EN
Subject of research presented in this paper was to evaluate the effect of depositing waste from the production of coke oven gas in the soil microorganisms inhabiting it, especially those with potential properties for biodegradation of hydrocarbons present in the waste. The number of microorganisms was evaluated according to MPN method (Most Probable Number) using microtiter plates. In the samples of the analyzed soil material were detected microorganisms are active in the decomposition of aliphatic, aromatic and mixtures of hydrocarbons. Depending on the level of soil sampling (0–30 and 30–60 cm) the quantitative microbial diversity has been demonstrated. With increasing depths seen considerable increase in the number of microbial cells participating in the biological decomposition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are the main component of pollution.