Photolysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water.

The decomposition of benzo[a]pyrene (BAP), chrysene (CHR) and fluorene (FLU) in an aqueous solution by means of photolysis has been studied. The influence of initial polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons' (PAHs) concentration, pH of the reaction mixture, temperature, presence of oxygen and tert-butyl alcohol (t-BuOH) on the degradation rate has been observed. BAP and CHR are decomposed by a mechanism different than FLU. Quantum yields of the photolytic decomposition of BAP, CHR and FLU were determined and equal 0.014, 0.0031 and 0.0038, respectively.

[Lead and cadmium content in daily food rations of children and adolescents from copper basin of the Legnica region]. / Zawartosc olowiu i kadmu w racjach pokarmowych dzieci i mlodziezy z terenu Legnickiego Zaglebia Miedziowego.

Environmental pollution still remains a serious problem in some heavily industrialized regions of Poland. Among various xenobiotics prevalent in human environment heavy metals such as lead and cadmium are considered as most harmful to living systems. The main source of these metals for humans is food and water, therefore increased dietary lead and cadmium intake may cause functional disturbances of various body systems, especially in young developing organisms. The objective of this study was to evaluate the lead and cadmium content in daily food rations served at two selected Children Guardian Centres (CGC) located in the region of Copper Basin Legnica (Glogów and Polkowice), during winter and spring seasons in 1996. The lead and cadmium content was determined after dry mineralization of samples by the FAAS method with deuterium BC. It was found that the lead and cadmium content in daily food rations exceeded the PTWI limits for children and adolescents in both CGC. Moreover, seasonal and regional variations of the lead and cadmium content in daily meals were observed. Generally, higher levels of lead in food rations were determined in the winter season whereas the cadmium content was higher in the CGC in Glogów in comparison to Polkowice.

[The content of selected minerals (Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu, Fe) in daily food rations of adolescents: comparison of analytical and calculated data]. / Zawartosc wybranych skladników mineralnych (Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu, Fe) w calodziennych racjach pokarmowych mlodziezy starszej: porównanie wyników analitycznych i obliczeniowych.

The content of calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper and iron in daily food rations of adolescents served in two residential centres in Copper Basin Legnica region and two high schools in Poznan were studied. The content of minerals was determined by two independent methods: chemical analysis and calculation based upon food composition tables. It was found that the calculated results were markedly higher, suggesting that daily meals covered recommended allowances for minerals established for the adolescents group. However, the analytical results were 10% lower on average, but in the case of zinc and magnesium they did not even reach 50% of norms showing that the daily food did not provide sufficient amounts of minerals for adolescents. Moreover, analysis of regression showed a significant correlation for the magnesium, iron, zinc and copper content obtained by the two methods which allowed to calculate empirical formulae that may help to establish the content of these elements in daily food with the use of the FOOD computer program.