Railway transportation as a serious source of organic and inorganic pollution.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metal (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Hg, Fe, Co, Cr, Mo) contents were established in soil and plant samples collected in different areas of the railway junction Ilawa Glówna, Poland. Soil and plant samples were collected in four functional parts of the junction, i.e. the loading ramp, main track within platform area, rolling stock cleaning bay and the railway siding. It was found that all the investigated areas were strongly contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The PAH contamination of the soil was the highest in the railway siding and in the platform area (59,508 and 49,670 µg kg(-1), respectively). In the loading ramp and cleaning bay, the PAH concentration in soil was lower but still relatively very high (17,948 and 15,376 µg kg(-1), respectively). The contamination in the railway siding exceeded the average control level up to about 80 times. In the soil of all the investigated areas, four- and five-ring PAHs prevailed. The concentrations of PAHs were determined in four dominating species of plants found at the junction. The highest concentration was found in the aerial parts of Taraxacum officinale (22,492 µg kg(-1)) growing in the cleaning bay. The comparison of the soil contamination with PAHs in the investigated railway junction showed a very significant increase of the PAHs level since 1995. It was found that the heavy metal contamination was also very high. Pb, Zn, Hg and Cd were established at the highest levels in the railway siding area, whereas Fe concentration was the highest in the platform area. A significant increase in mercury content was observed in the cleaning bay area. The investigations proved very significant increase of contamination with PAHs and similar heavy metals contamination in comparison with the concentration determined in the same areas 13 years ago.

Accumulation rate of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) in the conditions of soil contamination with oil derivatives.

The present study concerns PCBs accumulation in soil at two depths as well as in Taraxacum officinale plants. An analysis of the distribution of different groups of PCBs congeners in plant and soil material revealed the highest content of hexa and hepta-CB fractions. Statistical test of pair comparison has revealed significant differences in accumulation rates for the following pairs: penta-chlorinated congeners are accumulated at a higher rate than tetra-chlorinated ones and hexa-chlorinated congeners are accumulated at a higher rate than penta-chlorinated ones. This phenomenon occurs in the area of railway junctions (areas heavily polluted with oil derivatives).

Soil and plant contamination with heavy metals in the area of the old railway junction Tarnowskie Góry and near two main railway routes.

Heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Hg, Mo, Zn, Co, Cu) content was determined in soil and plant samples collected in the different areas of the railway junction Tarnowskie Góry, as well as, near two main railway routes, i.e. Warsaw-Gdansk and Katowice-Gdynia. In Tarnowskie Góry soil and plant samples were collected in four functional parts of the junction, i.e. the rolling stock cleaning bay, platform area, railway siding and loading ramp. It was found that the contamination of soil and plants by heavy metal was the highest in loading ramp. A particularly high pollution level of copper was observed. The contamination level near the railway routes decreased accordingly to the distance from routes which suggests pollutant role of railway transport.

[Analysis of soil pollution by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and heavy metals (Cd, Pb) along railroads near Ilawa Glówna]. / Analiza skazen gleby polichlorowanymi bifenylami (PCBs) i metalami ciezkimi (Cd, Pb) w otoczeniu szlaków kolejowych oraz wezla Ilawa Glówna.

The aim of our work was to investigate the soil pollution by PCBs at railway surroundings i.e. two railway lines and railway junction Ilawa Glówna. At railway junction the pollution by heavy metals (lead and cadmium) was also investigated. The soil samples collected on selected experimental areas were analysed by extraction and GLC. The results of our investigation allow to confirm the increased level of PCBs in analysed samples. It proves the suggestion about emission of PCBs connected with railway transport. The level of contamination is extremely high on the region of old railway junction Ilawa Glówna. The relation between type of carried load and level of pollution was not detected. The lack of close correlation between contamination level and distance from railway line may results from water unsolubility of PCBs. The concentration of PCBs depends mostly on transport frequency or train staying, whereas heavy metal concentration depends also from type of carried load.