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The aim of the research was to demonstrate differences in the content of trace elements (U, Th, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, As, Se, Cd, Mo, Hg, Pb, W, Ba) in coal mined in Poland and coal imported from Russia, which are widely available on the market. Ecophile, cube and nut were selected for the research. Among them 3 come from Russia and 3 from Poland. The samples were mineralized and the heavy metal content was determined with the use of mass spectrometry with excitation in induced plasma. The research allowed us to conclude that the same carbon grades showed completely different metal contents and depended on the place of origin. The greatest amount of trace elements was found to be found in ecophysics from Poland (durin). Relatively large contamination with trace elements was also found in Polish peach (window) and in Russian walnut. A relatively high content of uranium was found in three samples, including the ecophyses. When burning coal, even of high quality, we expose the environment to the burden of trace elements, including radioactive elements present in their composition. Heavy metals from coal combustion constantly accumulate in the environment and so far no standards have been established for their content in this fuel.

The carriers of nosocomial infections are the hands of medical personnel and inanimate surfaces. Both hands and surfaces may be contaminated as a result of contact with the patient, their body fluids, and touching contaminated surfaces in the patient’s surroundings. Visually clean inanimate surfaces are an important source of pathogens. Microorganisms have properties thanks to which they can survive in unfavorable conditions, from a few days to several months. Bacteria, viruses and fungi are able to transmit from inanimate surfaces to the skin of the patient and the medical staff. These pathogens include SARS-CoV-2, which can survive on various types of inanimate surfaces, being a potential source of infection. By following the recommendations related to washing and disinfecting hands and surfaces, and using appropriate washing and disinfecting agents with a broad biocidal spectrum, high material compatibility and the shortest duration of action, we contribute to breaking the chain of nosocomial infections.

The aim of the study was to evaluate changes in the carbon/nitrogen ratio as a result of different natural methods of sewage sludge treatment from two municipal wastewater treatment plants. Sludge from the first treatment plant was poured into two lagoons, one covered with reed and the other with willow and a field with Californian earthworms. The sludge from the second treatment plant was composted with sawdust. The sludge processed by each method was simultaneously subjected to Effective Microorganisms. Samples of processed sludge from both treatment plants were collected three times. In the first one, after five weeks, four months and ten months from the beginning of treatment. The material from the second treatment plant was composted after four, ten weeks and a year of composting. In the samples taken, total nitrogen content was determined by the Kjeldahl method. The determination of the organic carbon content was carried out on a TOC analyser. The C:N ratio was then calculated.

In the present work, the conducted research concerned the determination of the toxicity and oxidative stress generation of the antidepressant fluoxetine (FLU), its metabolite nor-fluoxetine (Nor-FLU), the antibiotic nalidixic acid (NA), caffeic acid (CA) and their mixtures in three different environments: microbial medium (MM), raw wastewaters (RW) and treated wastewaters (TW). We evaluated the following parameters: E. coli cell viability, toxicity and protein damage, sodA promoter induction and ROS generation. It was found that FLU, Nor-FLU, NA, CA and their mixtures are toxic and they have the potency to generate oxidative stress in E. coli strains. We also detected that the wastewater, in comparison to the microbial medium, had an influence on the toxic activity and oxidative stress synthesis of the tested chemicals and their mixtures. Regardless of the environment under study, the strongest toxic activity and oxidative stress generation were detected after bacterial incubation with NA at a concentration of 1 mg/dm3 and the mixture of FLU (1 mg/dm3) with Nor-FLU (0.1 mg/dm3) and with NA (0.1 mg/dm3). The ROS synthesis and sodA promoter induction suggest that, in the case of the examined compounds and their mixtures, oxidative stress is the mechanism of toxicity. The analysis of the types of interactions among the substances constituting the mixtures in the wastewater revealed synergism, potentiation and antagonism.

The aim of this study was to estimate the content of trace elements(Zn, Cu, Cr, Cd, Pb) in soils and consumer plants grown under and without the influence of traffic. Thr species such as lettuce, raspberry, beetroot, apple, carrot, chives and onion were selected for the study. The samples were mineralized and the heavy metal content in plants and soils was determined by means of atomic absorption spectrometry. The content of heavy metals in the soil from municipal allotments was higher than in the soil from the Saniki Colony. For both samples, the permissible soil content was not exceeded.The amount of trace elements in plants varied depending on species, but the place of vegetables and fruits origin was also important. Most of trace elements occurred in larger amounts in the plants from allotments, and in smaller amounts in the plants from Saniki Colony.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the available waste in view of the heavy metals and fractions thereof. Three waste materials were analyzed in the work namely dried, granular sludge, digestate from agricultural biogas plant and ash after combustion of biomass from the combined heat and power plant, in terms of the content of heavy metals in them. Also determined their mobility through fractional analysis and assessed the possibilities of their agricultural use. The analyzed waste was varied due to the pH. The highest pH had biomass ashes and it was an alkaline. The dried precipitate due to the pH was neutral and digestate was slightly alkaline. In the analyzed wastes, the content of permissible concentrations of heavy metals determined in the Regulation of the Minister of the Environment was not exceeded. The content of individual elements varied and depends on the type of waste tested. The conducted sequential analysis showed that various metal fractions are present in the tested wastes. The content of heavy metals in individual factions was varied and the content of mobile and potentially mobile fractions, i.e. metals of fractions I and II, was lower compared to the non-mobile fractions III and IV.

The purpose of this study was to determine the total content of cadmium, lead, nickel, copper, zinc and their fractions in organic soils of Podlasie used as permanent grassland. The research material were samples taken from 30 soils of the Podlasie province in 2011-2013. Samples were taken from determined layer to depth of 0-30 cm. In taken soil samples basic physicochemical properties were determined: organic carbon content, pH in 1 M KCl potentiometrically. The total content of metals after mineralization in aqua regia was determined, and cadmium fractions were determined by a modified BCR method. The measurements were made by atomic absorption spectroscopy with electrothermal atomization using Varian AA-100 spectrometer. It was found that only 2 soils can be included in soils with first pollution degree due to cadmium content. The content of other metals was at geochemical background level. The distribution of investigated metals in fractions in studied organic soils was different comparing to mineral soils. Most of the analyzed elements were present in fraction associated with organic substance, which limited their mobility as evidenced by their low share in the available and potentially available fraction. The proportion of metals in residual fraction was low, which is typical for organic soils. The share of studied metals in particular fractions varied depending on sampling date, which may be related to climatic conditions course in study period and treatments performed on these soils.

Introduction The relationship between pesticide exposure and the occurrence of many chronic diseases, including cancer, is confirmed by literature data. Methods In this review, through the analysis of more than 70 papers, we explore an increase in oxidative stress level caused by exposure to environmental pollutants and the protective effects of plant-origin antioxidants. Results and discussion One of the molecular mechanisms, by which pesticides affect living organisms is the induction of oxidative stress. However, recently many plant-based dietary ingredients with antioxidant properties have been considered as a chemopreventive substances due to their ability to remove free radicals. Such a food component must meet several conditions: eliminate free radicals, be easily absorbed and function at an appropriate physiological level. Its main function is to maintain the redox balance and minimize the cellular damage caused by ROS. Therefore, it should be active in aqueous solutions and membrane domains. These properties are characteristic for phenolic compounds and selected plant hormones. Phenolic compounds have proven antioxidant properties, while increasing number of compounds from the group of plant hormones with a very diverse chemical structure turn out to act as antioxidants, being potential food ingredients that can eliminate negative effects of pesticides.

The study was carried out using water samples from two small retention reservoirs located in the communes: Czarna Białostocka and Turośń Kościelna in Podlaskie Voivodeship. The main tasks of both reservoirs are to improve the water balance by means of regulating the levels and water outflow. Three characteristic measurement and control points were selected on both reservoirs in accordance to the water flow in the longitudinal section. The first and third points were located near the inflow and outflow of water, while the second in the middle of the reservoirs. Samples of water for the study were collected from the surface layer of the shore zone of the reservoirs once a month from March 2015 to February 2017 (water from two hydrological years was analyzed). Water samples were subject to determination of total phosphorus, total nitrogen, and chlorophyll “a” concentrations, as well as turbidity. Contamination of the water reservoirs with biogenic compounds is a common problem and at the same time difficult to eliminate due to the scattered nature of external sources of pollution, especially in the case of agricultural catchments, as well as the inflow of untreated sewage from areas directly adjacent to the reservoirs. Based on achieved results, high values of TSI (TN), TSI (TP), TSI (Chl), and overall TSI, clearly indicate the progressive degradation of water quality in analyzed reservoirs. Appearing water blooms due to the mass development of phytoplankton adversely affect the quality of water in the reservoirs and biochemical processes occurring both in water and bottom sediments, are conditioned by progressive eutrophication.

The aim of study was demonstration of dependence of produced biogas on batch composition as agricultural waste. Research was conducted in biogas power plant Biogas Adler, which was the first agricultural biogas plant built in Podlaskie province. The analysis showed in analyzed biogas production of biogas from waste from agricultural activity, is a good way of their utilization, while producing heat and electricity. Among the three analyzed substrates the highest efficiency of biogas production is characterized by corn silage and manure. Potato pulp significantly reduces the efficiency of biogas production. Independently of the composition and quality of substrates, to produce 1 MWh of the biogas plant consumes approx. 457 m3 of biogas.

The purpose of the research was evaluate the water quality in two small retention reservoirs also the evaluation of amount of quality indicators retained by the both of them. Water quality studies and analysis of factors determining it were conducted on two small retention reservoirs situated in the Podlaskie Voivodeship: Ciechanowiec, located on the Nurzec River and Bobra Wielka situated on the Biebrza River. The basic physico-chemical parameters of the water reservoirs and of the water supplying them mostly do not exceed the limits for classes I-II. High phosphate concentration, which flow directly into the river supplying the reservoirs, exceed the permissible amounts many times and may be a potential source of contamination of the examined water reservoirs. The yearly increase of researched shows on slow growth of the reservoir degradation level. The reservoirs should be subjected to reclamation as they do not play a role in limiting pollution from the catchment area.

The aim of this study was estimation of bioaccumulation of heavy metals (Pb, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd) in forage grasses from the area of Podlasie Province based on the bioaccumulation factor. In the soil samples the pH, organic carbon content and CEC were determined. Determination of heavy metals contents in plant and soil material was carried out by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Soils were characterized mainly by acidic reaction, high cation exchange capacity and organic carbon content. The content of heavy metals in studied forage grasses did not exceed the polish regulations related to plant usage for feeding purposes, except the lead content in seven samples. Coefficients of variation for particular heavy metals content in studied forage grasses were as follows: Pb - 37%, Ni - 63%, Cu - 30%, Zn - 34%, Cd - 48%. The highest bioaccumulation factor was found for nickel and grass from the village Remieńkiń (11.54), while the lowest for cadmium and grass from the village Jemieliste (0.04).

The aim of the study was the estimation of total content of lead and its fraction in arable soils and permanent grassland of Podlasie Province, eastern Poland. The research material included 104 soil samples from Podlasie Province, which were collected in years 2011–2013 from the topsoil (0–30 cm) after plant harvest. The following basic physicochemical properties of soil samples were determined: granulometric composition, organic carbon content and pH in 1 mol·dm−3KCl solution. Based on the granulometric composition soils were divided into three groups: very light and light, medium and organic soils. The total lead and its content in fractions was determined by means of GFAAS technique using Varian AA-100 apparatus. The fractions of lead were extracted by BCR method. In the case of very light and light soils the lowest percentage share of Pb on average was noted in exchangeable fraction (16.3% of total content) and the highest in fraction bound to Fe/Mn oxides (43.5%). Similarly in medium and organic soils the highest amount of Pb was stated in reducible fraction, 43.7 and 41.3% of total content, respectively, and the lowest in exchangeable fraction, 16.5 and 12.2%, respectively. It was found that content of total lead was typical for arable uncontaminated soils.

A fast ultrasound-assisted sequential extraction (UASE) procedure for the determination of cadmium, lead and nickel fractions in soil was developed and fully validated. The working parameters of an ultrasound probe were optimized by comparing the content of metals in soil extracts obtained by the UASE procedure with that obtained by the conventional (with the aid of a vertical rotor) modified Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) procedure. The content of metals in soil fractions was determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The total time of extraction of metals from soil was shorten from 48 h to 27 min (total sonication time). The trueness of the developed method was confirmed by analysis of the certified reference material BCR-701. In order to indicate critical points of the developed UASE method, uncertainties of fractionation results were calculated and compared with those calculated for conventional modified BCR procedure. The method usefulness was tested for the determination of metal fractions in different types of soil collected in the Podlasie Province (Poland). The proposed procedure could be used for fast screening of mobile fractions of several heavy metals in soil.

Dam retention reservoirs created on the rivers play a special role as an environmentally friendly forms of stopping and slowing of water runoff. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of water flowing into small retention reservoirs in terms of the concentration of total phosphorus and phosphates. The study involved three small retention reservoirs located in the municipalities of: Bransk, Dubicze Cerkiewne and Kleszczele in Podlasie region. Selection of the research facilities was made due to the similarity in the soil management type within catchment of the flowing watercourse, retained water utilization ways, and a small surface of reservoirs. Watercourse reaching the reservoir provides biogens along with water, which directly affect the water quality resulting in high concentrations in water, either indirectly by initiating or accelerating the process of degradation of the reservoir and the loss of its usability. Given the concentration of total phosphorus, it can be said that only in the case of 20.8% of water samples from Nurzec river feeding the Otapy-Kiersnówek reservoir, about 25% of water samples of Orlanka river feeding Bachmaty reservoir, and 17% of samples taken from the watercourse supplying Repczyce reservoir, corresponded to values specified for the second class in the current Regulation of the Minister of the Environment [Regulation 2014]. It can be assumed that this situation is caused by a long-term fertilization using manure, which in consequence led to the oversaturation of soils and phosphorus compounds penetration into the river waters in areas used for agricultural purposes. Especially in the early spring periods, rising temperature together with rainfall caused soil thawing resulting in increasing concentrations of contaminants carried along with the washed soil particles during the surface and subsurface runoff. Values of TSI(TP) calculated for Otapy-Kiersnówek reservoir amounted to 112.4 in hydrological year 2012 and to 112.7 in 2013, for Bachmaty reservoir 73.04-75.71, and for Repczyce reservoir to 101.07-102.12, which allowed for qualifying them as hypertrophic.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of the landfill on the groundwater environment. The assessment of water status in the region of landfill sealed with a layer of clay with a thickness of 0.5 m, was based on the own research and monitoring received from the municipal office, and conducted in 2007–2010. Waters flowing out of the landfill revealed an increase in pollution indicators such as: total organic carbon (TOC), concentrations of PAHs and heavy metals including zinc, cadmium, and chromium. It was demonstrated that the landfill sealed with a clay layer does not reduce the outflow of leachate to groundwater, but also that the purity of these waters is influenced by increased agricultural activity in the areas adjacent to the landfill.

Article describes studies on the trophic status which were carried out using the water samples from the small retention reservoir Topiło located in especially valuable natural forests of Puszcza Białowieska. In order to assess the degree of Topiło reservoir contamination, three measurement and control points were selected for testing, which were situated near the inflow (point No. 1) and outflow (point No. 3) of river Perebel, as well as in the middle part of the reservoir (point No. 2). The selection and placement of measurement and control points on the reservoir was dictated by the ability to capture changes in the study object. Tests of water samples collected from the surface layer of the coastal zone, were carried out once a month during the period from April 2007 to March 2014. The following determinations in collected water samples were performed: total nitrogen, total phosphorus, chlorophyll “a”, and turbidity. The trophic level of Topiło reservoir was also assessed according to the concentration criteria and based on the trophic status indices (TSI) calculated after Carlson’s as well as Kratzer and Brezonik’s. Given the annual average value of overall trophic level (Trophic Status Index), the dominant role of the TSI (TP) during all years of research attracts some attention. The TSI index values ranged within 78.3–80.26, which allowed to classify the water of Topiło reservoir as hypertrophic. The research indicates an advanced and constantly progressive degradation of water quality in Topiło reservoir. Values of TSI (Chl) were in the range of 49.2–77.35 and therefore water status in winter can be defined as eutrophic indicating the hypertrophy in remaining periods under study. Additional investments planned for advance reclamation treatments should be necessarily taken into consideration at the stage of planning and design of new small water retention reservoirs. Topiło reservoir requires modernization and reclamation, it is also necessary to clean it up, especially the bottom pond, out of the stocked wood residues, as well as to remove the excess of sludge.

When analyzing the symptoms of eutrophication and water quality in a small retention reservoir Bachmaty, an attempt to assess changes in its trophic condition before and after modernization, was undertaken. The study upon changes in water trophic level was carried out on a small retention reservoir Bachmaty located in Podlasie region on the Orlanka river in the municipality of Dubicze Cerkiewne. Tests of water samples collected from the surface layer of the coastal zone were performed once a month, and the time of the research was divided into two periods. The first period was conducted since April 2007 to March 2008 and since April 2009 to March 2010. The second research period included the time immediately after the reservoir reclamation, which ended in May 2011. The study was conducted since May 2011 to March 2012 and since April 2013 to March 2014. The trophic level of Bachmaty reservoir was also assessed according to the concentration criteria and based on the trophic status indices (TSI) calculated after Carlson’s as well as Kratzer and Brezonik’s. Reclamation of the reservoir, which consisted mainly in removing the sediments, caused a reduction in all TSI values. Analysing the overall trophic level index, i.e. the average of TSI (TP), TSI (TN), and TSI (Chl), water of the Bachmaty reservoir may be classified as eutrophic in individual years of the research, although a gradual decline in the TSI value could be observed directly after the reservoir modernizing. After testing it was found that the formation of the trophic level of Bachmaty reservoir was largely affected by the amount of total phosphorus supplied to the water. Water quality in the reservoirs, and also the content of phosphorus compounds is largely determined by external supply.

When considering the issue of the functioning of small water reservoirs, the attempt to assess changes in trophy of small retention reservoir located in Wasilkow, Podlasie, before and after remediation, was carried out. Water samples tests were carried out once a month from April 2007 to March 2008, from April 2009 to March 2010 (before remediation), and from April 2013 to March 2014 (after removal of silt). Prior to works related to the reservoir remediation, a gradual increase in the number of tested contaminants and disturbances in the seasonal occurrence of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds were observed. Advanced eutrophic processes in Wasilków reservoir occur probably due to the supply of large amounts of humic and biogenic substances from the catchment, because a significant percentage of its area is covered by forests and agricultural lands. The development of the trophic status of the reservoir is largely influenced by the amount of phosphorus and total nitrogen supplied to the reservoir; the least affected by chlorophyll “a”. Comparing the analyses performed in 2007/2008 and 2009/2010, a slight, but growing trend of average trophic levels of water in the basin Wasilków was found. Studies conducted in 2013/2014 revealed a significant decrease in the concentrations of all analyzed pollutants, and hence lower TSI values. It can be concluded that the reclamation associated with the removal of sediments brought the expected results.

The study aimed at determining the changes in the trophic status of the processes associated with the risk of eutrophication in small retention reservoir in Korycin, characterized by agricultural performance of direct and indirect catchment. The study was conducted using the surface water samples that were collected systematically every month over four hydrological years (2008 to 2014) from three research points. Mean annual concentration of total phosphorus varied from 0.641 mg P/dm3 during research conducted in 2007/2008 to 0.874 mg P/dm3 in 2013/2014 showing an increasing trend from year to year. Taking into account the calculated average values, an upward trend can be seen along with particular years of the study from the annual average value of 1.44 mg N/dm3 determined in the first year to the value of 2.66 mg N/dm3 recorded in the last year of the study. It was observed during the study that in non-flowing parts of Korycin reservoir, plankton developed more abundantly than in the central fragments, where the flow of water is more intensive. A mild growth of phytoplankton in the waters of Korycin reservoir is provided by relatively low concentrations of chlorophyll “a” found during all research periods. Concentrations of chlorophyll “a” in waters of the reservoir were within the range of 4.08 to 5.21 g/dm3. At a Schindler coefficient > 2, this value, based on the Decree of the Minister of the Environment of 2011, should not exceed 7 and therefore waters of the Korycin reservoir during the research can be classified as the first class. Values of the general trophic level (Trophic State Index) during the first three years of the study ranged from 67.15 to 68.65, which enabled to count waters of the reservoir in Korycin to eutrophic ones. In the last year of the analyzes, this coefficient increased to a value of 72.43, classifying its waters as hypertrophic. The largest share in such a situation was expressed by TSI (TP), which ranged from 97.34 to 101.82, always classifying the waters to hypertrophic ones. In contrast, the indicator TSI (TN) ranged from 59.71 to 68.57 and it classified the reservoir waters to eutrophic, while TSI (Chl) to mesotrophic.

The subject of this paper is environmental sustainability assessment of agricultural holdings in the Podlaskie voivodeship, participating in the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) in the years 2007–2012. The assessment was conducted based on agro-ecological indicators and environmental burden (material pressure). The analysis was conducted according to a classification into agricultural holding types: field crops, dairy cattle, and mixed holdings. The factor with the strongest impact on the agro-ecological sustainability of the studied agricultural holdings was the holding type. Field crop and mixed holdings achieved more favorable environmental sustainability indicators. Holdings specializing in dairy cattle breeding pose a threat to the natural environment due to their excessive number of livestock.

The problem of liquid wastes is still current not only in Poland, but also in the world. The primary source of liquid wastes are single-family and multi-family houses. To a lesser extent, public service or production facilities, mainly in urban areas, are equipped with no-outlet reservoirs. Low concentrations in liquid wastes and their high density are often some difficulty to work with not only by sewage treatment plants, but also collection points. Therefore, the knowledge of the composition of liquid wastes supplied to the collection points is important. The paper presents the results of research as well as variability of concentrations of selected parameters of liquid wastes supplied to the collection point in Bialystok, that accepts both municipal and industrial sewage. Statistical processing of the obtained results and those derived from The Waterworks Bialystok showed the presence of high variability of total suspended matter and electrolytic conductivity as well as organic impurities expressed as BOD5 and COD.

Recognition of quantitative parameters of municipal wastes that change due to varied conditions (degree of development and quality of human life, season of the year and etc.), is very important from a point of view of planning, logistics and designing particular technological solutions for waste management. The quantity of municipal wastes is going down big housing estates through individual houses area to rural areas outside the city. The paper presents the methodology and results of the volume of wastes accumulations in a single-family housing in Bialystok in 2012 and 2013 in different seasons of the year. The obtained results were compared with literature data.

A new fast method for determination of mobile zinc fractions in soil is proposed in this work. The three-stage modified BCR procedure used for fractionation of zinc in soil was accelerated by using ultrasounds. The working parameters of an ultrasound probe, a power and a time of sonication, were optimized in order to acquire the content of analyte in soil extracts obtained by ultrasound-assisted sequential extraction (USE) consistent with that obtained by conventional modified Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) procedure. The content of zinc in extracts was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The developed USE procedure allowed for shortening the total extraction time from 48 h to 27 min in comparison to conventional modified BCR procedure. The method was fully validated, and the uncertainty budget was evaluated. The trueness and reproducibility of the developed method was confirmed by analysis of certified reference material of lake sediment BCR-701. The applicability of the procedure for fast, low costs and reliable determination of mobile zinc fraction in soil, which may be useful for assessing of anthropogenic impacts on natural resources and environmental monitoring purposes, was proved by analysis of different types of soil collected from Podlaskie Province (Poland). Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10661-015-5020-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The article presents the results of rainwater quality studies. The rainwater flowing from the surface of urbanized areas of the city of Białystok discharged into the river after they have been cleansed with separators petroleum compounds. Also discussed are issues related to with rain water and the problem to need develop them. Contaminated flushes from sealed surfaces such as street squares, sidewalks, parking lots, etc., during periods of rain or thawing, pose a serious threat to the natural environment. The work presents analyzes of such pollutants as general slurry, heavy metals, chlorides, BOD5, COD, etc., which once penetrate rainwater into Biała River. Five measurement and control points located in a typical urban drainage basin were selected for the study. The tests were taken in the spring of 2017 in two measuring series. The first series was taken during the long-term precipitation, while the second was after the almost one-month rain-free period, at the time of the first precipitation.

The aim of this research was to determine the total content of zinc and its fractions in arable soils of the Province of Podlasie (wojewodztwo podlaskie) and to assess the correlation between the zinc content, its fractions and physicochemical properties of soils. The research material consisted of samples taken from arable soils in 81 points of the province, with one point chosen in the majority of the districts. Each point was located on mineral soil used as arable land, without any external source of contamination like roads or industrial plants. Samples were taken after harvest, from the arable layer, determined to lie within the depth of 0-30cm. The samples were submitted to determinations of the basic physicochemical properties of soil. The content of total zinc was determined after mineralization in aqua regia, by the flame atomic absorption spectrometry method. The content of zinc fractions was determined by the BCR method. There were four fractions determined: exchangeable, bound with oxides and hydroxides, bound with organic matter and residual zinc. The physicochemical properties of soils were highly differentiated except the grain-size composition. The content of total zinc was typical of arable uncontaminated soils and fluctuated in a wide range. The content and shares of zinc fractions in total zinc were as follows: for very light and light soil: organic>bound with oxides and hydroxides>exchangeable>residual; for medium-heavy soil: organic>exchangeable>bound with oxides and hydroxides>residual. Distribution of zinc in particular fractions was dependent to some degree on pH, content of organic matter and grain-size composition.

For evaluation of the mobility of metals present in soil various approaches based on sequential extraction procedures (Tessier's, BCR or modified BCR) have been proposed, but they are very laborious and time-consuming.The aim of this study was to develop a new fast extraction procedure for the determination of mobile fractions of copper in soil.The samples of soil that vary in terms of physicochemical properties and certified reference material (BCR-701) were used in this study. The three-stage modified BCR procedure used for fractionation of copper in soil was accelerated by ultrasound irradiation using an ultrasonic probe. The content of copper in soil extracts was determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS).The extraction conditions for separation of mobile fractions of copper from soil with the use of ultrasonic probe were optimized. The working parameters of the probe were as follows: the power was 15 W for all fractions while the sonication time was 7 min, 10 min and 6 min for fraction I, fraction II and fraction III, respectively. The developed procedure was validated; linearity of calibration graphs, limit of detection and limit of quantification, accuracy and repeatability of the procedure were evaluated. The content of copper in fraction I-III in soil samples collected from Podlaskie Voivodeship was at the level of 0.09-1.92 mg x kg(-1), whereas its pseudo-total content was in the range 2.75-9.75 mg x kg(-1). CONCLUSIONS; The developed ultrasound assisted sequential extraction procedure allowed for shortening the total extraction time from 48 h to 27 minutes in comparison to conventional modified BCR procedure. The studied soil contains a low pool of copper bioavailable to plants because a sum of mobile fractions (FI-FIII) represents only 22-46% of its pseudo-total content.

The aim of this study was estimation of total copper content and its fractional composition in arable soils in the Podlasie Province. It was found that total content of copper was typical for uncontaminated soils. In very light and light soils, more copper in available and potentially available fractions has been noted, by contrast in medium soils – in residual fraction which is unavailable for plants.

The aim of this study was estimation of total cadmium content and its fractional composition in arable soils, depending on their physicochemical properties. The research material consisted of samples taken from arable soil in 81 points within then Podlasie Province. The content of total cadmium in soils and its fractional composition was determined with the BCR method. It was found that the total content of cadmium was typical for uncontaminated soils and ranged from 0.11 to 1.59 mg kg-1. The percentage of acid in the soluble and exchangeable fraction fluctuated at around 10% on average. The reducible fraction comprised about 20% and oxidizable fraction 26%, on average. Most of the cadmium was in the residual fraction. The factors that influenced the fractional composition of cadmium were determined. For the very light and light soils it was mainly the content of magnesium and pH, while for medium soils it was the organic carbon and magnesium content, content of soil fraction Celem pracy było określenie zawartości ogólnej kadmu i jego składu frakcyjnego w glebach ornych w zależności od ich właściwości fizykochemicznych. Badania wykonano w oparciu o 81 próbek gleb uprawnych pobranych w woj. podlaskim. Określono w nich zawartość ogólną kadmu i jego skład frakcyjny metodą BCR. Zawartość ogólna kadmu była typowa dla gleb niezanieczyszczonych i wahała się w przedziale od 0,11 do 1,59 mg kg-1. Udział kadmu we frakcji rozpuszczalnej w kwasach i wymienialnej wynosił średnio około 10%, we frakcji redukowalnej średnio około 20% i we frakcji utlenialnej średnio 26%. Najwięcej kadmu zgromadziła frakcja rezydualna. Określono czynniki, które wpływały na dystrybucję kadmu pomiędzy frakcjami. W przypadku gleb bardzo lekkich i lekkich największy wpływ miała zawartość magnezu i pH, a w przypadku gleb średnich zawartość magnezu, węgla organicznego, frakcji spławianych i udział procentowy kadmu we frakcji redukowalnej.

The immediate and prolonged (i.e. two and three years after the treatment) effect of fertilizing with organic wastes on the content in tissues and consumption rate of potassium, calcium and manganese by Chenopodium album in various crops, in its varying contribution to the weed biomass was studied. It was found that Chenopodium album share was differentiated in dependence on the combination of fertilization and the cultivated plant. The content of K, Ca and Mg in dry matter depended on the kind of fertilization (before beginning the experiment) and the cultivated plant. The amount of Chenopodium album biomass from each fertilized object most influenced the uptake of those macro elements from an area unit.