Water Turbidity and Suspended Particulate Matter Concentration at Dredged Material Dumping Sites in the Southern Baltic.

Dredged material dumping is an activity that causes some of the greatest changes in coastal waters. It results in the need to regularly monitor the properties of seawater related to water quality. In this study, we present the first wide-ranging attempt to correlate seawater turbidity and suspended particulate matter (SPM) concentrations within dumping sites and adjacent waters on the basis of in situ measurements. In the years 2019-2020, we examined four dumping sites, namely Darlowo, Gdynia, Gdansk, and DCT, located in Polish coastal waters of the Baltic Sea, in the course of four measurement campaigns conducted in the spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The measurements were conducted using a turbidity sensor to determine the turbidity, in formazin turbidity units (FTU), a spectrophotometer to determine the concentrations of nutrients (total phosphorus (P-tot), phosphate phosphorus (P-PO4-3), total nitrogen (N-tot), ammonium nitrogen (N-NH4+), and nitrate nitrogen (N-NO3-)), as well as glass microfiber filters to determine the concentrations of SPM. The analysis of the relationship between the turbidity and SPM within the dumping sites in comparison to reference points showed that the dumping sites are very complex waters and that the issue must be approached locally. The highest turbidity values were registered in the spring, and they correlated linearly with the SPM concentrations (R2 = 0.69). Moreover, we performed a statistical cluster analysis to illustrate the similarities between sampling points in the four dumpsites based on nutrient concentrations. We conclude that the influence of the dumping sites on the local bio-optical and chemical properties significantly exceeds their borders and spreads to the adjacent waters. Nutrient concentrations in many cases exceeded the legal policy limits.

The impact of pesticides used at the agricultural land of the Puck commune on the environment of the Puck Bay.

BACKGROUND: The Puck commune is one of the largest agricultural regions in the Pomeranian Voivodship that due to the pollution of the coastal zone negatively affects the functioning of the Puck Bay, including health of its inhabitants, and causes decrease in tourism as well as in overall economic value of the region. The objective of the undertaken study was to assess the extent of risk to the environment posed by the pesticides used in agricultural production in the coastal area of the Puck commune. METHODS: The study focused on organochlorine insecticides (DDT and its metabolites: α, ß, ϒ, δ-HCH, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, isodrine), glyphosate and its metabolite AMPA, and 309 active substances used as pesticides. Analyses were carried out using GC-MS, GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS techniques. The undertaken novel approach included "tracking" of a large number of substances in multiple environmental matrices (surface water, groundwater, seawater, soil, sediment and fish), along with examination of their transport routes from the pesticides application locality to the Puck Bay. RESULTS: Glyphosate and its metabolite AMPA, anthraquinone, boscalid, chlorpyrifos-ethyl, dimethachlor, diflufenican, difenoconazole, epoxiconazole, fluopicolide and metazachlor were found in soil samples and surface water samples collected from drainage ditches surrounding the studied agricultural plots. In the samples of seawater and fish taken from the Puck Bay no studied pesticides were found.

Risk of phosphorus losses in surface runoff from agricultural land in the Baltic Commune of Puck in the light of assessment performed on the basis of DPS indicator.

BACKGROUND: In order to counteract the eutrophication of waterways and reservoirs, a basic risk assessment of phosphorus (P) losses in the surface runoff from agricultural land should be included in water management plans. A new method has been developed to assess the risk of P losses by estimating the degree of P saturation (DPS) based on the P concentration of the water extract water-soluble P. METHODS: The risk of P losses in surface runoff from agricultural land in the Puck Commune on the Baltic Sea Coast was assessed with the DPS method. The results were compared to an agronomic interpretation of the soil test P concentration (STP). Research was conducted on mineral and organic soils from 50 and 11 separate agricultural plots with a total area of 133.82 and 37.23 ha, respectively. Phosphorus was extracted from the collected samples using distilled water on all soil samples, acid ammonium lactate on mineral soils, and an extract of 0.5 mol HCl·dm-3 on organic soils. The organic matter content and pH values were also determined. The results of the P content in the water extracted from the soils were converted into DPS values, which were then classified by appropriate limit intervals. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: There was a high risk of P losses from the soil via surface runoff in 96.7% of the agricultural parcels tested (96% of plots with mineral soils and 100% of plots with organic soils). Simultaneously, a large deficiency of plant-available P was found in soils from 62% of agricultural plots. These data indicate that the assessment of P concentration in soils made on the basis of an environmental soil P test conflicts with the assessment made based on STP and create a cognitive dissonance. The risk level of P losses through surface runoff from the analyzed plots as determined by the DPS indicator is uncertain. This uncertainty is increased as the DPS index is not correlated with other significant factors in P runoff losses, such as the type of crop and area inclination.

[Suicidal intoxication with sodium azide--a case report]. / Smiertelne samobójcze zatrucie azydkiem sodu--opis przypadku.

Sodium azide (NaN3) is an inorganic matrix compound with a very high toxicity. Mechanism of action is not clarified, and it is assumed to interfere with the processes of oxidative phosphorylation. The acute intoxications with sodium azide are extremely rare. We described a case of 19-year-old man who was found dead. In the course of prosecution the empty container, with label "NaN3, 20 g", was found near the body. There were traces of white powder detected in the container. Azide ions were determined by derivatization, i.e. they were transformed to pentafluorobenzaldehyde azide compound. Analysis of the final extract after derivatization was performed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry GC/MS. The largest concentration of azide ions were determined in the stomach content and vitreous humour, and much less one in whole blood, urine and kidney fluid.

[Drug addiction in the medico-legal certification of the Department of Forensic Medicine of Medical University of Gdansk in the years 1996-2005]. / Narkomania w swietle dzialalnosci orzeczniczej Katedry i Zakladu Medycyny Sadowej Akademii Medycznej w Gdansku w latach 1996-2005.

The objective of the study was the presentation of the type and extent of drug addiction in the region covered by the Department of Forensic Medicine of the Medical University of Gdansk based on the results of analyses of biological samples collected from the living and deceased subjects during the decade from 1996 to 2005. The studies were based on 110 cases of lethal intoxication after psychoactive substances overdosing and 63 cases of living people involved in the infringement of the law. Body-fluids (blood, urine) and post-mortem samples (stomach contents, small intestine contents, liver, kidney, brain and lung tissues) were collected and stored at -20 OC. The screening analysis of urine was performed using the Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay method (TDx, Abbott) and the enzyme immunoassay method (Syva Rapid Test, Dade Behring). The confirmation of positive results was carried out by thin-layer chromatography (TLC), as well as gas and liquid chromatography with various detectors (GC/FID, GC/NPD, GC/MS, LC/UV-DAD). In the last 10 years, there was noted a 3-fold increase in the number of cases that required an analysis of narcotics content, and in the last 4 years, such cases exceeded 10% of the total number of investigated cases. The number of analyses aiming at determination of amphetamine and cannabinol contents in living people (mainly among individuals that caused traffic accidents) increased. Among deceased subjects, deaths were predominantly caused by intoxication with opiates or combinations of opiates and other narcotic substances and medications. The presence of both ethanol and drugs was detected and confirmed mainly in post-mortem biological materials.

[Hazard for human health and life by unintentional use of synthetic sibutramine, which was sold as Chinese herbal product "meizitanc"]. / Zagroienie dla zdrowia i zycia ludzkiego przez nieswiadome zastosowanie syntetycznej sibutraminy, sprzedawanej jako chinski preparat ziolowy "meizitanc".

UNLABELLED: Problem of adulteration of herbal medicines with synthetic drugs is getting a common and dangerous phenomenon in Poland. The purpose of this study was the qualitative estimation of content of the Chinese herbal medicine for slimming "Meizitanc" as well as the estimation of hazard for human health and life. Twenty herbal packages which were secured by police in the 2006 year were investigated. The main ingredient of herbal medicine "Meizitanc" was sibutramine. The average mass of sibutramine hydrochloride in the "Meizitanc" capsule was about 10 mg. Additionally the trace amount of xylene and a starch were detected in the capsules. The presence of mentioned above substances were confirmed by different analytical methods like: gas chromatography with mass spectrometry GC/MS, thin layer chromatography TLC, high-pressure liquid chromatography HPLC/UV-DAD and infrared spectrometry IR. There were not determined any herbal-originated substances, which were mentioned on the packages. It was not found any pharmacologically active substance in one of the twenty examined packages. CONCLUSIONS: The medicine containing sibutramine should be used under the strict medical control. For safety of the patients all herbal products should be buy from authorized her

[Sampling, storage and transport of biological materials collected from living and deceased subjects for determination of concentration levels of ethyl alcohol and similarly acting substances. A proposal of updating the blood and urine sampling protocol]. / Pobieranie, przechowywanie i transport materialu biologicznego zabezpieczonego przyzyciowo i posmiertnie do badania na zawartosc alkoholu etylowego oraz srodków podobnie dzialajacych do alkoholu. Propozycja aktualizacji instrukcji pobierania próbek krwi i moczu.

The present paper emphasizes the most common mistakes committed at the beginning of an analytical procedure. To shorten the time and decrease the cost of determinations of substances with similar to alcohol activity, it is postulated to introduce mass-scale screening analysis of saliva collected from a living subject at the site of the event, with all positive results confirmed in blood or urine samples. If no saliva sample is collected for toxicology, a urine sample, allowing for a stat fast screening analysis, and a blood sample, to confirm the result, should be ensured. Inappropriate storage of a blood sample in the tube without a preservative can cause sample spilling and its irretrievable loss. The authors propose updating the "Blood/urine sampling protocol", with the updated version to be introduced into practice following consultations and revisions.

[Determination of nicotine and cotinine in human biological materials and their significance in toxicological studies]. / Problematyka oznaczania nikotyny i kotyniny w ludzkim materiale biologicznym w aspekcie badan toksykologicznych.

The aim of this study was the preparation of reliable procedure of the determination of nicotine and cotinine both in classic (serum, urine) and alternative biological materials (hair, saliva) and evaluation of their significance for clinical and forensic toxicology. Biological material samples (blood, urine, saliva) were taken from patients after Percutaneous Trans-luminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA). The determination of cotinine and nicotine concentration in the biological material should be optimized depending on the aim of analysis. Liquid-liquid extraction procedure and high performance liquid chromatography HPLC/UV-DAD are reliable, specific and relatively cheap. Serum and saliva are valuable biological materials which allow to determine temporary nicotine and cotinine content on the similar level of concentrations. In the near future it will be able to replace blood with saliva sample because of an easy and non-invasive way of sampling. Evaluation of cotinine concentration in urine allows to distinguish the passive from the active tobacco smokers. Hair analysis allows to control a nicotine abstinence as well as a long-term evaluation of the history of smoking. However usage of hair is limited because of difficulty with sampling. Interpretation of results in analysis of alternative materials (hair, saliva) pose a problem because of lack of sampling standardization and lack of standardization of final analysis method.