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Environmental pollution by mercury is a local problem in Poland and concerns mainly industrial sites. Foundry waste are usually characterized by low mercury content compared to other heavy metals. Spent foundry sands with low content of Hg are the main component of foundry waste. However, Hg may be present in foundry dust, which may also be landfilled. Due to Hg toxicity, even a minimal content may have a negative impact on biota. This study focuses on assessing the mercury content of landfilled foundry waste (LFW), to assess its toxicity. Currently tested waste is recovered and reused as a road aggregate. The results were compared with the mercury content of local soils as the reference level. Waste samples were taken from foundry landfill. The mercury content, fractional composition, organic matter (OM) and total organic carbon content, pH and elementary composition of waste were analysed. It was found that the mercury content in LFW was very low, at the level of natural content in soils and did not pose a threat to the environment. The statistical analysis shows that mercury was not associated with OM of the waste, in contrast to soils, probably due to different types of OM in both materials.

The paper presents the results of compost tests from home composters and earthworms living there, that treating waste into compost. The samples were taken from home composters and allotment gardens from Opole Region. The composting material was green waste. The total content of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Ni Cr) in compost and compost earthworms’ samples were determined. It was found that the compost samples were not contaminated with heavy metals. According to the Polish classification of composts from municipal wastes, the composts met the requirements for first class of quality. The composts did not exceed the limits of heavy metals specified in the Polish law for solid organic fertilizers. The degree of metal accumulation by compost earthworms depended on the type of metal. The high value of the bioaccumulation factor (BAF) was obtained for Cd, Pb and Zn. No accumulation of other metals (Ni, Cr, Cu) in earthworm bodies was found. It has been found that earthworm species, naturally occurring in Poland, can also be used as potential bioindicators of metals in the environment, such as the species Eisenia fetida. The aim of the study was to evaluate the heavy metal content in composts from home composters and ability to accumulate metals by compost earthworms.

The study evaluated the leaching of cobalt (Co) in soils fertilized with sewage sludge (SS) and composts depending on the extractant used. SS came from rural, mechanical–biological treatment plant in Dobrzeń, Lower Silesia region. In addition, those SS were processed by composting. Sludges and composts were used to fertilise the energy plants during lysimeter experiment conducted during 2008–2013. The overall, as well as extracted by H2O, 0.1M HCl and 1M HCl, 0.05M Na2EDTA and 0.1M Na2EDTA, content of Co in samples were analysed. Additionally, the impact of pH and organic matter (OM) content on the leachability of Co were researched. It was found that the soil samples were rich in Co. Its share slightly depended on fertilisation with SS and compost. Co leaching depends on the type and concentration of extractant. The highest content of Co were leched with 0.1 M Na2EDTA, and the lowest content with 0.1M HCl. Co concentration in H2O extracts was not determined as its content was below the limit of quantification. Leachability of Co in the analysed samples was influenced by the overall Co content as well as pH and OM content.

The aim of this study was to determine the level of disinfection by-products in selected outdoor swimming pool in the Opole Voivodship. The authors paid special attention to the determination of the concentration of trihalomethanes (THMs), which are formed during disinfection in water. Five outdoor swimming pools were selected in five different cities located in Opole Region. The level of trihalomethane (THM) concentrations in the analyzed waters was found to be in the wide range from 15 to more than 550 µg/L. The dominant compound of THMs was chloroform because of chlorine application in the disinfection method.

There are a number of leaching test which are used to evaluate the effect of foundry waste disposal on the environment (TCLP, SPLP, ASTM at al.). Because the spent foundry sand are usually deposited at the ground level and they have a similar structure to the soil, survey mobility of metals using the same methods seems appropriate. One-step extraction allows for the evaluation of the mobility and bioavailability of metals in soil and waste. Waste foundry sands have been successfully used as a component in manufactured soils in U.S., but concern over metal contamination must be eliminated before considering this direction of use. The study evaluated the leaching of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni) from deposited waste foundry sands. The overall, as well as heavy metals were extracted by different type of extractants: H2O, CH3COOH, HCl, EDTA, MgCl2 and NaCOOH. These extractants are most commonly used to study the mobility and bioavailability of metals in soil and waste. In the present study applicable standards and methodology described in the literature in analysis were used. The results allowed to evaluate the bioavailability of metals leached from those wastes.

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the agrotechnical use of foundry waste based on spent foundry sands (SFS). The advantage of foundry waste use is its high concentration of quartz sands and its similar physical properties to soils, including good permeability and filtration rate. An important component of foundry waste containing a mineral binders (green sands) is the presence of a clay fraction. In contrast, organic binders in some foundry wastes increase the percentage of organic matter. However, organic binders may contain toxic substances that are hazardous to the biota. Therefore, it is not recommended to use foundry waste with organic binders in agriculture or horticulture. Moreover, heavy metals may be problematic in the agrotechnical use of foundry waste mainly derived from cast metal. The disadvantage of using foundry waste as soil substrates is the low proportion of fertilizing components. Due to the low content of nutrients in foundry waste, it is recommended that it is used as a structural component mixed with other additives, such as sewage sludge or compost. The paper presents the results of research on the content of pollutants and the assessment of the biotoxicity of foundry waste. Based on the analyzed literature reports and own research, it was found that the use of foundry waste for non-industrial purposes, such as the production of artificial horticultural substrates, soilless substrates and artificial soils (Technosols), should be preceded by numerous studies to confirm the absence of negative impacts on the environment and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to assess the degree of stabilization of composted sewage sludge (SSC) during maturation using tests in aerobic and anaerobic conditions, determining the potential for biogas formation and its composition, as well as changes of mobile and bioavailable forms of metals in SSC after treatment. The samples were taken in the second phase of composting, during the maturation process. The biological stability of SSC samples was determined by detecting an incubation test (GS21) and respiration index (AT4). The potential for biogas formation and composition changes of SSC during maturation were analyzed. It was found that the chemical composition of the tested samples depended on the degree of their maturity. It was found that the both tested methods (AT4, GS21) of assessing the stability of waste are sufficient. Treatment under anaerobic conditions did not significantly change the composition of the samples, with the exception of total organic carbon (TOC). A high percentage of methane in biogas for samples at the beginning of the maturation process indicates a high content of biodegradable organic matter in SSC. In addition, the decrease of mobile and bioavailable forms of heavy metals percentage, during the SSC maturation, was found. In order to confirm the results of current study, a long-term field studies should be carried out on the effects of SSCs tested on soils and plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heavy metal content is one of the criteria for foundry dust commercial use. To assess the possibility of foundry dust use, it is necessary to analyze its composition, including the content of basic heavy metals, and its mechanical properties. The paper presents the results of research on foundry dust from one of the Polish foundries. The aim of the study was to assess the waste management based on its composition and content of heavy metals. Dust samples were taken from one of the Polish foundries, producing iron and steel castings. Samples were taken from several places in the foundry, i.e. from electric furnace dust collectors, shock grating unit, transport of moulding sands unit, pneumatic blast cabinet units and the regeneration of spent foundry sand units. Samples were taken twice from each place at the turn of 2017-2018. The total content of heavy metals such as Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni, Mn, and Fe for recovery and additionally Hg as environmental pollution was analyzed. Based on the results of the research, it was found that the dust from foundry furnaces and pneumatic cleaners can be used in metallurgy due to a high percentage of iron. It was found that the dust from casting cleaning, transport and regeneration department can be used in the cement or construction industry. In addition, an assessment of the mercury content showed that the re-use of this dust would not cause an environmental hazard. It was found that the profitability of foundry dust use depends on the stability of its composition and requires testing for each batch of dusts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The article presents the formation and toxicity of trihalomethanes (THMs), substances belonging to Disinfection ByProducts (DBP), formed as a result of pool water chlorination. Concentration of THMs in pool water has been standardised in Poland since recently. THMs concentration in pool water depends on multiple factors, mostly the method of water disinfection, including chlorine or organic substance (TOC) concentration. Apart from that, the level of exposure of swimmers to the toxic effect of THMs is affected by their content in the air of swimming pool halls, intensity of swimming as well as time of stay in the indoor swimming pool area. The water and air temperature as well as number of swimmers and time of their staying in pool have also significance influence on THMs concentration. In order to decrease the quantity of THMs in pool water, alternative disinfection agents are applied. Additionally, an efficiently operating pool ventilation system as well as proper water treatment method are also important. Because THMs are produced from organic material under the influence of the chlorination, the users can have an impact on decrease of the THMs concentration in pool water, for instance by taking a shower prior to entering the pool or by wearing a swim cap. The results of studies conducted in 2015 showed that the quantity of THMs in pool water depends on type of the pool (indoor, outdoor), water replacement frequency, water treatment system, chlorine dose and TOC content. In most collected samples, the THMs concentration exceeded the admissible norm (100 μg/L).