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Hourly ground-level ozone (O 3) data from 52 monitoring stations in Poland were analyzed over a ten-year pre-COVID19 period (2010–2019) to map and define areas at risk for human health and vegetation, and to calculate trends over the study period. Annual O 3 metrics (24-h average concentrations, 50th percentiles, and hourly maxima), human health metrics (Sum Of daily maximum 8-h Means Over 35 ppb, SOMO35, summertime average of the daily 8-h maximum O 3 concentrations, O 3 MDA8, and number of daily maximum 8-h values above 60 ppb, EU60) and vegetation exposure metrics (AOT40, i.e., accumulation of hourly O 3 concentrations exceeding 40 ppb during the growing season for agricultural crops AOT40c and forests AOT40f) were investigated. Higher O 3 levels occurred in rural areas than in cities. Between 2010 and 2019, the O 3 levels were rising in both urban and rural areas. Despite the reduction of nitrogen oxides (NO x : - 2.33% year-1) and volatile organic compounds emissions (VOCs: - 0.95% year-1), annual O 3 mean levels (+0.81 and +0.12% year-1), 50th percentiles (+1.06 and ∼0% year-1), hourly maxima (- 0.10 and +0.23% year-1), SOMO35 (+2.86 and +1.50% year-1), summertime O 3 MDA8 (+0.49 and +0.48% year-1), EU60 (+0.09 and +0.15 days year-1), AOT40c (+3.79 and +3.29% year-1) and AOT40f (+4.47 and +4.34% year-1) commonly increased in urban and rural stations. The O 3 levels increased at 75.0% of urban stations and 62.5% of rural stations. A slight decline of the number of O 3 peaks occurred in cities, likely driven by the recent reductions in NO x emissions by on-road transport. For all metrics, the increase can be attributed to higher regional photochemical O 3 formation and rising background O 3 levels likely driven by imported O 3 and its precursors by long-range transport, climate change, and lower O 3 titration by NO x emissions decline. The failure to attain the target value for O 3 for protecting vegetation and human health and vegetation persists. Southeastern Poland, where coal stoves are still used for residential heating, faces the highest O 3 risk. This study reports new information on surface O 3 levels, exceedances, and trends in Poland to develop effective policies to mitigate O 3 effects. [Display omitted] • We calculated human health and vegetation exposure O 3 metrics for Poland. • We calculated short-term trends for O 3 metrics over the pre-COVID19 period (2010–2019). • We used an interpolation approach to map O 3 exposure for risk assessment. • We found that the O3 baseline level is rising in both urban and rural areas. • We discussed spatial distribution of levels and changes in O 3 levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we conducted a risk assessment of urban population exposure to ambient particles (PM 2.5 , PM 10), nitrogen dioxides (NO 2), and tropospheric ozone (O 3) in six Polish urban areas over the period 2015–2020. The main goals were to: i) evaluate the number of premature deaths attributed to ambient air pollutants, and to ii) assess the effectiveness of emissions control policies in reducing urban population exposure to air pollution, and thus related health effects. For that, we used air quality data from 15 urban monitoring stations and city-specific health data (relative risk values and baseline incidence). For all cities, the annual PM 2.5 , PM 10 , and NO 2 mean concentrations exceeded the 2021 World Health Organization Air Quality Guidelines in 2015–2020. In all cities, the annual PM 2.5 (- 0.5% to - 6.1% year−1), PM 10 (- 1.6 to - 8.1% year−1), and NO 2 (- 1.3% to - 4.5% year−1) mean concentrations declined over time, while O 3 levels rose (+1.0% to + 4.2% year−1). Exposure to ambient PM 2.5 , PM 10 , NO 2 , and O 3 has substantially contributed to mortality in the six studied cities: a total of 6700 deaths for non-accidental causes, 2310 deaths for cardiovascular diseases, and 500 deaths for respiratory diseases were reported. Between 2015 and 2020, the number of annual PM 2.5 -, PM 10 -, and NO 2 -related premature deaths decreased (respectively, by - 8.4, - 6.7, and - 2.1 deaths per 106 inhabitants) in line with cleaner air. The rising O 3 levels led to an increase in annual O 3 -related premature deaths (+1.3 deaths per 106 inhabitants) over time. A major concern is related to the overrun of exposure metrics compared to the target values for human health. To date, human health is mainly threatened by PM 2.5 and O 3 , particularly in Southern Poland. • Risk assessment of urban population exposure to main air pollutants in Poland in 2015–2020. • PM 2.5 , PM 10 , and NO 2 mean concentrations declined while O 3 levels rose. • About 6700 premature deaths are attributed to air pollution in 2015–2020. • PM 2.5 -, PM 10 -, and NO 2 -related deaths declined: 8.4, - 6.7, - 2.1 deaths per 106 people. • Rising annual O 3 -related number of premature deaths: +1.3 deaths per 106 people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Rare earth element (REE) and yttrium (Y) content in soil and dandelion was analysed. • The research was carried out at 10 research sites in 3 cities from Poland. • Nine land use types and six landscape metrics were analysed. • Economic and spatial conditions of city were important for the REE and Y content. • REE and Y content in leaves in urban areas depended on landscape pattern. The rapid development leads to changes in the environment, including increasing pollution and changes in the landscape. The aim of the research was to analyse the content of rare earth elements (REEs) and yttrium (Y) in soil and Taraxacum officinale in various representative cities for Europe (in term of size and population), as well as to evaluate their content in relation to the specific economic and spatial conditions (land use) and landscape pattern. The research was conducted in three cities from Poland: Poznań (big city), Ostrów Wielkopolski (medium city) and Słupca (small city). Descriptive statistics and Spearman correlation were performed to identify the relationship between REE and Y content and land use, as well as landscape pattern. The investigation revealed that the average content of REEs and Y in soil was the highest in Poznań, while in dandelion roots and leaves in Ostrów Wielkopolski. In Słupca, the content of the analysed elements in the soil was at an average level and mostly at the lowest in the roots and leaves of dandelion. The REE and Y content were more associated with the specific economic and spatial conditions of cites and land use than its size or population. The relationship between landscape metrics and analysed elements were more pronounced for dandelion leaves than for roots or soil. However, two landscape metrics – largest patch index and Shannon's diversity index implied that landscape diversity might contribute to reduction of REE and Y content in the environment. The new approach for REE and Y accumulation in the environment in relation to land use and landscape pattern, as well as in different sizes of cities, give the possibility to broader applications in urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]