Alicja Kicińska

Health risk to children exposed to Zn, Pb, and Fe in selected urban parks of the Silesian agglomeration

ABSTRACT In selected urban parks of the Silesian agglomeration, samples of soil, sand and dust were collected and analyzed for Zn, Pb and Fe contents.The highest soil concentrations of the metals were found in park no. I (Kościuszki) in Katowice (average concentrations 244, 341 and 9375 mg/kg, respectively) and slightly lower soil concentrations were found in the park no. III (Silesian) in Chorzów (131, 211 and 9017 mg/kg, respectively). Lower contents of Zn (average 38 mg/kg) as well as Pb (71 mg/kg) and Fe (3226 mg/kg) characterize the soils of park no. II in Katowice. Concentrations of the metals in sands are on average, significantly lower, equivalent to two to three times, than those of the soil samples. The contents of metals in dusts are more variable than in soils and sands. While comparing the amount of Pb in the dust to their concentration in soils, it must be noted that for the majority of the samples they are lower. They account for 76% of the total concentration in the soil. The calculated quotient hazards of health clearly indicate a potential health risk caused by Pb, especially for young children due to their low weight. The highest health risk was established for park no. I, slightly lower for park no. III and the lowest for park no. II.

Health risks associated with municipal waste combustion on the example of Laskowa commune (Southern Poland)

ABSTRACT This study presents the results of an analysis of combustion waste, namely fly ashes produced from the burning of solid fuels mixed with municipal waste. Heavy metal concentrations in the fly ashes examined fell within the following ranges (mg/kg): Cd 0.39–0.79, Cr 13.48–58.51, Ni 17.01–49.37 and Pb 14.95–59.74. As this type of waste does not exceed the limit values of pollutants for organic and organic-mineral fertilisers, it is often discarded on agricultural land or dumped in illegal landfills. Fine particles of fly ashes travel considerable distances and pose a risk to human health as they stick to peoples hands during field works. The mean hazard quotient (HQ) values for non-carcinogenic forms of the elements analysed were 1.06E+00 for children and 1.47E-01 for adults. A HQ>1 indicates the probability of adverse health effects. The study has shown that the dominant exposure pathway was ingestion, which accounted for approx. 91% of total health risk, while the respective percentages for other pathways were less than 9% for dermal contact and 0.05% for inhalation. The highest health risk in the ingestion exposure pathway was observed for Cr (HQing = 4.50E-01 for children, HQing = 5.23E-02 for adults) and Pb (HQing = 4.31E-01 for children, HQing = 5.01E-02 for adults). Health risk associated with the presence of Ni and Cd in the material analysed was markedly lower. For carcinogenic forms, the Risk index was established at 6.13E-08 for children and 2.13E-07 for adults. As the exposure limit (10E-5) was not exceeded, the conditions in the area studied should be considered satisfactory.

Utilization of a sewage sludge for rehabilitating the soils degraded by the metallurgical industry and a possible environmental risk involved

ABSTRACT Soils collected in the proximity of a steel plant in Krakow were analyzed for their pH, the content of total organic carbon, and the total contents of metals and metalloids. Applying the Commission of European Communities Bureau of Reference (BCR) extraction of selected metals: Cd, Fe, Pb, and Zn, their forms of binding in soils have been determined. The results of the soil analyses of the samples taken in 1996 and 2016 were compared, and then the soil contamination changes were assessed using the GI, contamination factor (CF), and PLI indicators. A rehabilitation of the degraded soils was tested using the communal sewage sludge, which was added into the soil at four various ratios. The sewage sludge applied meets the environmental standards as a material for rehabilitating soils for non-agricultural needs but cannot be used for upgrading strongly contaminated soils. The reason is that the sludge addition increases the soil As, Ca, Cr, Mn, and Zn quantities as well as the easily mobilized fractions of the sludge/soil mixtures that contain Cd, Cr, Mg, Mn, Pb, and Tl. The addition of the communal sludge into soils increases the value of the environmental risk in the case of Pb, Mn, Mg, Fe, Cr, Zn, and Ca, but within the same risk classification ranges.

Environmental indicators for evaluation of chromium content in soils on the example of an inoperative tanning plant

Abstract The main goal of this article was to assess the environmental impact of pollutants from anthropogenic sources (tanning plant) using environmental indicators (Igeo – geoaccumulation index, CF – contamination factor). The assessment was carried out based on the results of total chromium content in soil samples collected in the area of an inoperative tanning plant. Based on the obtained results of total content, significant chromium concentrations were found in the discussed area. All obtained chromium concentrations in the analyzed soil samples exceeded the geochemical background level and the specification limit for group II of soils, i.e. protected areas, defined by a Decree of the Minister of Natural Environment (2016). Based on the obtained results of Igeo and CF, the soils in the analyzed area should be considered highly polluted with chromium.

Leaching of selected metals from a landfill of the closed down Siersza coal mine in Trzebinia (S Poland)

Abstract Landfills of waste generated by coal mining could pose a serious environmental threat if not properly reclaimed. The study focuses on leaching select heavy metals from the waste disposed of by the closed down Siersza hard coal mine in Trzebinia (Silesian- Cracow area). The solid waste samples were analysed with the X-ray fluorescence (XRF) method for Zn, Pb, Cd, Mn and Fe contents. The eluates were obtained by leaching the solid samples with distilled water at the ratio 1:10 and analysed with the atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) method. The most prone for leaching were Mn and Zn (78 and 73% of the total contents), the medium prone Pb and Cd (around 50% each), and the least prone Fe (30%). In the western part of the landfill, zinc occurs in unexpectedly high amounts (0.64-3.3 wt.%), which may be related to the presence of slag of unknown provenience. The concentrations of Zn, Pb and Cd (averages in mg∙kg−1: 6727, 2.3 and 10.3, respectively) in the leachates exceed the limits of Polish environmental standards. The landfill should be properly monitored and fully reclaimed.