The problem of the migration of metal ions in the environment remains a current problem in light of the quality of obtained crops. The necessity of more and more frequent use of alternative sources of biogens in the form of waste substances, poses a threat of loading significant amounts of metals into the soil – including heavy metals harmful to human health and life. The article discusses a significant problem, namely the comparison of the results of the environmental impact of waste, obtained on the basis of legally authorized leaching tests (three-stage leaching test according to PN-EN 12457:2006), with results obtained from sequential chemical extraction (performed in 4-step chemical extraction developed and recommended in European Union countries by Communities Bureau of References – BCR). The study covered an investigation of industry fly ash from the combustion of lignite, in which Cu, Zn, Cd, Ni, Pb, Cr, Na, K, Li concentrations and loads were calculated. A mobility of analyzed elements was established on this basis. From heavy metals, the highest values in fraction I were noted for nickel and copper and zinc as well as nickel were noted for fraction IV . Peaking values of electrolytic conductivity in eluates was created by high concentrations of macroelements (Na and K). These tests confirm that the leaching tests used for their application in the natural environment indicate such concentrations at the highest levels that can be obtained at the first or second stage of sequential chemical extraction, and thus their proper full environmental impact is not known.

Asbestos cement sheets on building roofs and façades as well as asbestos cement water and sewerage pipes are the most frequently existing elements that contain asbestos in Poland. During removal from a specific building such a material automatically becomes hazardous waste. The presented paper covers studies carried out on leachability of pollutants from asbestos-containing waste, previously used for roofing. Laboratory tests under static conditions were carried out (1:10 test, pursuant to rules of the PN-EN 12457/1-4 standard) using distilled water as the leaching medium. Aluminium, boron, barium, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, nickel, lead, strontium, zinc, and mercury were determined in the eluate. Low leachability of individual metals under the planned conditions was observed. In general, such metals as cadmium, nickel, lead, zinc, boron and mercury were not observed in solutions. The other analysed metals were observed in eluates, but their concentrations were usually low. The low leachability was found for barium (0.019 to 0.419 mg/dm3), chromium (0.019 to 0.095 mg/dm3), copper (0.006 to 0.019 mg/dm3), and iron (<0.01 to 0.017 mg/dm3). Increased leachability values were found only for strontium, between 0.267 and 4.530 mg/dm3, and aluminium, ranging from 0.603 to 3.270 mg/dm3. The analysed asbestos and cement materials feature a low percentage content of asbestos in flat and corrugated asbestos cement sheets (10–15%). Because of that it is possible to presume that pollutants characteristic of cement will be mainly present in products of leaching.

Sludge from cardboard mill is most commonly landfilled, but it could also be recycled on-site into production or reused in some other way. In this study the use of sludge from cardboard mill as stabilizing agent in the stabilization treatment of cadmium polluted sediment was examined. The effectiveness of treatment and long-term leaching behavior of cadmium was evaluated by determining the cumulative percentage of cadmium leached, diffusion coefficients (De) and by applying different leaching tests (semi-dynamic test, toxicity characteristic leaching procedure, waste extraction test). In order to simulate the “worst case” leaching conditions, the semi-dynamic leaching test was modified using 0.014 M acetic acid (pH = 3.25) and humic acids solution (20 mg l-1 TOC) as leachants instead of deionized water. A diffusion-based model was used to elucidate the controlling leaching mechanisms. Applied treatment was effective in immobilizing cadmium irrespective of high availability in the untreated sample. The controlling leaching mechanism appeared to be diffusion, which indicates that a slow leaching of cadmium could be expected when the cardboard mill sludge as stabilization agent is applied.