In years 1998-2000 the pot experiment was carried out. The aim of this investigation was to determine the influence of brown coal, waste activated sludge, their mixtures and farmyard manure on the content of Cr and Ni in soil material and in the dry mass of Lolium multiflorum Krato variety. The pots were filled with loamy sand as soil material, brown coal which had low energetic value from Sieniawa and Konin mines. waste activated sludges were taken from mechanical-biological sewage purification plants located at Siedlce, Luków and Drosed (poultry processing plant) and mixed farmyard manure. In each year of experiment four cuts were harvested. The total content of Cr and Ni in soil materials and in dry mass of grass after dry combustion of samples was determinate by !CP-AES method on spectrometer Optima 3200 RL manufactured by Perkins-Elmer. The highest content of Cr and Ni was determinate in soil materials from objects fertilized with waste activated sludge from Siedlce. The average content of Cr in dry mass of grass reached 5.15 mg/kg and Ni 3.05 mg/kg.

Previous studies indicated that particle size distribution affects the composition of keratinolytic and keratinophilic fungi in sewage sludge. The present study was to determine the composition of these fungi in sludge particle size fractions (> I, 1-0.5, 0.5--0.25, 0.25--0.125, 0.125-0.063, O 063--0.032 and < 0.032 mm) in a model experiment. I n the original sludge sample and its fractions, the composition of keratinolytic and kcratinophilic fungi was determined by using the hair baiting method. The composition of actidioneresistant fungi was also determined by using the dilution method and the Wiegand medium supplemented with chloramphenicol ( I 00 mg/dm') and actidione (500 mg/dm3). The number of keratinolytic and keratinophilic fungi isolated by the hair baiting method was lower in fractions than in the original sludge sample. In contrast, fungal quantities obtained by the dilution method were higher in fractions than in the original sludge sample. Qualitative differences were also observed. The conclusion was that nutrient factors associated with sludge particle size fractions, chietly total sulfur content and C:S ratio, affected the composition of keratinolytic and keratinophilic fungi in the sludge more than the fungal propagule quantities (inocula).

In many wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) inconveniences resulting from foam formation on the surface of activated sludge wastewater treatment devices appear. Foaming phenomenon is related to the characteristics of raw sewage and applied technological parameters of activated sludge process which promote the development of specific foam-forming filamentous microorganisms. In bulking activated sludges there are about 30 species of filamentous microorganisms and in the foam not more than about 1 O species. Basic method of identification of filamentous microorganisms present in foam are microscopic investigations which can be performed both in vivo by direct observation of no stained, so called living smears, with contrast - phase device and in stained smears alter different stain methods in direct light or dark field.

Agricultural utilization of appropriately stabilized sewage sludge appears to be the most rational method of its utilization, even though there is no agreement among scientists as to the impact that these wastes can exert on the maintenance of the soil biological balance. That is why the objective of the performed field-laboratory experiments was to determine the developmental dynamics of selected groups of microorganisms in a grey-brown podzolic soil fertilized with acceptable and unacceptable doses of sewage sludge and farmyard manure. Numbers of six groups of microorganisms were determined at various dates associated with the development of spring barley (total bacterial number, number of actinomycetes, fungi, bacteria from the Azotobacter genus and Pseudomonas j/uorescens) as well as pathogenic bacteria from the Sa/111011ella genus. The selected groups of microorganisms were determined on selective media by the plate method. The obtained research results showed that, in the majority of cases, the applied levels of organic fertilization did not have a significant impact on the numbers of microorganisms in the soil. Therefore, it can be said that the application of both acceptable and unacceptable doses of sewage sludge in the form of fertilizers failed to disturb the biological balance of the examined soil. In addition, the results of the performed experiments indicated that the agricultural utilization of sewage sludge should be forestalled by a sanitation process (e.g. composting) in order to get rid of' pathogenic bacteria, especially bacteria from the Salmonella genus.

Petroleum pollution is still one or crucial environmental problems. Bioaugmcntation is a popular technique used in soil remediation. The aim of soil inoculation is acceleration or decomposition processes or improving the degradation efficiency. Effectiveness of bioaugmentation processes depends on the number and activity of microorganisms adapted to pollutant degradation. Enhancement of microorganisms' activity can be reached by the use or plants. Roots or plants excrete organic substances that stimulate microorganisms' growth. Among different species or plants interesting arc papilionaceous plants because of their nitrogen fixation ability in symbiosis with bacteria. The effects or using papilionaceous plants (Trifolium pratense), multiplied autochthonous microorganisms and commercial biopreparation in aged-petroleumpolluted soil were studied. The samples of soil were taken from the refinery in Czechowice-Dziedzice (Poland) and classified as heavily degraded with a C/N-ratio or 100:0.7. Investigations were conducted for 14 weeks. Microbiological analysis included: total bacteria, fungi, Actinomycetes and Pscudonionas counts. Concentration or heavy fractions, TPH (total petroleum hydrocarbons) and PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) were measured at the start and at the end of the experiment. Presence of pap il ionaceous plant (Trifolium pratensei enhanced the growth or microorganisms, nitrogen concentration and biodegradation processes (removal of 63% or TPH, 44% or heavy fractions, 9% or 4-6 aromatic PAHand 80% of 2-3 aromatic PAH) in polluted soil. An increasing number of Pseudomonas species was observed in samples in which pollution removal was more effective.

Four small (surface area: 0.4-2.3 ha), but relatively deep (max. depth: 6.5-7.8 111) man made reservoirs, created between 1979 and 1988 on recultivatccl waste heap of former sulphur mine in Machów (N 50°31'35": E 21°37'51")_ were studied in summer and autumn 2003. In autumn one lake - Kacze was not mixed down to the bottom, which could point to its meromixis. The other lakes were found to be dimictic. In all the lakes high values of total hardness, conductivity, chlorides, sulphides and low amounts 01· total phosphorus and nitrogen were found. Both phytoplankton and hydrornacrophyte communities were poorly developed. Considerable amounts or green-yellow bacteria were also noted in plankton The water chemistry as well as quantity and quality of plant communities reflect the chemical composition of loam soils which constitute the waste heap.