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Microplastics in coastal sediments of Ełckie Lake (Poland)

Rogowska Weronika, Skorbiłowicz Elżbieta, Skorbiłowicz Mirosław, Trybułowski Łukasz

Studia Quaternaria

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2021

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Vol. 38, Nr 2

109--116

EN

Plastics are materials with many properties that make them extremely popular in everyday life and various industries. Studies show that plastic debris is global pollution and widespread in virtually all ecosystems. This study aimed to assess the coastal sediments of Ełckie Lake in terms of the presence of microplastics. Samples of sediments (n = 37) from the coastal zone of Ełckie Lake were drawn from different areas, including urban, rural, and tourist locations, and beaches. After the coastal sediment samples taking, they were subjected to density separation, filtration, and visual evaluation using the Olympus BX63 fluorescent microscope. Particles were classified according to the category of visible characteristics of microplastics including size, shape and colour. The results of the study showed the presence of microplastics in 84% of the examined coastal sediment samples of Ełckie Lake. Fibres, flakes, granules, and foils (films) had found in 58%, 45%, 32%, and 13% of the samples that contained microplastic, respectively. The majority of the detected microplastic was 0.5–1 mm in size and black was the dominant colour. Spatial variability was perceived in microplastic concentrations, giving premises to the assumption of dependence between local human activity and the content of particles.

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Distribution of Nickel, Copper and Cobalt in the Grain Fractions of Bottom Sediments of the Sokołda River and its Tributaries (Poland)

Skorbiłowicz Elżbieta, Skorbiłowicz Mirosław, Misztal Wojciech

Journal of Ecological Engineering

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2020

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Vol. 21, nr 1

89--97

EN

In recent years, the interest in the occurrence of heavy metals in the natural environment has been observed. The heavy metal contamination can lead to serious environmental problems. The aim of the study was to estimate the total content of heavy metals: Ni, Cu and Co, in the surface layer of the bottom sediments of the Sokołda river and its tributaries, and to determine the relationship between the grain size and scope of their metal content. Determination of metals in the bottom sediment samples was performed by means of atomic absorption spectrometry (ASA). The research on the Sokołda river and its tributaries showed low levels of Ni, Cu and Co. It was proven that the majority of studied metals were contained in the smallest clay fraction <0.02 mm. On the other hand, the least studied metals were accumulated in 1.0–0.2 mm and 0.2–0.1 mm fractions. The 1.0–0.2 mm and 0.2–0.1 mm fractions contain around 80% of the tested metal forms, while the 0.02–0.063 mm and <0.02 mm fractions – only a few percent. This speaks for the determination of metals in the 1.0–0.1 mm fraction, that contains both coarser and clay fractions, and thus most reliably reflects the actual load of pollutants carried by the sediment. Studies have shown that the main sources of pollution in the Sokołda river catchment are primarily surface runoff, and to a lesser extent, wastewater (municipal and industrial).

3

Content of Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium and Potassium in the Street Dust from the Area of Białystok (Poland)

Skorbiłowicz Mirosław, Skorbiłowicz Elżbieta

Journal of Ecological Engineering

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2019

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Vol. 20, nr 10

125--131

EN

The aim of the study was to assess the content of Ca, Mg, Na and K in the road dust collected in Białystok from various environments (roads with high traffic intensity, housing estate roads, roads located near parks and green areas), in order to determine the impact of the road transport on the spatial differentiation of the content of the tested components in street dust and identify their main sources. In total, the samples from 69 points were analyzed, which were taken in spring 2018 (late April and May) during the dry weather. The content of Ca, Mg, Na and K was determined by means of atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The average contents of the tested elements in the dust from all measuring points were in the following order: Ca (23.53%) > Mg (2.38) > Na (1.16) > K (0.25). This shows that Ca is the most numerous element in the tested dusts. Studies have not shown a significant impact of vehicle traffic, in particular the so-called non-exhaust sources related to this traffic on the content of main elements in the Białystok road dusts. The analyses have indicated that the main source of Ca and Mg in the Białystok road dust constitute the structural elements of roads, bridges and structures, in which building cement and its derivatives are the main component.