assess the fraction of heavy metals in foundry waste. The two most popular speciation procedures, the Tessier method and the SM&T, and also the TCLP single extraction procedure were used to evaluate the use of foundry waste in agritechnique, road engineering and construction in this research. Additionally, local soils were analyzed and compared to landfill foundry waste (LFW). It was found that LFW may have a negative impact on the natural environment when used for agrotechnological applications due to the increased concentration of mobile and bioavailable fractions (mean 9–18%) of metals. Foundry dusts were characterized by a low percentage of mobile and bioavailable (mean 2–6%) forms, although this does not include electric arc fournance dust (EAFD) (mean 17%). The metal content in TCLP extracts was low in all foundry waste samples and allowed the use of the analyzed wastes in construction and road construction. The usefulness of both speciation procedures for the assessment of the leaching of heavy metal forms from foundry waste was confirmed. However, the SM&T procedure was more effective in leaching mobile and bioavailable forms of heavy metals in foundry waste and soil samples.

An attempt was made to determine the correlation between the granulometric structure of bottom sediments and the content of speciation forms of phosphorus and selected metals. Using the sedimentation method, the bottom sediments of a thermally contaminated dam reservoir were divided into fast and slow-draining fractions. Measurements of granulometric composition were made, determining the volume proportions of sediment particles in the range of 0.1 m to 650 m. Particle share sizes were determined in the size range: 0.1–50 m (F1), 50–100 m (F2), 100–200 m (F3), 200–400 m. (F4). The study showed that the content of speciation forms of phosphorus and selected metals remains related to the granulometric structure of bottom sediments. The content of organic matter in sediments is determined by the proportion of the smallest particles, from 0.1 to 50 μm, at the same time these particles most strongly aff ect the reduction conditions of sediments. According to Gilford›s correlation thresholds, there was no correlation between the proportion of sediment particles with dimensions of 0.1–50 μm and the concentration of speciation forms of phosphorus. For particles with dimensions of 50–100 μm, the strongest correlation was observed for the concentration of the EP fraction and for the WDP fraction (r2 = 0.4048, r2 = 0.3636). A strong correlation between the size of sediment particles and the concentration of speciated forms of phosphorus was noted for particles with dimensions of 100–200 μm and 200–400 μm. The coeffi cient of determination was for AAP, EP, WDP and RDP, respectively: 0.8292, 0.891, 0.7934, 0.47. The relationship between particles in the 0.1–50 m range and iron (Fe) concentration, R2 – 0.3792, aluminum (Al) R– 0.3208, and zinc (Zn) R2 – 0.4608, was classifi ed as medium. For particles in the 50–100 m range, a medium correlation with calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) concentrations is apparent, R2 0.4443 and 0.3818, respectively. For particles 100–200 mm and 200–400 mm, an almost full correlation is noted for iron (Fe) R2 – 0.9835, aluminum (Al) R2 – 0.9878, calcium (Ca) R2 – 0. 824, very strong for manganese (Mn) R2 – 0.6817, and zinc (Zn) R2 – 0.7343. There is a very strong correlation between the concentration of the AAP fraction with the concentration of iron (Fe) R2 – 0.8694 and a strong correlation between the concentration of EP with the concentration of iron (Fe) R2 – 0.609. There is a strong correlation between the concentration of the AAP and EP fractions with the concentration of aluminum (Al) R2 – 0. 6253 and 0.8327. The concentration of AAP and EP fractions with the concentration of calcium (Ca) R2 – 0.5941 and 0.7576 remains in a strong relationship. The correlation between the concentration of RDP fractions and the concentration of magnesium (Mg) and manganese (Mn) remains in a medium relationship. The concentration of the EP fraction (Olsen-P) is in a strong relationship with the concentration of organic matter (R2 –.0.6763). No correlation was found between the concentration of the residuum form and the concentrations of organic matter, iron (Fe) and aluminum (Al). A medium correlation was found between the concentration of the residuum form and the concentration of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn) – R2 = 0.4206 and zinc (Zn).

Speciation of trace elements in the sediment of a meromictic Piaseczno Lake (inundated opencast sulphur mine, southern Poland) with permanently anoxic monimolimnion was studied. A 6-step sequential extraction procedure was applied to determine operationally defined phases: exchangeable (FI), carbonate (F2). easily reducible (F3), moderately reducible (F4), organic/sulphides (FS). and residual (F6) in the sediment. The differences in trace elements (except Mn) speciation in the littoral sediment with the respect of lake depths were not found Considerable difference in the trace elements speciation between the littoral sediment and permanently anoxic profundal one was found.

The total content of lead in soil from the battery plant site was determined and a speciation analysis of this element was carried out using Rudd's method of sequential extraction. It was found out that lead is present in soil samples mostly in a low mobility organically bound form, which under certain conditions can, however, be absorbed by plants, and in a moderately mobile carbonate form. Lead was extracted from soil using sodium salt of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and sodium hydroxide solution and tests were also conducted to separate it from leaching solutions electrochemically. Extraction with Na2 -EDTA solution makes it possible to remove 86% of lead from soil, but the solution shows much lower lead extraction power when used for renewed leaching after having been electrochemically freed of lead. Extraction with NaOH solution gives worse results, namely only 70% of lead can be removed from soil, but the solution after having been electrochemically freed of Pb shows higher Pb leaching power when used for renewed leaching than in the case of Na2 - EDTA solution.

Water mint (Mentha aquatica L.) belongs to the arsenic tolerant plant species suitable for cultivation

in Central European climate conditions. Therefore, its possible application for remediation of contaminated soil

was investigated in pot and field experiments. Two M. aquatica plants of different origin, i) commercially market-available mint plants, and ii) plants habituated at the arsenic contaminated former mining area in southern

Tuscany (Italy) were tested for their arsenic uptake, transformation, and speciation. The total arsenic concentrations in the experimental soils varied from 21 to 1573 mg As kg-1, the mobile fractions did not exceed 2% of total

soil arsenic. The mint plants originating from the contaminated area were able to remove ~400 µg of arsenic

per pot, whereas the commercial plant removed a significantly lower amount (~300 µg of arsenic per pot). Only

arsenite and arsenate, but no organoarsenic compounds were identified in both stems and leaves. Arsenate was

the predominant arsenic compound and reached up to 80% regardless of the origin of the mint plants. Although

M. aquatica seems to be able to grow in contaminated soils without symptoms of phytotoxicity, its efficiency to

remove arsenic from the soil is limited as can be demonstrated by total elimination of As from individual pots

not exceeding 0.1%. Moreover, the application of plants originating from the contaminated site did not result in

sufficient increase of potential phytoextraction efficiency of M. aquatica. Although not suitable for phytoextraction the M. aquatica plants can be used as vegetation cover of the contaminated soil at the former mining areas

The aim of this work was to identify concentration levels of different chemical forms of mercury (TGM, TPM) in the ambient air in selected areas of the Silesian Region, characterized by low and high mercury emission. Based on the obtained data TGM and TPM concentration levels were determined. The project also focused on determination of dry and wet deposition of mercury compounds. Data concerning TGM and TPM flux rates in the ambient air and data on mercury deposition were used to determine a deposition coefficient. The coefficient was calculated as a share of mercury deposition on the land surface (dry and wet) to the amount of this contaminant transported with loads of air in the form of TGM and TPM in a given measurement station. At both monitoring stations the deposition coefficient did not exceed 0.2 %. The idea of calculating the deposition coefficient based on the analysis of TGM and TPM flux rate is a new solution. The proposed deposition coefficient allows to quantify information on a selected contaminant concentration and its potential impact resulting from deposition. Further studies on the deposition coefficient may contribute to the development of methods for estimating the impact of contaminants contained in the ambient air on other environmental components based on the analyses of the contaminant flux rate.

The research objective was to study temporal and spatial relations between specific phosphorus species as well as to examine total phosphorus content in the bottom sediments of an anthropogenic, hypertrophic limnic ecosystem Rybnik Reservoir, functioning under thermal pollution conditions. The chemical extraction procedure for the speciation of bioavailable phosphorus forms was used. It was found that available algae phosphorus was the most dominant phosphorus species in both sediment layers (83%), while the lower share was readily desorbed phosphorus form (0.1%). The phosphorus species concentrations depended on the organic matter concentration. The differences between phosphorus species contents in the upper (5 cm) and lower (15–20 cm) sediment core layers were low. The biologically active sediment layer extended from the sediment surface to at least 20 cm depth of the sediment core. Distributions of the concentrations within the year and at specific sampling points resulted from the variability observed for particular points and transformation intensity. Furthermore in the following study, the reaction rate constant for the increase and decrease in the concentrations of the phosphorus species in sediments was given. It was indicated that the speed of the phosphorus species transformations was affected by the environment temperature. In the heated water discharge zone (water temp. 17–35°C) the concentrations of selected speciation phosphorus forms increased more than in the dam zone (5–25°C). It was also found that the abundance of the bottom sediments with phosphorus species was related to the oblong and transverse asymmetry of reservoir depth.

The aim of the study was verification of the response of chamomile (Matricaria recutita (L.) Rauschert), peppermint (Mentha x piperita) lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.), and sage (Salvia officinalis L.) on the elevated contents of inorganic As species in soils. The ability of herbs to accumulate arsenic was tested in pot experiment in which soils were contaminated by As(III) and As(V). The As(III), As(V), AB (arsenobetaine), MMA (monomethylarsonic acid) and DMA (dimethylarsinic acid) ions were successfully separated in the Hamilton PRP-X100 column with high performance-liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS) techniques. The study examined total arsenic contents in soil and plants, as well as the mobility of the arsenic species from the soil into the studied plants. Peppermint demonstrated the highest arsenic concentration and phytoaccumulation among studied plants. The sequential chemical extraction showed that arsenic in the contaminated soil was mainly related to the oxide and organic-sulfide fractions. The results showed that the oxidized arsenic form had a greater ability to accumulate in herbs and was more readily absorbed from the substrate by plants. Research has shown that soil contaminated with As(III) or As(V) has different effects on the arsenic content in plants. The plant responses to strong environmental pollution varied and depended on their type and the arsenic species with which the soil was contaminated. In most cases it resulted in the appearance of the organic arsenic derivatives.

Slags issued from base metal smelting industry constitute a serious environmental problem in Upper and Lower Silesia (Poland). The waste is located in heavily urbanized areas, covers large surfaces and still may contain large quantities of potentially toxic metallic trace elements. This review paper summarizes all the major problems related to slag storage in Upper and Lower Silesia, including: (i) detailed characteristics of the studied slags, (ii) potential release of toxic elements and (iii) related risks for the surrounding areas and (iv) applications of slags for commercial purposes.

The present study describes a method for the determination of As (III) and As (V) in copper electrolytes. The method is based on the separation of As (III) from a copper electrolyte by triple liquid-liquid extraction using a non-polar organic solvent in a medium of 10-12 mol L–1 HCl. The extract contains As (III) and the raffinate-As (V), respectively. As(III) specie can be re-extracted from the organic solvent through the water. Analyzes of the concentration of As in the re-extract and raffinate were performed by ICP-OES spectroscopic method. The average recovery of arsenic by the proposed method is about 99%. Repeatability was estimated with RSD (n = 6). Selectivity and accuracy were proven by the standard addition method. The relative error for restoring the standard addition of As (III) is about 0.3%. The speciation method analysis could be applied for determination of the arsenic species in the analytical quality control of refined copper in copper tanks in the production of copper cathodes.

Exploitation of lignite within the area of Muskau Arch, carried out from the mid-nineteenth century, contributed to the transformation of the natural environment and changes in water regime. In the post-mining subsidences pit lakes were formed. The chemical composition of waters is a consequence of the intensive weathering of pyrite (FeS2), which is present in Miocene lignite-bearing rock forming the embankments of the lakes. This process leads to the formation of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) and finally acidification of lake waters.

This paper presents results of the identification of hydrogeochemical processes affecting the chemistry of waters from these reservoirs carried out using the speciation and statistical (cluster and factor) analyses. Cluster analysis allowed to separate from the analyzed group of anthropogenic reservoirs 7 subgroups characterized by a similar chemical composition of waters. The major processes affecting the chemistry of waters were identified and interpreted with help of factor and speciation analysis of two major parameters (iron and sulfur).

Popular statistical techniques, such as Spearman's rank correlation matrix, principal component analysis (PCA) and multiple linear regression analysis were applied to analyze a large set of water quality data of the Rybnik Reservoir generated during semiannual monitoring. Water samples collected at 9 sampling sites located along the main axis of the reservoir were tested for 14 selected parameters: concentrations of co-occurring elements, ions and physicochemical parameters. The aim of this study was to estimate the impact of those parameters on inorganic arsenic occurrence in Rybnik Reservoir water by means of multivariate statistical methods. The spatial distribution of arsenic in Rybnik Power Station reservoir was also included. Inorganic arsenic As(III), As(V) concentrations were determined by hydride generation method (HG-AAS) using SpectrAA 880 spectrophotometer (Varian) coupled with a VGA-77 system for hydride generation and ECT-60 electrothermal furnace. Spearman's rank correlation matrix was used in order to find existing correlations between total inorganic arsenic (AsTot) and other parameters. The results of this analysis suggest that As was positively correlated with PO43-; Fe and TDS. PCA confirmed these observations. Principal component analysis resulted in three PC's explaining 57% of the total variance. Loading values for each component indicate that the processes responsible for As release and distribution in Rybnik Reservoir water were: leaching from bottom sediments together with other elements like Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb, Zn, Ni, Ca (PC1) and co-precipitation with PO43-, Fe and Mn (PC3) regulated by physicochemical properties like T and pH (PC2). Finally, multiple linear regression model has been developed. This model incorporates only 8 (T, pH, PO43-, Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, TDS) out of initial 14 variables, as the independent predictors of total As contamination level. This study illustrates the usefulness of multivariate statistical techniques for analysis and interpretation of complex environmental data sets.

Composting of municipal solid waste with a 1 % addition of pulverized metallic iron, iron oxide(III) and iron sulfide(II) has been carried out. The amounts of iron in the bioavailable forms have been assayed in the composts obtained by means of speciation analysis, and the influence of composting on iron mobility has been evaluated. It has been found that pulverized metallic iron introduced into the waste occurs in the compost in the fractions easily accessible to plants, mainly the carbonate fraction. In the waste contaminated with Fe203 iron remains in the residual fraction, and composting does not practically increase its mobility. Over half of the iron from FeS remains in the waste in the residual fraction however, after composting there was an increased iron concentration in the bioavailable carbonate fraction.

The aim of the study was optimization of antimony speciation methodology in soils in areas subjected to industrial anthropopressure from traffic, metallurgy and recycling of electrowaste (e-waste) sources. Antimony speciation was carried out using the hyphenated HPLC-ICP-MS (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography- Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry) technique for the determination of antimony species ((Sb(III), Sb(V), SbMe3). The extraction and determination of antimony species in soil was optimized and validated, taking into account the matrix effects. The best results in antimony extraction from soils were obtained using a mixture of 100 mM citric acid and 20 mM Na2EDTA. Ions were successfully separated in 6 minutes on Hamilton PRPX100 column with 0.11 μg/L, 0.16 μg/L, 0.43 μg/L limit of detection for Sb(III), Sb(V), SbMe3, respectively. The oxidized antimony form (Sb(V)) predominated in the soil samples. The reduced antimony form (Sb(III)) was present only in a few samples, characterized by the lowest pH. The methyl derivative of antimony (SbMe3) was present in the samples with the lowest redox potential from the area around WEEE (Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment) treatment plant. The methodology of extraction and determination of three antimony species in soils was developed, achieving low limits of quantification and very good recovery. The research showed a large variation in antimony content in the soils impacted by type of industrial anthroporessure. The antimony content was the highest in the area of the WEEE treatment plant, indicating this type of industrial activity as a significant source of soil contamination with antimony.