Soil samples for analyses were collected in the whole area of the Cracow province. Basic soil properties and content of heavy metals were determined in the soil samples. It was found out that 47% of the examined soils of the Cracow province should be classified as the soils with elevated cadmium levels, 10% are soils with elevated lead levels and 27% are the soils with elevated zinc levels. The remaining soils should be classified as the soils with a natural content of these elements. Nickel and copper concentrations in all the examined soils are in the range of the natural content. The calculated correlation coefficients show that the content of cadmium was determined by the soil pH and content of copper by the content of C-org.
The aim of the study was a retrospective analysis of the frequency of group B streptococci (Streptococcus agalactaie; GBS) carriage in pregnant women from the region of Krakow, together with an analysis of their drug resistance, carried out between 2008-2012. The study included 3363 pregnant women between 35 and 37 weeks of gestation, studied in accordance with the guidelines of the Polish Gynecological Society (2008). A high percentage of pregnant women who are carriers of group B streptococci was demonstrated. Each year covered by the study, it was in the range of 25-30%, with an average value equal to 28%. The results confirm the need for taking swabs from both the vagina and anus, since 15% of GBS-positive patients showed only rectal carriage. High percentage of isolates resistant to erythromycin was detected, which ranged from 22% to 29%, with an average value equal to 25%, as well as a high proportion of isolates resistant to clindamycin being 17-25%, with an average of 20%. The results indicate the need to standardize the methodology of collecting samples for GBS testing and introduce microbiological diagnostic standards in all gynecological and obstetric centers in Poland, in order to carry out a detailed epidemiological analysis in our country.
The investigations aimed at finding the interdependencies between motor fitness and somatic traits, and the degree of environment pollution. The examined material consisted of children and teenagers from the environs of Cracow, grouped in three age categories (1002 girls and 1043 boys), and was classified following the environmental pollution intensity of the locality. Considered were two extreme groups of low and high pollution.The examinations included somatic traits, functional abilities, coordination ability and energetic abilities.The results indicate that functional and motor abilities, especially coordination skills, are a more sensitive index of detrimental effects of pollution than somatic characteristics.
Over three successive experimental years total of 183 samples of sewage sludges from 9 biggest sewage treatment plants of the Cracow province were analysed as to the possibility of biological sludges management. A vast majority of the sludges revealed great value as fertilizers; they contained usually more than 40% of organic matter, over 3% of nitrogen and 1% of phosphorus in dry mass. However, only sludges from three sewage treatment plants may be unconditionally used as fertilizers. Sludges from the other sewage treatment plants contained too much heavy metals (mostly Cr and Zn), which excludes their application on arable lands. A decrease in the contents of two most dangerous metals, i.e. cadmium and lead in the sludges was observed in most sewage treatment plants throughout the experimental period. It may be a result of generally decreased pollution of natural environment with these metals in the Cracow province.
The effect of osmotic-convection drying on the mechanical properties of apples was studied. Both the osmotic dehydration and convection drying were shown to cause the changes in the mechanical properties of apples. These were manifested in the loss of natural 'tenderness' and an increase in the 'plasticity'. For the osmotic dehydration, the changes were the bigger, the higher were the degree and temperature of osmotic dehydration, and molecular weight of osmotic solute.