Regional Monitoring of Natural Environment 2002, No 3, 125-131
THE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE HOLY CROSS MTS (GÓRY ŚWIĘTOKRZYSKIE) IN RESEARCH STUDIES AND EDUCATION OF THE GEOCHEMISTRY AND ENVIRONMENT DIVISION OF THE INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY, ŚWIĘTOKRZYSKA ACADEMY IN KIELCE
Zdzisław M. Migaszewski, Agnieszka Gałuszka
Summary
This report presents an outline of geochemical and biogeochemical studies that have been conducted in forest ecosystems of the Holy Cross Mts in cooperation with the Polish Geological Institute since 1994. The scope of investigation has encompassed soil, rocks, plant bioindicators (lichen species Hypogymnia physodes, Scots pine, mosses), airborne dusts, and locally spring waters. These media have been analyzed for 30-50 major and trace elements, organics – polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phenols, polychlorinated biphenyls, chlorinated pesticides (Central Chemical Laboratory of PGI in Warsaw), and for stable sulfur and lead isotopes (Mass Spectrometry Laboratory of Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, U.S. Geological Survey in Denver, Colorado). The results of these studies have been presented in many Polish and foreign publications. In addition, basic determinations of surface and underground waters for pH, redox potential, conductivity, selected anions and cations have been performed by undergraduate students. The courses of study include lectures, seminars, lab and field exercises, during which different aspects and problems of environmental sciences (geochemistry, biogeochemistry, law, engineering and technology) are discussed. This curriculum is supplemented by the activity of students’ scientific society named “Calcite”, geoecological trips, and by participation in annual Science Festivals in Kielce.
