City Of Ostrava Research Articles

Analysis of synanthropic vegetation in the territory of the city of Ostrava

Analysis of synanthropic vegetation in the territory of the city of Ostrava This paper is a result of the field research of synanthropic vegetation in the territory of the city of Ostrava in the summer of 2010 (June - August) and in the spring of 2011 (April). A total of 213 reléves were carried out in three types of habitats (borders of fields, ruderal areas and railway tracks). The reléves were transferred to the ‘Turboveg’ database computer programme and analyzed using the Expert system of vegetation of the Czech Republic (the ‘Coctail’ method) in the ‘Juice’ computer programme. This paper contains the evaluation of the occurrence of plant species in particular habitats and of the types of their synanthropy with special regard to endangered and invasive species. A total of 201 species of vascular plants were found, among them 134 apophytes. A total of 4 endangered species and 8 invasive species were found. A total of 5 classes, 15 alliances and 25 associations were found using the analysis of vegetation in the ‘Juice’ computer programme. Only 5 associations occurred in all studied types of habitats. The most common association was Convolvulo arvensis-Elytrigietum repentis.

A High Morbidity of Preschool Children in Ostrava Hot Spot of PM10 Pollution

PP-31-041 Background/Aims: Ostrava, the second largest urban agglomeration in the Czech Republic, is the most polluted region in European Union by particulate matter and carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (c-PAHs). The highest annual values of particulate matter (PM10) have been reported from the monitoring station in Ostrava city district of Radvanice a Bartovice (RaB). In the years 2001–2008, they were in the range 47–65 μg/m3 with median 62 μg/m3. To asses morbidity of preschool children living in and nearby RaB and registered with the pediatric office in RaB. Methods: All 86 children of the Czech etnicum born in 2001 and 2002 were included in the study (with informed consent of parents). Complete lists of ICD10 codes of illnesses they suffered from birth to 6 years of age were obtained from the pediatrician. Results: Illnesses with the highest cumulative incidence per child (confidence interval [CI]) in the first 2 years of life were as follows: J02, J06—acute upper respiratory infections: CI = 4.8; J03—acute tonsillitis: CI = 1.9; B34—viral illnesses: CI = 1.9; A08—intestinal infectious diseases: CI = 1.7; H10—conjunctivitis: CI = 0.9; and J12—pneumonia: CI = 0.3. In age group 2–6, incidence of acute tonsillitis and viral illnesses remained at the same level, whereas the frequency of other illnesses decreased. Allergies: 27 children (31%) had doctor/allergist diagnosed asthma bronchiale. Asthma bronchiale was combined with atopiform dermatitis in 13 children, with atopic rhinitis in 4 children and with both atopiform dermatitis and atopic rhinitis in 9 children. Conclusion: Incidence of acute illnesses at the age 0–2 years as well as the prevalence of asthma bronchiale at the age of 6 years are extremely high and require detailed studies on effects of air pollution on health of children in Ostrava. Supported by Ministry of Environment of the Czech Republic Project AIRGEN (No. SP/1b3/8/08)

Application of flotation in the decontamination of sediments from the Cerny prikop stream

Application of flotation in the decontamination of sediments from the Cerny prikop stream The stream Cerny prikop is located in the Ostrava city districts of Marianske Hory, Moravska Ostrava and Privoz. This locality belongs to the most polluted areas in Ostrava as it is unbearably polluted by the Coking Plant of Jan Sverma, company BorsodChem MCHZ (the chemical plant), City Waste Water Treatment Plant and a number of other companies in the given territory, all the way to its mouth to the Odra River. Moreover, the area is also affected by the construction of the D 47 motorway. The sediments of Cerny prikop represent a significant ecological burden within the Ostrava urban area. They are contaminated by a wide range of organic pollutants which have never been exactly identified.

Loss prevention in heavy industry: risk assessment of large gasholders

Abstract The article summarises results of quantitative risk assessment for the operation of six large gasholders in the area of great industrial agglomeration in the Czech Republic. Gasholders for storing combustion gases contain significant amounts of dangerous substances, especially of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. That is why safety reports on these gasholders were prepared in the framework of implementation of the SEVESO II Directive. Although gasholders have gradually been shut down in the world, they still bring the heavy industry in the area of the city of Ostrava a considerable financial saving. Chosen industrial plants actually combust cheap waste gases, i.e. coking, converter and blast-furnace gases instead of natural gas. As a consequence, the gasholders are not expected to be closed in the near future either. With regard to the age (the oldest gasholder is more than 60 years old) and a high population density in the area concerned, it was necessary to do a detailed risk analysis. Many methods, from simple screening and indexing methods (Selection Method from Purple Book CPR 18E, IAEA-TECDOC-727 method, method based on the Dow’s Fire and Explosion Index), through the systematic HAZOP method, modelling of the dispersion of toxic gas releases up to the determination of risk probability and societal acceptability were employed for the assessment of risks of the gasholders. The goal of the article is to present results of the assessment of risks connected with the operation of the large gasholders, to furnish information about possible operational problems and to verify the applicability of recognised methods of risk analysis for these specific serious sources of risks.