Urban forest species selection for improvement of ecological benefits in Polish cities - The actual and forecast potential.

Trees in cities perform important environmental functions: they produce oxygen, filter pollutants, provide habitat for wildlife, mitigate stormwater runoff, and reduce the effects of climate change, especially in terms of lowering temperatures and converting carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into stored carbon. Generally, to increase the environmental benefits of urban forests, the number of trees is increased, directly influencing the canopy coverage. However, little is known about potential of modifying the species composition of urban tree communities in order to increase ecological benefits. Planting and managing trees to increase canopy is particularly challenging in city centres, where the dense, often historic infrastructure of buildings and roads do not allow for a significant increase in greenspace. Estimations of canopy cover obtained through i-Tree Canopy analysis unveiled significant potential to increase canopy cover in historical urban areas in Polish cities from 15-34% to 31-51%. This study models the ecological benefits of urban forests in Polish cities, focusing on how different species compositions can enhance environmental functions such as carbon sequestration and pollution filtration. Two main scenarios were analyzed: one involving the addition of trees based on the most common species currently planted ("standard option" SO), and another incorporating changes to the species composition to enhance ecological benefits ("city specific option" SCO). Acer platanoides (14.5%) and Tilia cordata (11.45%) were the most frequently species of Polish cities. Betula pendula, Quercus robur, Robinia pseudoacacia, Fraxinus excelsior, Acer pseudoplatanus, Aesculus hippocastanum and Acer campestre were also common species in urban forest communities (up to 5%). The diverse range of tree species in Polish cities contributes significantly to the overall carbon sequestration potential. The results suggest that modifying species composition could significantly increase carbon sequestration rates by 47.8%-114% annually, with the city specific option (SCO) being the most effective in enhancing carbon sequestration potential. This highlights the importance of strategic species selection in urban forestry practices to maximize environmental benefits and mitigate climate change effects.

Efficiency assessment of municipal landfill leachate treatment during advanced oxidation process (AOP) with biochar adsorption (BC).

Leachate generated in landfills are characterized by high toxicity related to, high concentrations of organic and non-organic pollutants, therefore, it is advisable to use highly effective methods of their purification to prevent environmental contamination. The aim of this study was to determine the treatment efficiency of landfill leachate during the application of integrated processes: advanced oxidation (AOP) and biochar adsorption (BC). In the case of the AOP, the chemical process was the Fenton reaction in which the source of hydroxyl radicals was H2O2 (system I) and SPC - sodium percarbonate (system II). Leachate was derived from the regional municipal waste landfill in Silesian Province (Poland) which was characterized by the pH of 8.40, COD value was 3155 mg L-1 and BOD was under 165 mg L-1. The BOD/COD ratio was at a low level (0.053) that indicated low biodegradability. The applied systems allowed of the COD reduction index to the level of 549 mg L-1 (H2O2+BC) and 944 mg L-1 (SPC+BC) where the limit threshold is 125 mg L-1. In the same case of the TOC index, these values were respectively 119 and 186 mg L-1, where the limit value is 30 mg L-1.This study has been aimed to estimate the toxicity of leachate treatment in integrated systems: AOP processes + biochar adsorption. Toxicity of treated and untreated leachate has been analysed by Sinapis alba and Lepidium sativum plants-based tests. It was found that while conducting the Fenton process as system I (H2O2) at all reagent doses, the removal efficiency of COD and TOC was 17% and 12% higher, respectively, compared to system II. The most advantageous dose of regents was 2.5:1 and biochar - 2 g L-1. It was observed that in the SPC+BC system the roots of L. sativum and S. alba were on average 34% and 28% longer compared to the H2O2+BC system. Higher germination index (GI) of both tested plants, indicating lower wastewater toxicity, was recorded for the SPC+BC system.

Phytotoxicity assay to assess sewage sludge phytoremediation rate using guaiacol peroxidase activity (GPX): A comparison of four growth substrates.

Waste disposal such as sewage sludge (biosolids) in phytoremediation is a sustainable remediation alternative for fertilizers, therefore there is a need to develop a test that will allow to determine phytoremediation dose of biosolids from the best-for-plant-growth point of view. In order to determine the doses of biosolids to degraded soils, tests based on germination of seeds and root elongation are commonly used, but also, they are subjected to large errors caused by low repeatability of results and differentiation. That is why there is a need to introduce new testing solutions that will be of use based on more reliable indicators such as biochemical activity of selected plant enzymes. The aim of the study was to demonstrate high efficiency of the guaiacol peroxidase activity (GPX) in plant-based toxicity tests used as an optimal dose amendments indicator in heavy metal degraded soil phytoremediation process. GPX were measured in underground and above ground parts of Sinapis alba L. and Brassica rapa L. in relation to germination index (GI) and biomass cultivated on four different substrates (raw degraded soil, sterilized degraded soil, water extract from degraded soil solidified with agar, water extract from degraded soil solidified with Murashige-Skoog medium). Each testing soil substrate was enriched with sewage sludge (food industry origin) in the percentage share (w/w) of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25. The process was carried out under controlled conditions of the phytotronic chamber for a period of 14 days. The obtained values were compared for each plant separately and for all substrates and amendments rates of sewage sludge. GPX activity was expressed as a percentage increase or decrease in relation to the GPX in soil substrates without addition of sewage sludge which allowed to determine their positive or negative impact on substrate toxicity. Results of GPX activity showed that the water-based soil extracts solidified with agar give more accurate results in relation to the tests on raw soil. It has been demonstrated that the optimal phytoremediation dose of sewage sludge was in the range of 15-20%, with values of 5% and 25% respectively favoring or inhibiting plant development expressed in GPX activity. The most differentiating GPX values were obtained for the roots.Measurement of GPX activity in the roots of Sinapis alba L. cultivated on soil agar-based tests is a good, new and easy additional or alternative to the old tests based on germination and increase biomass measuring as an indicator in the assessment of optimal phytoremediation sewage sludge.

Post - Mining soil as carbon storehouse under polish conditions.

The main aim of these studies was to determine the potential for carbon sequestration in brown coal open-cast mine by phytoremediation using scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and giant miscanthus (Miscanthus x giganteus) plants. This paper presents relationships between soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration and carbon phytosequestration in waste dump associated with open-cast lignite mine in Central Poland. The research is the continuation of previously carried out experiments, but was conducted in field conditions. In reclamation of post-mining landscapes, during field experiment, an effect of sewage sludge, compost and lake chalk amendments and in combination of plants was investigated. The impact of soil amendments on carbon stock, CO2 emission reduction, plant biomass production and carbon content in shoots and roots was studied. The highest SOC stock was found in soil treated with sewage sludge (33 Mg*ha-1) and compost (45 Mg*ha-1) stabilized by lake chalk. These fertilizer combinations also contributed the most in relation to CO2 emission reduction through SOC stock (83 Mg*ha-1 and 127 Mg*ha-1 respectively). In addition, greater amounts (60-100%) of soil organic matter was converted into humic acids fraction. This phenomenon could be the initial stage of the progressive process of organic matter deposition and carbon sequestration in post-mining area. Carbon phytosequestration was determined through carbon bound in plant tissues. The highest carbon content (60%) in both plant species was recorded in treatments with sewage sludge and compost with lake chalk. Stabilization of compost by lake chalk application was good method to improve the efficiency of carbon sequestration in soil and carbon phytosequestration. Improving the efficiency of these two processes, through skillfully selected soil additives and plant species, may be used on a larger scale in the future as an alternative to the storage of carbon dioxide, especially in degraded areas.

Modification of properties of energy crops under Polish condition as an effect of sewage sludge application onto degraded soil.

Energy crops are one of the possible solutions for reclamation of degraded or contaminated terrain. Their cultivation requires adequate fertilization typically containing high content of organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorous. While sewage sludge may be one source of these necessary nutrients, it may also modify some plant biomass properties, such as total carbon content. In our study, we determined whether sewage sludge (containing different value of heavy metals) could be an effective fertilizer to obtain good quality energy crops (such as Miscanthus x gigantheus and reed canary grass, Phalaris arundinacea) and simultaneously play positive role for improvement of phytoremediation. The 3-year experiment was performed on degraded soil from terrain of steel mill of Czestochowa (Silesian region, Poland). During the study, it was confirmed that sewage sludge (also in combination with urea, CH4N2O) influences the mobility of Pb, Zn, Cd in soil solution, however the intensity of the process can be limited by plant species and time. Both miscanthus, and reed canary grass were characterized by the low value of bioconcentration factor (BCF), but because biomass was high, the total concentration of heavy metals in crops was comparable with hyperaccumulators. Additionally, modification of the fertilization affected energetic parameters, such as the content of carbon, S/Cl ratio, unitary CO2 emission. However, this effect was not statistically significant.

The presence of contaminations in sewage sludge - The current situation.

Sewage sludge/biosolids are by-wastes of municipal and industrial wastewater treatment. As sources of nutrients (C, N, P) they are widely used in intensive farming where large supplementation of organic matter to maintain fertility and enhance crop yields is needed. However, according to the report of European Commission published in 2010, only 39% of produced sewage sludge is recycled into agriculture in the European Union. This situation occurs mainly due to the fact, that the sewage sludge may contain a dangerous volume of different contaminants. For over decades, a great deal of attention has been focused on total concentration of few heavy metals and pathogenic bacteria Salmonella and Escherichia coli. The Sewage Sludge Directive (86/278/EEC) regulates the allowable limits of Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb, Cd, Cr and Hg and pathogens and allows for recovery of sludge on land under defined sanitary and environmentally sound conditions. In this paper, a review on quality of sewage sludge based on the publications after 2010 has been presented. Nowadays there are several papers focusing on new serious threats to human health and ecosystem occurring in sewage sludge - both chemicals (such as toxic trace elements - Se, Ag, Ti; nanoparticles; polyaromatic hydrocarbons; polychlorinated biphenyl; perfluorinated surfactants, polycyclic musks, siloxanes, pesticides, phenols, sweeteners, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, benzotriazoles) and biological traits (Legionella, Yersinia, Escherichia coli O157:H7).

Sewage sludge disposal strategies for sustainable development.

The main objective of the present review is to compare the existing sewage sludge management solutions in terms of their environmental sustainability. The most commonly used strategies, that include treatment and disposal has been favored within the present state-of-art, considering existing legislation (at European and national level), characterization, ecotoxicology, waste management and actual routs used currently in particular European countries. Selected decision making tools, namely End-of-waste criteria and Life Cycle Assessment has been proposed in order to appropriately assess the possible environmental, economic and technical evaluation of different systems. Therefore, some basic criteria for the best suitable option selection has been described, in the circular economy "from waste to resources" sense. The importance of sewage sludge as a valuable source of matter and energy has been appreciated, as well as a potential risk related to the application of those strategies.

Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. Early Diagnosis and Seasonal Monitoring in the Sewage Treatment Process by EMA-qPCR Method.

Numerous studies have recently shown that molecular biology tools can allow for early diagnosis of pathogens and can substitute existing cost and time-taking traditional methods. One of them, the qPCR, is successfully used in microbiology and its utility has been assessed for many different biological materials. The aim of this study was to: 1) determine, optimize and apply qPCR as a method to detect Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. in primary influents and final effluents from municipal wastewater treatment plant 2) define if addition of ethidium bromide monoazide (EMA) before DNA extraction can allow to distinguish between alive and dead bacteria, 3) quantify E. coli and Salmonella spp. in wastewater during four seasons by qPCR and traditional spread plate method and determine the correlation between the indicator and pathogenic microorganisms. The obtained results has shown that qPCR can be used as a quantitative method in the diagnosis of investigated bacteria in wastewater with EMA pretreatment as a crucial step for a proper quantitative analysis of the presence of these bacteria in wastewater. Both E. coli and Salmonella spp. bacteria species were present in all samples of primary influents and final effluents. Our study shown that the quantity of investigated bacteria is strictly correlated with the season that they were obtained in.