Urszula Aleksander-Kwaterczak

Phyto- and zooplankton in fishponds contaminated with heavy metal runoff from a lead-zinc mine

This investigation focused on plankton inhabiting fishponds, which previously received mine waters from the lead-zinc mine ‘Matylda’, located in southern Poland (Upper Silesia). The purpose of the investigation was to study the effects of chronic and persistent contamination of fishpond bottom sediments with heavy metals originated from the lead and zinc mine. The phyto-and zooplankton in the four fishponds were dominated by diatoms, green algae and rotifers. Plankton composition of the reference non-contaminated pond was different, since Chrysophytes dominated, and Copepoda were the most numerous among zooplankton. In the contaminated fishponds, we observed teratological forms, both for phyto-and zooplankton species, but only as individuals. Our results showed that planktonic communities had adapted to chronic and persistent heavy metal contamination.

Pollutant dispersal in groundwater and sediments of gaining and losing river reaches affected by metal mining

AbstractThe presented work couples groundwater and sediment chemistry in the metal mining-polluted Przemsza River valley in southern Poland to reveal regularities in pollutant distribution and to relate them to sedimentary processes and surface water/groundwater exchange. Ten piezometers were installed in transects across the low-gradient, meandering losing river reach and in the incised, channelised gaining reach. At each sampling site, cores of sediments were sampled for heavy metals and groundwater samples were collected over a year, for standard physicochemical analysis as well as Zn, Pb, Cd, Mg and Fe. In the losing river reach, the magnitude of pollution of groundwater in the levee zone was similar to that in the river, and declined in the backswamp. In the levee zone of the incised reach, minimum groundwater pollution adjacent to the highly polluted river was related to gaining relatively clean groundwater. In the losing reach, the dispersal of heavy metals in the levee zone is controlled mainly by overbank accumulation of polluted sediments. Post-depositional changes of metal concentrations in profiles of the losing reach indicate the important role of groundwater in metal dispersal. In the gaining river reach, the redistribution of metals in the profiles was not ascertained due to a much lower groundwater table.

Lead in the environment of Lake Wigry (NE Poland)

Lead in the environment of Lake Wigry (NE Poland) Analysis was performed for lead content in the sediments of Lake Wigry (NE Poland), taking into account lithology, basic chemical component content and physical characteristics of sediment, Several hundred sediment samples from different parts of the lake and peatland around the lake, were collected. Their locations were determined by GPS and the depth of sediment by echosounder. The surface layer (0-10 cm) of sediment and sediment cores were taken to determine the spatial and vertical distribution of Pb. Concentrations of lead in the surface sediment range from 2.52 to 469 mg kg-1. One of the most important factors influencing spatial distribution of Pb is sediment type. The highest content of Pb was found in samples of organic gyttja and the lowest in clastic sediment samples. Strong positive linear correlation (r = 0.7) between organic matter content and Pb concentration in sediment was observed. It may be the result of simple bio-accumulation of lead. A large influence of sediment location on Pb distribution was found. The largest concentration of this element was found in sediment of the Wigry Basin. The major part of Pb accumulates in the surface layer of sediment.

The effect of long-term contamination by heavy metals on community and genome alterations of Chironomidae (Diptera) in a stream with mine drainage water (southern Poland)

This paper reports on studies of the effect of heavy metals on the Chironomidae that inhabit the Matylda stream, which has been contaminated for about 100 years by discharge water from a zinc and lead ore mine. Stream sediment was strongly polluted by Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn. These metals did not affect the Chironomidae community but strongly changed the genome system of the Chironomidae species that inhabited the sediment. The salivary gland chromosomes of six species belonging to the two genera Chironomus and Prodiamesa are analyzed. In all species the somatic index is calculated on the basis of somatic chromosome alterations. Chironomus riparius has the highest numbers of somatic alterations and the highest somatic index — 9.67. The smallest chromosome G carries the key structures known as “Balbiani rings”, which play an important role in species development. This chromosome is very sensitive in the genome of the most studied species. The high sensitivity of the C. riparius genome is discussed in light of its DNA organization. The results show a high response of the salivary gland chromosomes to heavy metal pollution, and this makes them a valuable indicator in the assessment of water quality and detection of mutagenic agents in the aquatic environment.