The presents paper determination of 16 PAHs in collected samples of soil or plants and investigation of sorption process dynamics. The investigation included plants growing on shoulder of road and on cultivated field. As accumulations of quality of environment cabbage, parsley, carrot, cucumber, dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), plantain (Plantago major) and colfsfoot (Tussilago farfara) were used. The samples were collected at a defined distance to the main road E8 (Moscow - Berlin), near Siedlce. A total PAHs concentration in soil and cabbage samples collected in the distance 5 m to the road was 1.5 I μg/kg (total carcinogenic PAHs = 556.03 ng/kg) and 358.90 ng/kg (total carcinogenic = I 01.17 ng/kg) respectively. On the other hand, total PAHs in samples collected in 15 m distance to the road was 136.46 ng/kg for soil (total carcinogenic = 27.30 ng/kg) and 87.20 ng/kg for cabbage (total carcinogenic= 12.17 ng/kg).

Water supply of Riga City uses water from the river Daugava, lakes Baltezers as well as deep well groundwater as drinking water. Due to chlorination of drinking water before use, inhabitants health may be at risk due to trihalornethanes and some organic pollutants. The objective of this study was to determine the level of pollution of drinking water and possible health risk. Pollutants were determined with previous solid phase microextraction (on fibre coated with polidirnethylsilox ane) or pentane extraction of chemical substances by use of gas chromatography and for benzo(a)pyrene by spectrofluorimetry The summary concentration of thrihalornethanes (bromoform, chloroform, bromodichlorornethane, dibromochloromethane) ranged from 3.4 ug/drn' to 304.4 etg/dm3 (maximum allowable concentration - MAC 100 μg/dm-' according to water standards in Latvia), summary lrichloroethene and tetrachloroethene occurred in the concentration from I .O ug/drn' to 13.4 ug/dm' (MAC = I O ug/drri') The level of aromatic hydrocarbons benzene and toluene was below 0.2 ug/drrr' (MAC = I μg/dm'). The concentration of benzo(a)pyrenc was below 0.002 ug/drrr' (MAC= O.Ol ug/drrr'). Fluctuations of concentration were found to depend on the season and place of sampling. The results confirmed an occurrence of risk due lo the impact of trihalomethanes to health. Therefore, water ozonation has been planed to replace chlorination with ozonation in Riga City.

The aim of the present study was to determine the content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in relation to the intensity and type of soil management. Two types of soil were selected for the present studies, i.e.: Haplic Phaeozem developed from loess and Eutric Fluvisol originating from silty formations. Five objects were chosen in cach of the soils included in the present study, i.e.: apple orchards, hop gardens, arabic fields, grassland and natural forest ecosystems. Samples were collected from the depth of 0-1 O, I 0- 20 and below 35 cm. In the study material obtained, the content of 16 PAHs was determined by means of the HPLC-UV method. The content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons clearly depended both on the soil type and soil management method. Only in the case of two objects (hop garden and grassland plot) both the Haplic Phaeozem and the Eutric Fluvisol were characterized by the highest PAH content. The influence of soil management method on both the PAH sum and the content of individual compounds was more clearly marked in the Haplic Phaeozem than in the Eutric Fluvisol. PAH migration deeper into the soil profile similarly to their content depended on the soil type and soil management method. However, both in the Eutric Fluvisol and in the Haplic Phaeozem, an increase in naphthalene share was observed with a decrease in depth. Nevertheless, the effect of pollutant leaching deeper into the soil profile was more clearly marked in the case of Eutric Fluvisol.

The Timok River (202 km long, 4547 km2 basin area) is located in East Serbia. It is a right tributary of the Danube River and one of the most polluted watercourses in Serbia. On the basis of the data provided by the Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia, the paper presents an analysis of water quality and pollution using the combined physico-chemical WPI index (Water Pollution Index) calculated for two periods - 1993-96 and 2006-2009 at four hydrological stations: Zaječar-Gamzigrad (Crni Timok River), Zaječar (Beli Timok River), Rgotina (Borska Reka River) and Čokonjar (Timok River). The following parameters were taken into consideration: dissolved O2, O2 saturation, pH, suspended sediments, Five Day Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5), Chemical Oxygen Demand (CODMn), nitrites, nitrates, orthophosphates, ammonium, metals (Cu, Fe, Mn, Hg, Ni, Zn, Cd), sulphates and coliform germs. The average WPI values were calculated for the observed periods based on the comparison of the annual average values of the listed parameters and defined standard values for the I water quality class (according to the Regulation on the Hygienic Acceptability of Potable Water of the Republic of Serbia). The highest pollution degree was recorded in the Borska Reka River, where heavy metal levels (especially manganese and iron) were significantly increased. These metals are indicators of inorganic pollution (primarily caused by copper mining). Also, increased values of the organic pollution indicators (ammonium, coliform germs, Five-Day Biological Oxygen Demand - BOD5) in the Borska Reka and the Timok rivers are the result of uncontrolled domestic wastewater discharge.

The objective of the experiment was to evaluate the energy efficiency of the phytoremediation process, supported using energy crops. The scope of conducted work includes the preparation of a field experiment. During the evaluation, 2 factors were into consideration – total energy demand and total energy benefit. The case study, used as an origin of data, consists a 3-years field study, conducted with the use of 2 energy crops – Phalaris arundinacea L. and Brassica napus L. The area subjected to the experiment was polluted with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and herbicides, classified as phenoxy acids (2, 4 D). The experimental design consisted of 4 groups of fields, divided according to the used plant species and type of treatment. For each energy crop, 2 types of fertilization strategies were used. Therefore the 1st and 3rd sets of fields were not treated with any soil amendment while the 2nd and 4th sets were fertilized with compost. The obtained data allowed to observe that the cultivation of P. arundinacea L. and B. napus L. allowed a positive energy balance of the process to be achieved. However, it should be noted, that the B. napus L. growth in the first vegetation season was not sufficient to fully compensate a total energy demand. Such a goal, in the mentioned case, was possible after the 2nd vegetation season. The collected results show also that the best energetic potential combined with the most effective soil remediation were obtained on the fields with the cultivation of P. arundinacea L. fertilized with compost. The number of biofuels, collected from the 1 ha of such fields, can reach a value equal even to12.76 Mg of coal equivalent.

In the present paper changes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) content were evaluated during composting of sewage sludge stabilized with coal fly ash. The content of PAHs in sewage sludge used for composting was I 0385 μg/kg (±830). In fly ash only three PAHs were determined (phenanthrene - 0.9 μg/kg, anthraccnc - 1.9 μg/kg and chrysenc - 2.7 μg/kg). Addition of fly ash to composted sewagesludge had various - dependent on its share - effect on PAHs mineralization. Relatively best degradation (66.3%) was noted when sewage sludge was mixed with fly ash in amount 20% (w/w). In composted sewage sludge and sludge with 30% addition of fly ash a decrease of PAH content was also observed (38 and 32.4% respectively). Relatively "best" mineralization was noted for 3-ring PAHs. Estimated half-lives of all investigated compounds depended on individual PAHs properties and ranged from 59 to 1164 days.

The paper presents the results of laboratory tests concerning the possibility of utilizing activated carbons produced in Poland, as well as of non-conventional adsorbents, such as modified Clarion clay and clinoptylolite, for removing methylene blue from water. The objective of tests carried out was a quantitative formulation of the adsorption process, as well as the determination of the effects of various factors on its course. The attempt was taken to solve the tasks defined in the objective of the study using model experimental systems. The methylene blue solution in concentration 20 mg/dm', prepared on the basis of distilled water, was used as adsorbate. Adsorption processes, conducted in batch mode (in no-flow conditions), were best described by the Freundlich isotherms. On the basis of the isotherms the adsorptive capacity of tested adsorbents was calculated. The throughflow conditions were realized by a columnar filtration method. On the basis of obtained results the breakthrough curves (isoplanes) were plotted. The adsorptive capacities, determined on the basis of isoplanes reached 27--41 mg/g, 14.89 mg/g and 5.54 mg/g for activated carbons, modified Clarion clay and clinoptylolite, respectively. Exit curves (isoplanes) served for defining the mass transfer zone (the adsorption front height), a., well as for calculating the mass-exchange-zone moving rate. Despite their inferior adsorptive characteristics the modified Clarion clay and clinoptylolite may be taken into account as shielding materials in relation to activated carbons.