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Gathering information on plastic particles in composts and the processes they undergo is important in terms of potentially limiting their further entry into the environment, for example, in improving the fertilising properties of soils. Microplastics (MPs) were determined in composts produced from urban greenery. They are present in decreasing order: polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene. The determination of polymers and additives used to improve their properties was performed by pyrolysis and gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (Py-GC/MS). Additives and microplastics are most concentrated in composts in the 0.315-0.63 and 0.63-1.25 mm grain size class, together with the carbon contained in the compost dry matter. Additives form 0.11-0.13% of MPs in dry matter of compost. The average concentration of microplastics in the particle size class from 0.63 to 1.25 mm is 2434 ± 224 mg/kg; in the total sample of composts, it is 1368 ± 286 mg/kg of P-MPs. For composts with particle size <2.5 mm, a relationship between the C/N ratio and the plastic particle concentration was statistically significant. It documents a similar behaviour of lignocellulose and plastic particles during the degradation processes. A relationship between the concentration of polymer markers and additives in the compost dry matter and their concentrations in the leachate has been demonstrated. The leachability from compost is higher for additives than for chemical compounds originating from the decomposition of the main components of MPs. The suitability of the use of the compost for agricultural purposes was monitored by the germination index (GI) for watercress. The lowest value of the GI was determined in the particle size class from 0.63 to 1.25 mm. The leachability of polymer markers and additives alone cannot explain the low GI value in this grain size class. The GI value is also influenced by the leachability of chemical compounds characterised by the value of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and water-leachable nitrogen (N w ). A statistically significant dependence between DOC/N w and the germination index value was found., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study investigates the vertical distribution of pollutants emitted from coal yards using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Vertical concentration measurements of black carbon (BC) and particulate matter (PM) in a range of 1 m to 100 m above ground level (AGL) in the central coal yard showed clear spatial patterns and gradients of these pollutants. In addition, measurements were taken at specific heights (1 m, 30 m AGL, and 60 m AGL) at seven locations approximately 3 km from the yard. Thirteen measurements were carried out during the non-heating period under similar weather conditions. The measured BC concentrations decreased significantly with increasing altitude, with ground-level concentrations reaching 1.88 ± 0.61 µg/m 3 and decreasing by over 46% at 80 m AGL. Similarly, PM 10 concentrations at 60 m AGL decreased by 21.7%, with values of 25.99 ± 9.24 µg/m 3 measured near the ground level and 16.52 ± 8.31 µg/m 3 at 60 m AGL. The maximum coal particle pollution from the coal depot ranges from 500 to 1,000 m. The study showed a significant decrease in BC concentrations with height above the coal yard surface. Concentrations of PM 10 and PM 10 -TSP showed a complex distribution influenced by local emissions and long-range particle transport. Meteorological factors, especially wind speed and direction, significantly influenced the pollutant dispersion. In addition, higher pollutant concentrations were measured during dry periods than after rainfall. The findings of this study contribute to a better understanding of the dispersion patterns and potential impacts of coal dust, enabling the implementation of targeted mitigation strategies and improved pollution control measures., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The 5% addition of biochar in composting in rows contributes significantly to reducing volatile organic compound(VOC) emissions. When composting with the addition of biochar, the average temperature increased by 13 ± 6.7 °C during the whole period, and the thermophilic phase was extended by 11 days. The higher temperature supported a reduction in the time necessary for achieving the biological stability observed by the oxygen uptake rate by more than 10 days. For organic compounds formed by the degradation of easily degradable primary components (proteins), the addition of biochar significantly reduces the release of organic compounds with heterocyclically bound nitrogen (N org -VOCs) and volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs). The end of the biodegradation process is indicated by a decrease in VOC concentrations below initial values in the input material. This state was achieved in the compost with added biochar after 47 days, while in compost without added biochar, it lasted 60 days., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The utilisation of waste wood from furniture production brings new problems connected with an incomplete thermochemical decomposition of additives (chemicals for improving properties of plastics) in small heating with the addition of sources. Unique organic compounds produced by the combustion of waste wood allow the identification of the type of fuel. The organic compounds contained in the char deposits were analysed by pyrolysis gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. The deposits from the combustion of briquettes from furniture production contain organic compounds originating by decomposition of phenolic resins, aminoplasts (urea-formaldehyde, resorcinol-formaldehyde and melamine), polyurethanes and wood glue. Additives contained in the deposits include plasticisers such as phthalates (DEHP, dibutyl phthalate and diisobutyl phthalate), flame retardants (2-propanol, 1-chlorophosphate (3:1) and p-terphenyl). Deposits from the combustion of briquettes from virgin wood do not contain these compounds. The total amount of compounds identified in the deposits from the boiler, which do not come from virgin wood combustion, varies in the range between 4.25 and 6.25 g/kg. Phthalates (55.5%) and PVAc adhesives (18.6%) are the main anthropogenic compounds in the deposits from domestic boilers., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Environmental risks connected with the combustion of paper/cardboard briquettes are still not sufficiently known. This paper aims to bring attention to the risks related to the utilisation of paper briquettes in local boilers and to characterise these risks by means of the identification of organic compounds in deposits from exhaust flues. The identification of the chemical compounds was performed by pyrolysis gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection. Paper/cardboard briquettes contain 119 compounds of biogenic origin derived from major biomass components and 53 additives. Additives are used both for improving the properties of paper and in printing inks. By burning the paper briquettes, the same 53 compounds from the additive group were caught in the deposits from the flue gas pathway, occurring in the range of 1-10% of the concentration of individual compounds (additives) contained in the input fuel. Compounds that are very stable during the combustion process have an enrichment factor (EF) >30, which corresponded to approximately 3% of the additive capture in deposits. The highest values were found for plasticisers (phthalates). Many of the primary organic compounds contained in the input raw material do not decompose during combustion and can have adverse effects on human health., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Modern technologies (especially with the help of autonomous measurement and control systems) introduced automatic composters for the disposal of household food waste production. Environmental risks connected with the utilization of these composts can be characterized by the high electrical conductivity caused by a presence of sodium chloride in food. Electrical conductivity influences the ecotoxicity of the composts. The presence of pesticides in composted food also represents an important environmental problem. The following pesticides were found in compost samples from household food waste: 1,3,5-triazine, methyl trithion, bifenthrin, bifenox, carbophenothion, pirimicarb, dioxacarb, desmetryn. Pesticide content in composts varied from 0.3 to 16.3 μg/kg, the average value being 30.4 ± 10.1 μg/kg dry matter. The higher decomposition was found of "modern" pesticides in the composters. The removal of salts can ensure that inhibition will be < 30% while washing with the ratio of 1:3 will result in the inhibition < 5%. However, this way of processing is not effective for other organisms-Poecilia reticulata (mortality 100%) and Daphnia magna (immobilisation 100%) using this procedure as well as washing of the compost in the ratio 3:1.

Street dust can be re-suspended into the atmosphere by wind and vehicle passage in an urban area. Street dust is affecting the environmental quality of the atmosphere and human health. A detailed study was conducted to determine the changes in concentrations of heavy metals and magnetic susceptibility by comparison of samples of street dust obtained in the years 2008 and 2018 at the same localities. An amount of dust per m 2 of road area was highly variable for individual localities (47 g/m 2 - 1.37 kg/m 2 ), with arithmetic mean (229.7 ± 85.97 g/m 2 ) in the year 2018. Silt particles in street dust (<0.063 mm) represented approx. 15-20%, sand particles approx. 63-70% and gravel 10-20%. Iron (5-6%) has significant concentrations in street dust. The highest concentrations are represented by the series Mn ˃ Zn ˃ Cr ˃ Cu ˃ Pb ˃ Ni. Comparison of metal concentrations in the years 2008 and 2018 showed a comparable level of iron and a lower level of lead. The significant enrichment was found for Cu, Cr and Zn expressed by enrichment factor in the range from 5 to 20. High values of magnetic susceptibility of street dust are caused by metallurgy. Metals except Cu are bound in magnetic particles and have a high correlation coefficient with magnetic susceptibility., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study investigates the chemical composition of water-soluble inorganic ions at eight localities situated in the Moravian-Silesian Region (the Czech Republic) at the border with Poland. Water-soluble inorganic ions were monitored in the winter period of 2018 (January, 11 days and February, 5 days). The set was divided into two periods: the acceptable period (the 24-h concentration of PM 10 < 50 µg/m 3 ) and the period with exceeded pollution (PM 10 ˃ 50 µg/m 3 ). Air quality in the Moravian-Silesian Region and Upper Silesia is among the most polluted in Europe, especially in the winter season when the concentration of PM 10 is repeatedly exceeded. The information on the occurrence and behaviour of water-soluble inorganic ions in the air during the smog episodes in Europe is insufficient. The concentrations of water-soluble ions (chlorides, sulphates, nitrates, ammonium ions, potassium) during the exceeded period are higher by two to three times compared with the acceptable period. The major anions for both acceptable period and exceeded pollution are nitrates. During the period of exceeded pollution, percentages of water-soluble ions in PM 10 decrease while percentages of carbonaceous matter and insoluble particles (fly ash) increase., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

The particle size distribution of particulate matter (PM) and concentrations of water-soluble ions were observed in airborne aerosol in the City of Ostrava (the Czech Republic, Moravian-Silesian Region) during winter 2016. The Ostrava area ranks among the most polluted areas not only within the Czech Republic but also in Europe due to the high concentration of industry, especially metallurgy, in this area. The selected water-soluble ions: were studied in different grain size classes of particulate matter separated into 7 fractions (from 0.0175 to 9.93 μm) collected by an electrical low pressure impactor ELPI + . Assessment of the influence of meteorological parameters and various sources of contamination (transportation, industry, and residential burning) in heavily environmentally-burdened urban areas was attempted. This study proved that (K) + is related to metallurgical processes and its role as an indicator of biomass combustion is negligible. The highest concentrations of all water-soluble ions were determined in particles below 0.952 μm that is generally related to combustion processes. At increased air temperature (in the interval from 0 °C to 10 °C), concentrations of both dust particles and the sum of water-soluble ions are decreasing., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The minimization of landfill deposition of waste containing biological components represents a big problem, especially in built-up residential areas. The main problem of biologically degradable municipal waste is the quantity and composition of household waste which can have an important influence on decomposition processes already in collecting vessels. An amount of household waste produced in residential areas in the Czech Republic varies from 31 to 337 g/person/day, with an average value of 250 g. Waste of plant material character is produced in the range from 22 to 291 g/person/day. Composts were prepared in the home composters from household food waste. After the end of the composting process, compost does not have the organic component sufficiently stabilized, which is documented by a high value of electrical conductivity of aqueous leachate reaching more than 4 mS/cm and low humification index. The value of the humification index pronouncedly increased after eight weeks from 0.05 to 0.85, while compost from composting of green waste using windrow system have humification index of 3.48. An aim of this work is the determination of properties of composts prepared from HFW in automatic composters and identification of differences compared with composts prepared from a mixture of biodegradable green waste., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The combustion of biomass in boilers of emission classes 2 and 3 produces deposits in the form of char and soot inside the combustion chamber. Char and soot differ in content of elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC) as well as in the content of organic compounds. Deposits from boilers of emission class 2 contain higher amounts of OC and EC than those from boilers of emission class 3. The only exception is deposits formed by the combustion of briquettes from hardwood in boilers of emission class 3 that contained approximately by up to 60 percent higher amount of OC and by approx. 100% more EC than deposits from combustion in boilers of emission class 2. Deposits identified as char are characterized by dominant organic compounds derived from thermic degradation of cellulose, lignin, phytosterols, terpenes, their alteration products, and aromatic hydrocarbons. Deposits identified as soot have dominant PAHs, compounds containing oxygen (furans, benzofurans, phenols) and compounds containing aliphatic nitrogen (benzonitrile). Char from boilers of emission class 2 contains approx. by 80% more alkanes and cycloalkanes, by 80% more nitriles, by 50% more carboxyl acids, by 230% more anhydrosaccharides, phytosterols and by 180% more PAHs. These differences can be utilized for identification of burned fuel., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Combustion of undesirable components with a high calorific value (waste: plastics, rubber, chipboard, plywood etc.) contribute to an increased emissions of PM particles. The possibility of identification of non-desirable fuels was verified by analysis of unburned carbon from bottom ash by means of pyrolysis-GC/MS. Compounds derived from thermal conversion of main wood components in the unburned carbon are formed by aldehydes, ketones, alkanes, alkenes, alkanoates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, compounds containing benzene, compounds containing phenol and nitrogen. Unburned carbon from plywood/chipboard contains compounds with nitrogen (heterocyclic and aliphatic) in increased concentrations (33-51 ng/mg) compared with unburned carbon from pure wood (7-12 ng/mg). The concentrations increased almost two times were proved for compounds containing phenols in unburned carbon from wood composite. Total amount of determined organic compounds is also almost two times higher than that contained in unburned carbon from wood. The indication of waste wood combustion from unburned carbon is possible using the ratio: phenol/(2-methylphenol+4-methylphenol)., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Since the cellulose used in the production of tetrapak is of very high quality, the char generated during pyrolysis should be influenced mainly by the pyrolysis temperature. This article aims to determine the chemical composition of biochar prepared at the temperatures of 400, 500, 600 and 700 °C and its environmental properties determined by the presence of organic compounds with toxicity and relatively high mobility in the environment. The analytical pyrolysis of char was used to identify the following groups of organic compounds: alkanes, cycloalkanes, alkenes, cycloalkenes, alkynes, alkadiens, ethers, alcohols, nitrogen compounds, nitrils, ketones and aldehydes, compounds containing phenols, furans, benzofurans, PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), carboxylic acids, compounds containing benzenes and markers indicative of the presence of synthetic polymers (polyethylene layers, a part of dyes, antioxidants, stabilizers), and fragments of cellulose. Concerning the use of char as a soil conditioner, its ecotoxicity was monitored (Folsomia candida) by monitoring its addition to the artificial soil (char addition: 0.5, 1, 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20, 50 and 100%). The lowest reproduction inhibition of Folsomia candida is caused by biochar prepared at the temperature of 400 °C and 700 °C, but it is not suitable for the agricultural application, the concentration of PAHs is three times higher than the EBC limit. Low-density polyethylene which is present in the aseptic box in concentration of 6%, can degrade biochar so that it cannot be used as a soil amendment. The results of the char analyses show that the pyrolysis temperature is a decisive factor in the applicability of biochar., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Black carbon - a primary component of particulate matter emitted from an incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, biomass, and biofuels - has been found to have a detrimental effect on human health and the environment. Since black carbon emissions data are not readily available, no measures are implemented to reduce black carbon emissions. The temporal and seasonal variations of black carbon concentrations were evaluated during 2012-2014. The data were collected in the highly polluted European city - Ostrava, Czech Republic, surrounded by major highways and large industries. Significantly higher black carbon concentrations were obtained in Ostrava, relative to other European cities and the magnitude was equivalent to the magnitude of black carbon concentrations measured in Poland and China. The data were categorized to heating and non-heating seasons based on the periodic pattern of daily and monthly average concentrations of black carbon. A higher black carbon concentration was obtained during heating season than non-heating season and was primarily associated with an increase in residential coal burning and meteorological parameters. The concentration of black carbon was found to be negatively correlated with temperature and wind speed, and positively correlated with the relative humidity. Other black carbon sources potentially included emissions from vehicle exhaust and the local steel-producing industry., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)