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The article presents the measurement results of the concentration of dust PM10 and PM2.5 as well as SO2, NO, NO2 and NOx based on a mobile laboratory located on the campus of the Silesian University of Technology (Poland, Gliwice, Konarskiego 20B, 50.292934N, 18.682164E), in the so-called “winter period” in 2020 (from 01/01/2020 to 31/03/2020 and from 01/10/2020 to 31/12/2020). The obtained results were used to carry out a synthetic (aggregated) assessment of the threat to the anthropogenic environment, the so-called “objects”, i.e. days on which the measurements were made, interpreted as points in the multidimensional space with coordinates corresponding to the measurement results of the concentration of dust pollutants: PM10 and PM2.5 and gaseous pollutants: SO2, NO, NO2 and NOx. The determined synthetic values additionally allowed for ordering (creating rankings) of the examined “objects” in terms of air quality. For the calculations, the Simple Additive Weighting method (SAW) was used, which belongs to the group of single-criteria synthesis methods.

Dendrogram (DE), heat map (HM) and principal component analysis (PCA) methods were used in order to identify possible emission sources of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb and Se in ambient PM10 collected in the surroundings of working power plants. Each statistical tool resulted in slightly different clusters. The best approximation of possible emission sources was received by the use of statistical analysis of trace-element concentrations combined with characterization of the sampling sites. In the study, PCA was indicated as the most useful statistical tool for source apportionment of trace elements in PM10. Major sources identified by PCA included: (1) coal combustion, (2) soil and road-dust resuspension, (3) the use of pesticides and (4) waste incineration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis reported in this study was performed to characterize the concentrations and water-soluble content of trace elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb and Se) in PM2.5, PM10 and PM2.5-10 samples collected in the surroundings of power plants in southern Poland. The solubility of trace elements bound to PM2.5 and PM10 was higher than for PM2.5-10, and in most cases, significant differences were revealed in the relative percentage concentrations of the water-soluble fractions. The occurrence of Cd, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb and Se in first PCA (Principal Component Analysis) factor (PC1) – indicate coal combustion processes as the potential source of these elements. Other factors indicate two further anthropogenic sources: the resuspension of road dust due to vehicular activities and waste burning in domestic sources – factor (PC2), and, soil dust sources affected by fugitive dust from the mining processes and unpaved roads, as well as transportation and deposition of coal –factor (PC3).

Children’s exposure to air pollutants is an important public health challenge. Indoor air quality (IAQ) in nursery school is believed to be different from elementary school. Moreover, younger children are more vulnerable to air pollution than higher grade children because they spend more time indoors, and their immune systems and bodies are less mature. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the indoor air quality (IAQ) at naturally ventilated rural nursery schools located in Upper Silesia, Poland. We investigated the concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter (PM), bacterial and fungal bioaerosols, as well as carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in younger and older children's classrooms during the winter and spring seasons. The concentration of the investigated pollutants in indoor environments was higher than those in outdoor air. The results indicate the problem of elevated concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 inside the examined classrooms, as well as that of high levels of CO2 exceeding 1,000 ppm in relation to outdoor air. The characteristics of PM and CO2 levels were significantly different, both in terms of classroom occupation (younger or older children) and of season (winter or spring).

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Indoor air quality in nursery schools is an emerging public health challenge. Particular attention should be paid to younger children because they are more vulnerable to air pollution than older children. Here we present PM10 concentrations and trace element composition in naturally ventilated nursery schools located in Gliwice, Poland. The results indicate there is a problem with elevated PM10 concentrations inside the examined classrooms. The exposure of children to trace elements varied in terms of localisation and season. PM10 concentration and its trace element composition have been studied using correlation coefficients between the different trace elements, the enrichment factor (EF) and principal component analysis (PCA). PCA allowed for the identification of the three possible sources, namely: anthropogenic combustion emissions (31.1%), soil dust contaminated by sewage sludge dumping (19.9%) and mixed soil emissions (24.0%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to assess the penetration of individual trace elements into the air through their release in the coal coking process, it is necessary to determine the loss of these elements by comparing their contents in the charge coal and in coke obtained. The present research covered four coke oven batteries differing in age, technology, and technical equipment. By using mercury analyzer MA-2 and the method of ICP MS As, Be, Cd, Co, Hg, Mn, Ni, Se, Sr, Tl, V, and Zn were determined in samples of charge coal and yielded coke. Basing on the analyses results, the release coefficients of selected elements were determined. Their values ranged from 0.5 to 94%. High volatility of cadmium, mercury, and thallium was confirmed. The tests have shown that although the results refer to the selected case studies, it may be concluded that the air purity is affected by controlled emission occurring when coke oven batteries are fired by crude coke oven gas. Fugitive emission of the trace elements investigated, occurring due to coke oven leaks and openings, is small and, is not a real threat to the environment except mercury.

Background: The issue of occupational exposure to ozone in workers using photocopiers or printers is not frequently addressed in the Polish medical literature. Eye irritation and disorders of upper respiratory system, fatigue and its consequences (headache, malaise, concentration disorders) are the most frequently described health problems., Material and Methods: Ozone concentrations in particular offices were measured to assess potential health effects of occupational exposure., Results and Conclusions: The obtained results indicate a very low level of ozone concentration in the studied offices (0.012-0.035 mg/m3) hence it can be suggested that the occupational exposure to ozone in those premises is not hazardous to workers. Our own data are close to the observations made by others authors.