As recent geopolitical conflicts and climate change escalate, the effects of war on the atmosphere remain uncertain, in particular in the context of the recent large-scale war between Russia and Ukraine. We use satellite remote sensing techniques to establish the effects that reduced human activities in urban centers of Ukraine (Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Mariupol) have on Land Surface Temperatures (LST), Urban Heat Islands (UHI), emissions, and nighttime light. A variety of climate indicators, such as hot spots, changes in the intensity and area of the UHI, and changes in LST thresholds during 2022, are differentiated with pre-war conditions as a reference period (i.e., 2012-2022). Findings show that nighttime hot spots in 2022 for all three cities cover a smaller area than during the reference period, with a maximum decrease of 3.9% recorded for Donetsk. The largest areal decrease of nighttime UHI is recorded for Kharkiv (− 12.86%). Our results for air quality changes show a significant decrease in carbon monoxide (− 2.7%, based on the average for the three cities investigated) and an increase in Absorbing Aerosol Index (27.2%, based on the average for the three cities investigated) during the war (2022), compared to the years before the war (2019-2021). The 27.2% reduction in nighttime urban light during the first year of the war, compared to the years before the war, provides another measure of conflict-impact in the socio-economic urban environment. This study demonstrates the innovative application of satellite remote sensing to provide unique insights into the local-scale atmospheric consequences of human-related disasters, such as war. The use of high-resolution satellite data allows for the detection of subtle changes in urban climates and air quality, which are crucial for understanding the broader environmental impacts of geopolitical conflicts. Our approach not only enhances the understanding of war-related impacts on urban environments but also underscores the importance of continuous monitoring and assessment to inform policy and mitigation strategies. | War, Urban climate, Satellite remote sensing, Environmental impact, Climate feedback | 100 | 45246–45263 | 32

Microplastics are becoming an increasingly common pollutant that can pose a threat to living organisms. The aim of this research was to determine the amount, type, and diversity of microplastics along mountain trails. The study includes three mountain trails, differing in terms of length, difficulty, and number of visitors. The trails were located in the massif of Babia Góra, in the Kościeliska Valley, and Izerska Meadow. During the research, microplastics were determined in snow during the winter period. The research shows high microplastic contamination along the trails. The study area was characterized by the highest content of polyurethane, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, and polypropylene. The tiniest plastic below 0.5 mm dominated in all the sampling points, with a small share of sizes within the range of 3.1-4.0 mm and 4.1-5.0 mm. The isolated microplastics varied in color and shape. The conducted analyses confirm that easier, more frequented trails are characterized by a higher content of microplastics. Trails to Babia Góra, which are more demanding, are characterized by a different composition of microplastics as well as a variety of microplastics in terms of size, shape, and color. In addition, the lower-lying fragments of the examined trails were the most heavily contaminated with microplastics. The results indicate the need for further research on microplastic contamination of the soil environment along mountain trails. | Human activity, Microplastics, Mountain areas, Snow, Sources | 70 | 1-10

Organic debris accumulated in bird nests creates a unique environment for organisms, including microbes. Built from various plant materials that are typically enriched by animal residues, bird nest favours the development of various fungal groups. The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical properties of the material deposited in the white stork Ciconia ciconia nests and the link between extracellular enzyme activity and the diversity and composition of culturable fungi. Our fndings revealed low C/P and N/P ratio values in the nest materials, which indicate a high P availability. Nest material C/N/P ratio ranged from 67/8/1 to 438/33/1. Enzymatic activity strongly correlated with the content of carbon, nitrogen, and pH of the material deposited in the nests. A total of 2726 fungal isolates were obtained from the nests, from which 82 taxa were identifed based on morphology and DNA sequence data. The study indicates that white stork nests are microhabitat characterised by diverse chemical and biochemical properties. We found relationship between the fungal richness and diversity and the C/P and N/P ratios of materials from the nests. Our study showed that culturable fungi occurred frequently in materials with high levels of C, N, and P, as well as high concentrations of base alkaline elements (Ca, Mg, and K). | C/N/P ratio · Fungal diversity · Ornithic · Soil ecology · Extracellular enzyme | 100 | 2583-2594

The aim of this study has been to measure the level of lead, cadmium, nitrates, and nitrites in the daily diets of children and adolescents from orphanages located in Krakow (Poland). Diets were collected over four seasons of 2009. The content of cadmium and lead was measured with flameless atomic absorption spectrometry. Nitrates and nitrites in diets were measured using the Griess colorimetric method. In all orphanages, the average intake of lead with daily diets, regardless of the season, ranged from 1.11 ± 0.15 to 22.59 ± 0.07 μg/kg bw/week. The average cadmium intake by children and adolescents ranged between 3.09 ± 0.21 and 20.36 ± 2.21 μg/kg bw/week and, for all orphanages, exceeded the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) level. Daily intake of nitrates and nitrites ranged respectively from 27 to 289 % and from 9 to 99 % of the acceptable daily intake (ADI). The youngest children, with lower body mass, were particularly sensitive to the excessive intakes of cadmium and nitrates. | Lead, Cadmium, Nitrate and nitrite, Daily diets, Children and adolescents | 30 | 25200-25209 | 24

The aims of this study were both the qualitative and quantitative analysis of chromium accumulation in the shoots of Callitriche cophocarpa. This globally distributed, submersed macrophyte exhibits outstanding Cr phytoremediation capacity in an aquatic environment. Cr was applied separately for 7 days at two stable forms as Cr(VI) and Cr(III), known from their diverse physicochemical properties and toxicities. The maps of Cr depositions in young leaves, mature leaves, and stems were obtained by micro X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (μXRF). The detailed analysis of XRF maps was done based on Image-Pro PLUS (Media Cybernetics) software. Cr was accumulated either in trichomes or vascular bundles in respect to the element speciation and the plant organ. The concentration of Cr significantly increased in the following order: Cr(VI) mature leaves < Cr(VI) young leaves = Cr(VI) stems < Cr(III) young leaves ≤ Cr(III) mature leaves ≤ Cr(III) stems. The observed differences in distribution and accumulation of Cr were correlated with the different reduction potential of Cr(VI) by particular plant organs. The reduction of Cr(VI) is considered the main detoxification mechanism of the highly toxic Cr(VI) form. The unique L-band electron resonance spectrometer (L-band EPR) was applied to follow the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) in the studied material. | Callitriche; Chromium; EPR; Macrophytes; Phytoremediation; XRF | 30 | 2669-2676 | 3

The objective of this study was the investigation whether the administration of the elderberry fruit lyophilizate under exposure to cadmium(Cd) and (Pb) lead may protect against some effects of their toxic action in Wistar rats. Rats were fed with diets containing Cd (Cd 0.025 mg/kg b.m.) or Pb (Pb 0.025 mg /kg b.m.) with the addition of the freeze-dried elderberry fruits (BEF) in the amount of 5 %. BEF added to the diet with Cd significantly decreased the activity of AST and ALT compared to the rats fed with the control diet with Cd (C + Cd). Activity of glutathione peroxidase was significantly higher in the blood of rats fed with BEF diet compared with animals fed with BEF + Cd, BEF + Pb, and C + Pb diets. Addition of BEF to the diets with Cd or Pb significantly decreased the uric acid concentration compared to the level of this parameter in the serum of animals fed with control diets containing Cd or Pb. The level of the Cd significantly decreased in the livers of rodents fed with BEF + Cd diet as compared to the concentration of this metal in the livers of rats fed with C + Cd diet. Elderberry fruit lyophilizate did not protect against the increased concentration of Cd or Pb in kidneys and bones of experimental rats; however, it improved the function of livers and kidneys, especially of rats intoxicated with Cd. | Antioxidants; Cadmium; Elderberry fruit lyophilizate; Lead; Rats | 30 | 8837-8848 | 9

The aim of this study was to assess the potential for application of Hudson River sediment as a plant growth medium by mixing with various proportions of soil. The growth medium obtained by the admixture of soil and Hudson River sediment was characterized by optimal pH, reduced salinity, and presence of macro- (K, Mg) and micronutrients (Fe, Mn). Apart from beneficial nutrients and organic matter, the riverine sediment also contained toxic metals (Zn 86 mg; Cu 17.8 mg; Ni 16.6 mg; Cr 20.7 mg; Cd 0.46 mg; Pb 20.7 mg/kg, at concentrations below the threshold effect concentration) and PCBs (total concentration 254 ng/g), which can have a negative impact on soil ecosystems. The results ecological risk assessment of six trace elements and PCBs in sediment suggested medium/moderate risk (PECq = 0.21) and the need for ecotoxicological tests prior to its use as a growth medium. However, ecotoxicity tests of the soil/sediment admixture indicated that it was non-toxic or less-toxic to crustacean Heterocypris incongruens (PE = − 8–38%) and bacteria Aliivibrio fischeri (PE = − 20–38). For Sinapis alba L. and Lepidium sativum L., the germination index (GI) indicated the dominance of inhibitory effect on plant growth; whereas for the Sorghum saccharatum L., the GI value showed the stimulatory effect. Based on the above physicochemical and ecotoxicological analyses, the sediment was found suitable for use as a growth medium, for non-edible plants. It is worth to underline that this sediment was collected from relatively less contaminated location of the river and therefore the results may not represent sediments from entire stretch of the Hudson River. | River bottom sediments, Growing medium, Nutrients, Pollutions, Ecotoxicity | 100 | 7388-7397 | 7

A growing amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) indicates the need to verify the effectiveness of its management both nationally and globally. An analysis of the WEEE economy in Poland conducted over 5 years confirmed a 16.64% increase in the mass of collected equipment. The maximum annual mass of electrical and electronic equipment introduced to the market during this period was 607,240 Mg, with the average value exceeding 500,000 Mg. The WEEE category with the largest collected mass was waste code 20 01 36, which exceeded 235,000 Mg, whilst the highest waste weight accumulation rate of 45.98 kg per capita was recorded in one of the smallest voivodeships in Poland. This result showed the diversity of WEEE accumulation on a national scale. Overall, a noticeable increase in the WEEE accumulation rate has occurred as Poland’s gross domestic product has increased, despite a decreasing population. An analysis based on the waste accumulation indicators, including socioeconomic factors, confirmed the need to develop forms of WEEE recovery and recycling to transition to a circular economy and promote the synergy of activities amongst all players in WEEE management. | Collection · Recovery · Recycling · Waste management · e-waste · Statistics | 100 | 48773-48783 | 35

Combustion of fossil fuels including coal is one of the sources of mercury pollution. Combustion waste from fly ash disposal sites poses a problem for the environment and constitutes a potential source of Hg, thus phytostabilisation is a crucial goal in the mitigation of fossil fuel impact. The paper presents mercury (Hg) concentration in technosols from combustion waste and in individual biomass components (fine roots, bark, stem wood and leaves) of alder species (black, gray and green alder) introduced as part of a long-term experiment to develop a method of phytostabilisation and afforestation of a lignite combustion disposal site. Mercury content in the combustion waste was elevated compared to the data for natural soils from uncontaminated forest areas, however, it did not exceed the amounts considered to be toxic. Hg content in technosols was related to clay and silt fraction content and phosphorus content. Mercury in the alder biomass accumulated mainly in the underground part, especially in the fine roots and displayed a positive correlation with acid and alkaline phosphatase and sulfur content, with no differences in the accumulation of Hg between the alder species. The obtained results indicate that the fine roots are the frontier of Hg biosorption in developed alder systems on combustion waste disposal sites. | Trace elements, Contamination, Mercury, Reclamation, Fly ash | 70 | 1-13 | 11

Combustion wastes are characterised by extremely low N contents. Therefore, introduction of nitrogen-fixing species at the first stage of their biological reclamation is required. This paper presents an assessment of the growth parameters of alders (Alnus sp.) 10 years after their introduction to a disposal site of lignite combustion waste in Central Poland. Black (Alnus glutinosa) and grey alders (Alnus incana) were planted directly in the combustion waste. The soil amendment included three variants: control with pure combustion waste, admixture of lignite culm and addition of acid sand. Both alder species displayed good growth parameters comparable to those of alders in natural habitats. However, black alder had better growth parameters, such as stand density index (SDI), diameter at breast height (DBH) and height (H) than grey alder. The lignite amendment exerted a positive effect on tree growth, reflected in a higher SDI and H, whereas the acid sand amendment did not affect any of the growth parameters of the studied alder species. Despite the good growth parameters, the measured N:P and N:K ratios in the alder leaves largely differed from the optimal values indicating insufficient P and K supply at the combustion waste disposal site. This may pose a threat to further development of the introduced tree plantings. The introduction of alders along with the lignite addition into the planting holes seems to be a successful method of combustion waste revegetation. | Fly ash, Lignite, Alders, Revegetation | 30 | 17091-17099 | 17