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Chemical plant protection is a commonly discussed factor potentially responsible for decline in pollinators and other beneficial insect populations. Various groups of chemicals including persistent organic pollutants could impact a bee colony’s welfare and are reported to be present in bee tissue and apiary products. The aim of this work was to evaluate the presence of selected persistent organic pollutant and pesticide residues in bee pollen originating from different geographical regions of Poland. Pesticide residues were identified in 60% of tested bee pollen samples. The compounds identified were mainly active ingredients of fungicide preparations. Insecticide active ingredients were up to 30% of the identified residues. The triazole fungicide tebuconazole and the neonicotinoid insecticide thiacloprid were the most frequently found pesticides in pollen. The highest pesticide concentration was determined for prothioconazole (356 μg kg-1). Mean concentrations of chlorinated biphenyls–EC6 and EC12 were 194 pg g-1 and 74 pg g-1, respectively. CB # 28 has the greatest share in the EC6 profile (mean 61 pg g−1, 31% contribution). Relatively high contributions were also observed for CBs # 101 (35 pg g−1, 18%), # 138 (36 pg g−1, 19%) and # 153 (33 pg g−1, 17%). CB # 114 and 118 have the highest share in the dioxin-like biphenyls fraction with mean concentrations of 17.6 and 37.6 pg g−1 (respectively 23 and 50%). Mean calculated concentrations of 39 polybrominated diphenyl ether congeners (Σ39 BDE) were 20 ± 27.7 pg g−1. High variability was observed between maximal and minimal determined concentration values. Individual BDEs were found at different frequencies and varying concentration levels. BDEs # 47, 75 and 99 dominated the profile with average concentrations of 3 pg g−1, 3.1 pg g−1, and 2.9 pg g−1, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Stable isotopes of sulfate in wastewater, fertilizers and manure in the Upper Silesia are generally more homogeneous compared to the literature data. • Isotopic composition of sulfate from landfill leachates is enriched with heavy isotopes of S and O. • Isotopic studies of local sources of contamination reduce the uncertainty in the interpretation of sulfate sources in groundwater. Isotopic signatures of anthropogenic sulfate sources within the Upper Silesian urban area (southern Poland) were investigated to increase the reliability of the origin assessment of groundwater contaminants. To analyze δ34S and δ18O in sulfate, 64 samples were collected, representing several sulfate sources: synthetic and organic fertilizers, raw and treated wastewater, mine water, leachate from landfills, mine heaps, and industrial waste dumps. Additionally, 10 surface water samples were taken from contaminated rivers regarded as potential groundwater pollution sources. Results of δ34S and δ18O in sulfate derived from anthropogenic sources were compared with literature data, which indicated significant discrepancies for some contamination sources. The results were applied to assess SO 4 2- origin in groundwater samples from the Gliwice aquifer. Apart from the δ34S and δ18O data, the study included measurements of major ions, inorganic nitrogen forms, trichloroethene and tetrachloroethene in groundwater. Isotopic analyses of river water samples confirmed the impact of urbanized and industrialized areas on surface water pollution and possible influence on groundwater contamination. The values of δ34S and δ18O similar to wastewater were reported for most groundwater samples from the Gliwice carbonate aquifer. Groundwater contamination was also manifested by higher values of electrical conductivity and concentrations of chloride, sodium, trichloroethene and tetrachloroethene. The comparison of recent isotopic data on SO 4 2- sources with literature values clearly shows that it is very important to investigate local potential contamination sources to increase their reliability in determining the source of groundwater or river water pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Stable isotopes of sulfate in wastewater, fertilizers and manure in the Upper Silesia are generally more homogeneous compared to the literature data. • Isotopic composition of sulfate from landfill leachates is enriched with heavy isotopes of S and O. • Isotopic studies of local sources of contamination reduce the uncertainty in the interpretation of sulfate sources in groundwater. Isotopic signatures of anthropogenic sulfate sources within the Upper Silesian urban area (southern Poland) were investigated to increase the reliability of the origin assessment of groundwater contaminants. To analyze δ34S and δ18O in sulfate, 64 samples were collected, representing several sulfate sources: synthetic and organic fertilizers, raw and treated wastewater, mine water, leachate from landfills, mine heaps, and industrial waste dumps. Additionally, 10 surface water samples were taken from contaminated rivers regarded as potential groundwater pollution sources. Results of δ34S and δ18O in sulfate derived from anthropogenic sources were compared with literature data, which indicated significant discrepancies for some contamination sources. The results were applied to assess SO 4 2- origin in groundwater samples from the Gliwice aquifer. Apart from the δ34S and δ18O data, the study included measurements of major ions, inorganic nitrogen forms, trichloroethene and tetrachloroethene in groundwater. Isotopic analyses of river water samples confirmed the impact of urbanized and industrialized areas on surface water pollution and possible influence on groundwater contamination. The values of δ34S and δ18O similar to wastewater were reported for most groundwater samples from the Gliwice carbonate aquifer. Groundwater contamination was also manifested by higher values of electrical conductivity and concentrations of chloride, sodium, trichloroethene and tetrachloroethene. The comparison of recent isotopic data on SO 4 2- sources with literature values clearly shows that it is very important to investigate local potential contamination sources to increase their reliability in determining the source of groundwater or river water pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present work conducted in the area of Międzyrzeki Strict Nature Reserve in the Roztocze National Park was to show new sites of rare and species new to Poland from the Kobayasiella genus ( K. okadae (Skvortzov) Lange-Bert., K. tintinnus Buczkó, Wojtal & Jahn) with regard to morphological and ecological characteristics. Chemical parameters show that investigated habitats are poor and oligotrophic with a low content of chlorides, sulfates and nitrates. K. okadae, K. subtilissima (Cleve) Lange-Bert. and K. tintinnus were found in the studied area. The authors suggest the use of synonym Navicula hoeflerii Cholnoky for the Kobayasiella okadae. LM and SEM images were used in the analysis of the material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Groundwater within the unconfined or semi-confined parts of Triassic carbonate aquifers in Upper Silesia (Poland) contains high concentrations of sulphate (up to 290mg/L), sometimes in excess of drinking water limits (>250mg/L). To assess the influence of different possible sulphate sources, isotopic analyses of S and O were performed on groundwater sulphate and potential sulphate sources and combined with literature data. Three dominant sources of sulphate were delineated, based on the geological and literature study and supported by the mixing relations between inverse concentration of sulphate and its isotopic compositions. These sources are: (i) sulphate from rainfall; (ii) weathering of sulphide minerals in ore deposits in the aquifer-forming carbonate rocks; (iii) dissolution of sulphate evaporites in the Triassic sequence. Fortunately these three sources have distinctive S and O isotope compositions and thus their contributions to the total dissolved sulphate could be estimated. The application of linear mixing models for three sources in the dual isotope system allowed the impact of the three different sulphate sources on particular parts of the aquifers to be calculated. The average isotopic composition of sulphate in abstracted groundwater indicates that the most important source of sulphate is sulphide weathering, contributing about 50% of total sulphate. The second most significant source of sulphate input is rainfall and it is characterised by a mean contribution of 30%. Application of Monte Carlo analysis that incorporates the full variability in distributions of isotopic compositions for the three sources and all mixing fractions between them gave the most probable ranges of the dissolved in groundwater sulphate. This analysis indicated that the proportion of sulphate derived by sulphide oxidation is comparable with the estimations based on linear models. This study has shown that the water quality of these important groundwater resources is under threat from both natural sources, i.e. metal sulphide oxidation and gypsum dissolution. Analysis of the mathematical models analysis shows that the first process is the predominant source of sulphate in groundwater. However, the highest concentrations of dissolved sulphate are positively correlated with the increasing proportion of sulphate derived from gypsum dissolution. Moreover, one should keep in mind that natural processes might be anthropogenically accelerated due to variable water demands and groundwater abstraction. Eventually, the statistically second-order source of sulphate – rainfall might contain surface-derived contaminants, and its contribution to the total load of sulphate might indirectly indicate the vulnerability of aquifers for the pollution. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Bromine concentrations in halite, sulfate isotopes (δ34S and δ18O), and major ion concentrations in primary fluid inclusions from three boreholes in the Late Permian Zechstein evaporites have revealed sharp variations in marine derived brines within the Polish sector of the European Southern Permian Basin. The base of the Older Halite (Na2), during the latest Permian, registers a change from sulfate-rich brines, similar in composition to modern evaporated seawater, to sulfate-depleted brines (calcium-rich). This change coincides with a drop in δ34S to values close to +9‰, not observed in δ18O counterparts. Opposite isotope (δ34S–δ18O) trends through the Na2 unit cannot be explained by changes in restriction conditions. We propose that the change to sulfate-depleted (calcium-rich) brines during halite deposition of the PZ2 (Stassfurt) cycle is related to the overturn of anoxic sulfidic deep-waters from the Panthalassa stratified superocean coinciding in time with the Permian–Triassic mass extinction event. The reconstruction of chemical changes in brines reveals two major evaporite sequences of increasing concentration that do not match the classic lithostratigraphic cycles. The first evaporite sequence (PZES-1) contain the evaporite units of the PZ1 (Werra) cycle, the PZ2 (Stassfurt) cycle, the Main Anhydrite (A3), and the base of the Younger Halite (Na3) of the PZ3 (Leine) cycle. The second evaporite sequence (PZES-2) is represented by almost the entire Na3 unit and the PZ4 (Aller) cycle. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The curative waters of HCO3-SO4-Mg-Na+H2S chemical type and 0.6-0.8 g/dm3 total dissolved solids are exploited in Horyniec Spa located at the northern boundary of the Carpathian Foredeep, near the Polish-Ukrainian border. Although these waters occur at relatively shallow depths (their aquifer is encountered about 30 m below the ground surface), they are quite well protected from surface pollutants by a cover of clayey sands. This paper revises and discusses the origin of specific chemical components of these waters based on the following analyses of stable isotopes: (a) δ34S in [image omitted] , H2S, and CaSO4·2H2O, (b) δ18O in [image omitted] , H2O, and CaSO4·2H2O, and (c) δ2H in H2O and CaSO4·2H2O. The most important process which takes place in the aquifer is the dissolution of gypsum present in the Miocene formation and subsequent bacterial reduction of sulphate ion to hydrogen sulphide in the presence of an organic matter. This process shifts both δ34S and δ18O of sulfate ions towards higher concentration of heavy isotopes by several per mil in comparison to that in the original Miocene gypsum. The hydrogen sulphide generated this way (up to a concentration of 45 mg/dm3) is highly depleted in a heavy isotope by about 41 ‰ with respect to a sulphate ion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the sources of in groundwater of the Olkusz–Zawiercie Major Groundwater Body. The quality of groundwater was relatively good in the past, but fluctuations of the water table level have caused degradation of water quality. Variations in the water table level and the formation of the depression cone have resulted from both groundwater withdrawal and Zn–Pb mine dewatering. As a result within the extended vadose zone of the aquifer, weathering of pyrite and accompanying sulfides has taken place. Since 1992 the water table has risen and this process has been associated with an increase in concentrations of , Ca and Mg. At the same time, the pH has decreased and periodically high Fe concentrations have been detected. High concentrations of Mg and Sr have been observed and, since gypsum layers are known to be present, a de-dolomitisation process has been hypothesized. The PHREEQC program for Windows was used to estimate saturation indices for calcite, dolomite, gypsum and epsomite. Isotopic data for dissolved in the groundwater and archival data on isotopic composition of ore sulfides were used to solve the isotope balance equation and to estimate the fraction of dissolved that originated from pyrite oxidation and gypsum dissolution. The results have shown that dissolution of pyrite oxidation products has a significant influence on chemical composition of groundwater, especially in the southern part of the cone of depression. By solving the additional, combined mass transfer and isotope balance equations it was inferred that a variation in isotopic composition of weathered sulfides must also occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The investigations were conducted in northeastern Poland near Lidzbark Warminski (54° 08" N, 20° 36" E). Five mid-field ponds situated on grasslands were chosen: four of them were dredged and deepened, and one of them remained as a natural reservoir. The aim of this paper was to assess the influence of weather conditions on the quantity and quality of water in mid-field ponds situated in agricultural areas. It was found that the quantity of water in mid-field ponds was related much more to the air temperature, which was responsible for either water evaporation or snow melting, rather than to the amount of precipitation. The reduction in the volume of water stored in the ponds during very dry years had a negative influence on its quality. During the observation period, the dredged ponds were characterized by permanent water tables, whereas the natural reservoir dried out in very dry years. Atmospheric conditions influenced the concentrations of ammonium nitrogen and calcium and chlorine ions in the studied water bodies. The volume of water retained in mid-field ponds influenced the concentrations of phosphorus and sulphates. Increased precipitation sums caused lower water pH; however in warmer periods, at increased pH and CODCr, a decrease in dissolved oxygen was noted. It was revealed that increases in precipitation sums during the year caused increases in the load of mineral nitrogen and calcium and magnesium ions in pond water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The frequency of summer flood events has strongly increased in Eastern Europe during the last decades. The creation of water storage areas to avoid flooding is often combined with the re-creation of more natural and biodiverse riverine systems. This urges the need to understand the consequences of summer inundation, when microbial activity is significantly higher than during winter inundation, for floodplain biogeochemistry. In order to test the interacting effects of temporal flooding, water quality and agricultural use we used a mesocosm design with sods including vegetation from an area along a tributary of the Vistula River, where water storage compartments have been planned. Concentrations of nitrate and sulphate in the flood water, expected to interfere with soil redox processes, were varied at environmentally relevant concentrations. Inundation led to increased nutrient mobilization in all treatments, particularly for phosphate which reached very high concentrations in both soil water (200–300 μmol l−1) and overlaying surface water (25–35 μmol l−1) as a result of iron reduction. The response was clearly linked to different soil characteristics like the Olsen P concentration, probably caused by varying kind of land use. Unexpectedly, the flood water quality played a less important role in the response to short-term flooding. This could partly be explained by the relatively low infiltration rate into these waterlogged soils, indicating the importance of local hydrology. The findings of this study are important to understand and predict the effects of (more frequent) summer flooding of Eastern European rivers. It also indicates that it is necessary to take into account the soil quality in assessing the consequences of planned measures on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the results of isotopic analyses of (i) hydrogen and oxygen in water (δ D[image omitted] and δ18O[image omitted] ) and (ii) sulphur and oxygen in sulphates (δ34Ssulphate and δ18Osulphate) from atmospheric precipitation collected within a one-year period between 25 May 2004 and 25 May 2005 in Wrocław (SW Poland). The resulting equation of Local Meteoric Water Line for Wrocław is δ D=6.373×δ18O-0.047, (r2=0.97, n=32). The δ34Ssulphate varies from 1.1 to 4.2‰ (with an average of 2.5‰), δ18Osulphate varies from 9.0 to 16.7‰ (with an average of 13.8‰) and δ18O[image omitted] varies from-0.8 to-16.3‰ (with an average of-8.2‰). The above results indicate two main sources of sulphates in Wrocław precipitation: (i) low-temperature secondary sulphates forming in situ in Wrocław from the atmospheric SO2 as well as precipitation water (heterogeneous and homogeneous pathways oxidation) and (ii) high-temperature primary sulphates forming in rapid high-temperature hydratation of SO[image omitted] in an immediate proximity of industrial chimneys. We hypothesise that the secondary low-temperature type of sulphates is probably formed from the local sulphur and oxygen reservoirs, whereas the primary high-temperature type is allochthonous and it is probably transported from industrial areas located outside of Wrocław. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Gdaėsk region urban development and intensive take off have caused an increase in water exploitation. As a consequence of the changes of hydrogeological conditions, a deterioration of chemical and bacteriological quality of water has been observed. routine bacteriological quality control does not include some specific bacteria which are characteristic for the groundwater environment and can have negative influence on the physical and chemical properties of water. among such bacteria there are sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB). In the paper frequency of SRB occurrence in raw water from Cretaceous and Quaternary formations and in treated water has been described. it has been proved that bacterial consortium isolated from groundwater show preference to sodium lactate as a main source of carbon and energy. SRB have a negative influence on organoleptic properties of water quality and the technical condition of distribution net, the water should be disinfected. It has been proved that non-reagent methods, like UV radiation and microfiltration, are effective for SRB elimination from groundwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bulk composition of organic matter and saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons extracted from 16 samples collected from two Kupferschiefer profiles in the Rudna mine, Southwest Poland has been analyzed to study the role of organic matter during base metal enrichment in the in the Kupferschiefer shale. The results indicated that the extract yields and saturated hydrocarbon yields decreased with increasing base metal contents. GC and GC/MS analyses indicated that n - alkanes and alkylated aromatic compounds were depleted and may have served as hydrogen donators for thermochemical sulfate reduction. The enrichment of base metals is closely connected with the destruction of hydrocarbons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyhalite deposits in the Zechstein (Upper Permian) of northern Poland occur in the Lower Werra Anhydrite. In the Zdrada Sulphate Platform, the polyhalite appears to be a very early replacement of anhydrite. The replacement was caused by the halite-precipitating brines which contained potassium and magnesium ions. The formation of polyhalite was preceded by the syndepositional anhydritization of the original gypsum deposit which has often preserved its primary textures. This anhydritization on the platform and its slopes was a reaction of the precipitated gypsum in a hydrologically open evaporite basin, with brines of salt basins adjacent to the sulphate platform. These brines, when nearly saturated with respect to halite, and potassium and magnesium rich, reacted with anhydrite to precipitate polyhalite along the slopes of the Zdrada Platform. The oxygen and sulphur isotopic compositions of sulphate evaporites indicate that marine solutions were the only source of sulphate ions supplied to the Zechstein basin, and that anhydrite was transformed to polyhalite by reaction with marine brines more concentrated than those that precipitated precursor calcium sulphate minerals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the study which examines the diurnal variations of sulphate concentration and sulphur isotonic composition (δ34 S) of sulphate ion within the Sulejow reservoir in Central Poland. A number of water samples from the reservoir have been collected in July 26-27, 2006 and in February 2-3, 2007. Information about the results of the study is provided.