The study compares the potential mineralisation rates of nitrogen organic compounds in mineral-muck soils after soil incubation under aerobic and anaerobic conditions and investigates relationships between the mineralisation rate o nitrogen organic compounds in the soil and its organic mass and iron content. The N-NO₃ increase after soil incubation under aerobic conditions was 24 to 102% greater than the N-NH₄ increase after anaerobic incubation except for the soil with a high level of oxidised iron compounds, in which the increase in N-NO₃ was 12% lower than in N-NH₄. The mineralisation rate of nitrogen organic compounds depended on the organic mass content of the muck and on the water conditions of the sites.

The study assesses the applicability of genotoxity tests to the detection of harmful metabolites of organic compounds present in carbon columns. The research was based on two water treatment plants. Genotoxicity was tested using the SOS Chromotest Kit. Laboratory tests were performed on dimethylsulfooxide (DMSO) extracts obtained from granular activated carbon (GAC). The SOS Chromotest (genotoxity test) proved to be very useful in monitoring harmful metabolites of organic compounds adsorbed on GAC. The values of the induction factor after the addition of pesticides exceeded 1.5, which indicated the presence of weakly genotoxic compounds in water.

The levels of sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were determined in samples of underground waters from piezometers located around the municipal waste dump “Swojczyce” in Wrocław. Water for analyses was sampled in June, September and December 2001. It was found that the levels of PAH in waters flowing out of the dump were even several times higher than in waters flowing into the dump. The most abundant PAH were tricyclic hydrocarbons which have no immediate carcinogenic effect. According to Bąbelek’s classification the underground waters leaving the dump can be considered as waters not polluted with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

The growing requirements of environmental protection make it necessary to assess the contamination of soils affected by waste sites causing nuisance to the environment. Studies carried out in the immediate vicinity of an oil industry waste site in Jasło-Niegłowice in the Podkarpacie province revealed that the soils had an alkaline reaction, a high concentration of organic carbon and low levels of nitrogen, nitrates and chlorides. The accumulation of the elements studies was not high: the permissible limits were exceeded the most for zinc, nickel and cadmium. Elevated levels of Cr, Pb, Cd, Co, Zn, Cu, Fe and As were found in the arable layer, and of Ni – in the sub-arable layer. The microbiological condition of the agricultural topsoil around the waste site can be considered safe from the sanitary point of view.

The research was aimed to determine the chromium content of various types of cement and a selected type of sand and to define the extent to which chromium is washed from these materials and from hardened cement-soils. Samples of cement-soils with different cement contents were investigated both in an undisturbed and a crushed state (to simulate a worn foundation). It was found that the chromium content of sand was low (about 15 mg . kg-1) and the various cements contained similar amounts of the metal (50–60 mg . kg-1). Chromium was washed from the cements to a similar degree – its concentration in eluats was 20–25 mg . dm-3. The concentration of chromium in the eluats from cement-soils approximated 1.0 mg . dm-3 and was slightly higher for crushed samples than for undisturbed samples. The total chromium content of cements was within the permissible levels of chemical contaminants in the soil. The concentration of chromium in the eluats from cement-soils was higher than its permissible concentration in sewage discharged to the ground.

Small water reservoirs fulfil important functions both in the landscape and the water management of Slovakia. They contribute to the water supply in the areas with an inadequate hydrological network and insufficient groundwater resources. The paper presents the results of the typology of Slovak small water reservoirs made in accordance with the EU Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), and discusses the significance of riparian areas to the quality of water gathered in a reservoir. In Slovakia such areas have often been used for agricultural purposes up to the shore line. Employing a mathematical model we developed a design for creating or modifying a protective vegetation belt around a small water reservoir and applied it to the reservoir Doľany. The model is based on the assessment of ecological stability in individual microbasins adjacent to the reservoir.

An attempt was made to predict the amount of silting in small water reservoirs in the case of a lack of hydrological data. The current silting volume of the Cierpisz, Głuchów and Brzóza Stadnicka reservoirs was measured and a forecast was prepared using Gončarov’s method. Since the silting volume of the reservoirs for the first year of operation was not known during the computations, it was calculated as a product of sediment trap efficiency and average annual sediment transport. The trap efficiency of the reservoirs was determined from Brune’s chart and the amount of the incoming suspended load was computed using the DR-USLE method. The forecasted lifetime of the reservoir in Cierpisz is 90 years, in Głuchów – 62 years, and in Brzóza Stadnicka – 19 years.

The study attempts to assess drainage efficiency based on the time which is needed to reach the minimum dehydration standard. Investigations were conducted during the hydrological years 2000–2002 within an experimental object located in the Central Sudetes on drained arable soils. The level of groundwater was measured in selected pipe drainage sections with a normative or enlarged spacing. An analysis of the results showed that pipe drainage efficiently decreased the groundwater level in the period preceding spring field work, even in wet years, for both the normative and enlarged spacing.

Experimental studies were performed during 1999–2002 in Jastków near Lublin on a slope with a 14% inclination, on loess. Mineral wool at a rate of 40 Mg ^. ha^-1 was introduced into the soil profile on a plot 144 m² in area. Measurements of soil humidity, physico-chemical properties of soil and yields of plants demonstrated that mineral wool did not increase the main yields or improve the physical properties of soil. The water content of soil on the plot with mineral wool did not differ from that in the control variant, which indicates that this material is ineffective in increasing water reserves in heavy soils.

The paper presents the results of research on selected parameters characterising the quality of surface and ground waters in a small densely wooded lowland catchment. The catchment is situated in the central part of the Wielkopolska region, about 20 km to the northeast of Poznań (in the Zielonka Forest Complex). In the hydrological years 1998–2002, the nitrate content of water in the Hutka watercourse (surface water) was on the level corresponding with water purity class I while the concentrations of phosphates, dissolved oxygen and nitrites corresponded with class II or III (according to Polish standards). Highly concentrated nutrients were the main pollutants of groundwater in the catchment.

Research on the nitrogen content of water in a midfield pond, carried out during 1994–2003 in the area of the Experimental Station “Mokronosy” (Gniezno Lakeland), included measurements of the concentrations of nitrates, nitrites and ammonium ions in water. Considering the values of those parameters, the pond water belonged to the first purity class for most of the study period. During ten years of research, the concentrations of nitrates and nitrites showed a weak decreasing trend and those of ammonium ions remained steady. Greater concentrations of NO₃^- and NO₂^- occurred only at the time of drainage water inflows to the pond. The parameters studied exhibited seasonal variation. The concentration of nitrates and nitrites was higher in winter and spring months, whereas that of ammonium ions – during summer periods. The results show that the quality of water is not threatened with the analysed forms of nitrogen.

The condensation of water vapour on the internal surface of the walls of a wooden church at Dębno Podhalańskie was studied using a computer program designed by the authors of the paper. Calculations were based on real external and internal thermal-and-humidity conditions. It was found that vapour condensation occurs most often in winter and is usually caused by large groups of people gathering in the church. That phenomenon is much more frequent in the corners of the church where it also lasts longer than in other places on the wall surface. Reducing the relative humidity only by about 5%, while keeping other mocroclimate parameters unchanged, would reduce the time of condensation in the corner by about 40%, and on the remaining surface by about 20%.

The structure of wind in the air layer near the ground within an industrial poultry farm was investigated in order to assess the natural ventilation of the space between hen houses, contributing to the aerosanitary state of the farm. During windy weather, the air movement between hen houses was along the corridors formed by the buildings regardless of the direction of wind at a height of 8.5 m. Under calm conditions, the air in the near-ground layer moved perpendicularly to the long axis of the buildings, causing the polluted air to flow from one hen house to another. It is recommended that the hen houses of an industrial poultry farm should be located according to the directions of prevailing winds. The aerosanitary conditions of such a farm can be improved by properly developing its area or by changing the system of ventilation.

The study investigated interrelations between the availability of ecological and communal infrastructure and the social and economic functions of rural areas based on 171 self-governmental units (rural and urban districts) of the Małopolska povince. The data were obtained from the publications of the Cracow Bureau for Statistics. The districts were classified into types according to function and then the variables characterising the functional types and the variables describing the ecological and communal infrastructure of districts were subjected to covariance analysis. The results can by used by local governments as a basis for the rational planning of investments in ecological infrastructure.

The Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) is calculated using the records on precipitation and temperature from the Klementinum Meteorological Observatory in Prague for the period 1805–2000 (196 years) to examine trends in the occurrence of drought periods in Central Europe. The results show that the conditions of the study area differ little from the conditions of the region in the USA for which PDSI was originally created. The index that has been used since 1965 proved to retain its applicability.