North-eastern Part Of Poland Research Articles

English

Traditional meat products, particularly cured meat products, represent a specific group of products with large consumers in many countries of the world. The methods of producing them, depending on the country and region from which they originate, make them significantly different from their industrially produced equivalents; they may influence the microbiological quality of such products, making their health safety significant. The aim of this study is to determine the microbiological quality of polish traditional cured meat products manufactured in the North-eastern part of Poland (Warmia and Mazury, Pomerania and Podlasie). Nine types of cured meat products manufactured by four producers were investigated. In total, 90 samples of cured meat products were tested. The tests did not reveal the presence of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli or Salmonella species in the cured meat products. In one of the products tested (Szynka WÄ™dzona z Mazurskiej Masarni - raw), the presence of Listeria monocytogenes was detected, and in two of the products tested (Szynka WÄ™dzona z Mazurskiej Masarni - raw and Kindziuk from PuÅ„sk), Staphylococcus xylosus was detected. The total count of mesophilic aerobic microorganisms (TVC) ranged between 2.48 log cfu/g in PolÄ™dwica WÄ™dzona z Mazurskiej Masarni to 6.45 log cfu/g in WÄ…trobianka, with the average values ranging from 2.99 to 5.56 log cfu/g (depending on the type of product tested). Own studies indicate that polish traditional meat products have no significance as a source of food borne pathogens; however, maintaining sanitary regimes seems to be essential for assuring quality and safety of these special products.   Key words: Traditional products, cured meat products, microbiological quality, Listeria monocytogenes.

Chlorinated hydrocarbons residues in milk fat of selected farm animals from the north-eastern part of Poland

Abstract The aim of the study was to determine and compare the concentrations of chlorinated hydrocarbons residues (DDT, DDE, DDD, γ-HCH) in the milk fat of selected species of farm animals. The experiment was carried out on cow’s, sheep’s, goat’s, and mare’s milk samples originating from different parts of north-eastern Poland. The samples were prepared using Röse-Gottlieb’s and Ludwicki’s methods. The determination of the compounds was conducted with gas chromatography. All tested samples contained the residues of chlorinated hydrocarbons. The results varied depending on the animal species as well as the places of sample collections. The highest content of γ-HCH and ΣDDT was determined in cow’s milk (22.75; 53.12 μg/kg of fat, respectively). The lowest level of γ-HCH and ΣDDT was observed in sheep’s milk (0.25; 5.94 μg/kg of fat, respectively). The content of chlorinated hydrocarbons did not exceed the maximum acceptable levels of these compounds.

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Prototheca zopfii isolated from bovine mastitis

Abstract The aim of the study was to evaluate the susceptibility of algae of the genus Prototheca to antifungal and antibacterial antibiotics. The study involved 27 isolates of Prototheca zopfii obtained from milk of mastitis-affected cows kept in a detached cowshed in the North-Eastern part of Poland. Analysis of P. zopfii susceptibility has demonstrated low effectiveness of both antifungal and antibacterial antibiotics. All algae isolated from milk were resistant to clotrimazole, fluconazole, econazole, flucytosine, cefoperazone, cephalexin, enrofloxacin, lincomycin, and oxytetracycline (100% of resistant isolates), as well as miconazole (92.6% of resistant isolates). Nystatin, ketoconazole, and amphotericin B showed the highest activity amongst the antifungal antibiotics (88.9% and 0.0%, 51.9% and 22.2%, 0.0% and 48.1% of susceptible and intermediate susceptible isolates, respectively). In the group of antibacterial antibiotics, the high activity against P. zopfii was observed only in the case of gentamicin, kanamycin (96.3% and 92.6% of susceptible isolates, respectively), and polymyxin B (59.3% of susceptible and 33.3% of intermediate susceptible isolates).

Outbreak of protothecal mastitis in a herd of dairy cows in Poland

Abstract The study was carried out in a herd of 280 dairy cows in the North-Eastern part of Poland in the summer of 2011. During the period of 5-6 months before the study, mastitis cases resistant to routine antibiotic therapy were observed in this herd. Bacteriological examination of 280 milk samples collected from 70 cows with clinical or subclinical forms of mastitis was performed. Diagnosis of mastitis was made on the basis of anamnesis, clinical examination of the udder, macroscopic evaluation of secretion, California mastitis test (CMT), and results of bacteriological examination of milk. Protothecal mastitis was detected in 34 cows (12.6% of all cows in the herd). Algae belonging to Prototheca zopfii were isolated from 27 milk samples in pure cultures; in the remaining seven samples, mixed infections were identified (P. zopfii and Staphylococcus sp.). The acute form accompanied by elevated body temperature (40 C), pain and hot oedema of the udder, loss of appetite, and reluctance to move were observed in two cows immediately after delivery. The similar symptoms were also noted in three cows with mixed infections. The chronic form of protothecal mastitis was characterised by pasty oedema in the udder of slight painfulness and hard tissue consistency, as well as markedly reduced milk secretion. The macro- and microscopic changes in the mammary tissue was indicative of chronic, fusing microgranulomatous interstitial mastitis protothecosa.

SPREADING OF BRINE DISCHARGED INTO THE PUCK BAY (SOUTH BALTIC SEA): THEORETICAL STUDY VERSUS FIELD OBSERVATIONS

Increasing demands for gas storage capacity encouraged Polish Gas and Oil Company (PGNiG) to make use of salt deposits located in the north-eastern part of Poland, in the area bordering on the Gulf of GdaÅ,,sk (South Baltic Sea), and create underground gas stores. A complex of 10 chambers (250x106 m3) was designed to be built at a depth of 800-1600 m. The construction site is located about 4 km away from the sea coast. The drilling of boreholes and diluting of salt rock was proposed as a method of creating the chambers. Owing to ecological reasons, maximum discharge of brine is limited to 300 m3/h with the max. saturation of 250 kg/m3. The Puck Bay is a shallow water body with wind-driven currents and negligible tides. The main difficulty of the investment lay in the effective spreading of brine in the Puck Bay in accordance with all requirements that apply to regions protected by NATURA 2000. The most important restriction was the permitted excess salinity, defined as 0.5 PSU over the natural salinity in the Puck Bay. The location of brine discharge, number and diameters of nozzles, as well as consequences of brine discharge on the Puck Bay water, had been analyzed before the permission to install the system of diffusers was granted by the regional administration. 
 The installation consists of a system of 16 heads spaced every 45 m, each of them equipped with 3 nozzles of 8 mm diameter.

Modifications in the content of available zinc and copper in soil fertilized with bio-waste composts

The aim of this study has been to determine the indirect and direct effects of farmyard manure and sewage sludge composts, produced in the north-eastern part of Poland, on the content of 1 mol HCl⋅dm-3 soluble forms of zinc and copper in soil. In 2004-2007, a field experiment was carried out at the Experimental Station in Ba³cyny near Ostroda. The experiment was established on proper grey-brown podzolic soil originating from light boulder clay, which was rich in P, moderately abundant in K and low in Mg. It comprised a four-field crop rotation system (potato, spring barley, winter oilseed rape and winter wheat. The design of the experiment, set up according to the random block method, involved 8 objects (2 x 4): 1) farmyard manure, 2) compost (sewage sludge + straw), 3) dried and granulated sewage sludge, 4) composted sewage sludge. The composts and FYM were introduced to soil once (in 2004) at a rate of 10 t d.m.⋅ha -1 or 2 × 5 d.m.⋅ha -1 (under potato and winter oilseed rape). In 2004, nitrogen in the soil enriched with natural fertilizers was balanced to 150 kg⋅ha-1 according to the N-total content. In 2005, soil cropped with spring barley received only mineral fertilization, whereas winter oilseed rape received the second rate of organic fertilizers (in the series consisting of 2 × 5 d.m.⋅ha -1 ) and nitrogen was balanced to 120 kg⋅ha -1 . In 2006, soil under winter wheat received only mineral fertilization. Prior to the establishment of the experiment, soil, manure and compost samples were taken. Having been averaged, the samples were subjected to determination of their content of Cu and Zn in 1 mol HCl dm -3 . The soil, whose reaction was 5.04 in 1 mol HCl dm -3 , was moderately abundant in available zinc and low in copper. After four years of the trials, the levels of available forms of copper and zinc in the soil fertilized with sewage sludge

Assessment of the chlorinated hydrocarbons residues contamination in edible mushrooms from the North-Eastern part of Poland

The aim of the study was to determine the content of chlorinated hydrocarbon residues in edible mushrooms from the north-eastern part of Poland. Material consisted of two species of fungi: Xerocomus mushrooms (Xerocomus badius), Boletus mushrooms (Boletus edulis). The dried samples (cups and cut-up material) were extracted with Soxhlet method in order to obtain lipid substances. In the fat chlorinated hydrocarbons were determined by Ludwicki et al. (1996) method. The separation and quantitative determination of DDT, DDE, DDD and γ-HCH were conducted with the method of gas chromatography using an electron capture detector – ECD. In all tested samples the presence of γ-HCH, DDT and its metabolites (DDE, DDD) was detected. The higher content of γ-HCH was found in Xerocomus mushrooms (average 0.125μg/kg of mushrooms); in the Boletus mushrooms −0.11μg/kg of mushrooms. The content of ΣDDT in cups of Xerocomus mushrooms was more than 2-fold higher than in those of Boletus mushrooms (3.78:1.71mg/kg of mushrooms). The opposite relationship was observed for cut-up material. The higher concentration of ΣDDT was found in Boletus mushrooms (2.26mg/kg of mushrooms) while in Xerocomus mushrooms this content was 0.91mg/kg of mushrooms. Despite the fact that chlorinated hydrocarbons were determined in all samples under study, their contents do not exceed acceptable levels indicating that the consumption of mushrooms does not pose a health risk to consumers from the organochlorine compounds.

Impact of remotely sensed land-cover proportions on urban runoff prediction

Land-cover impacts volume, intensity and contamination of runoff generated by rainfall events in catchments. This study demonstrates how the method used for estimation of land-cover proportions impacts the runoff from a distributed, physically based hydrological model – WetSpa. The study area is the urbanized catchment of Biala River, situated in the northeastern part of Poland. Three scenarios of land-cover proportion estimation were tested: a semi-distributed approach where the average proportion of impervious surface cover per land-use type is estimated based on hard classification of a high-resolution IKONOS scene and two distributed approaches with land-cover class proportions estimated at the level of individual cells based on hard classification of a high-resolution IKONOS scene and sub-pixel classification of a medium-resolution Landsat 5 TM scene respectively. Validation of the three scenarios based on a comparison of modeled versus observed discharge shows that best results are obtained for the two distributed scenarios with a Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NS) of 0.62 for the hard classification approach and NS=0.63 for the sub-pixel approach. The hard classification approach performed best in the estimation of peak discharges. The semi-distributed modeling scenario resulted in the lowest simulation efficiency (NS=0.40) and did not perform well in estimating observed peak discharges. It is concluded that scenarios in which land-cover proportions are distributed improved considerably the simulation results of hydrological processes in physically based models.

The Status of BK Polyomavirus Replication in Adult Renal Transplant Recipients in Northeastern Poland

Purpose BK polyomavirus (BKV) infection and BKV-associated nephropathy (BKVAN) are among the most important problems in renal transplantation. We aimed to determine the incidence of BK viruria, viremia, and BKVAN in renal transplant recipients in the northeastern part of Poland. Methods Urine and blood samples from 126 cadaveric renal transplant recipients were analyzed for BK viruria and viremia using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and the patients were followed prospectively. The diagnosis of BKVAN was established on the allograft biopsy. Results Based on the BKV DNA analysis, the patients were divided into three groups: group 1 ( n = 89; 70.6%) without viruria or viremia, group 2 ( n = 24; 19.1%) with isolated viruria, and group 3 ( n = 13; 10.3%) with both viruria and viremia. The presence of BK viremia negatively correlated with time after the transplantation. BK viruria was associated with mycophenolate mofetil daily dose. In group 3 there were four patients (3.2%) with high viremia (>10 4 genome equivalents [gEq]/mL) and viruria (>10 7 gEq/mL) loads. Only one patient from this group developed clinical symptoms and had BKVAN in allograft biopsy. In all four cases, the maintenance immunosuppression therapy was based on tacrolimus and steroids. Conclusion Prevalence of BKV infection in renal transplant recipients in the northeastern part of Poland is similar to that reported by studies from other countries. We confirm that BK viremia could be predicted by the presence of intense viruria. Time after transplantation and the type of immunosuppression strategy are the most important predictors of BK viremia and viruria in patients after renal transplantation.

Selenium and 17 other largely essential and toxic metals in muscle and organ meats of Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) — Consequences to human health

Concentrations, composition and interrelationships of selenium and metallic elements (Ag, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Ga, Mn, Mo, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sr, Tl, V and Zn) have been examined in muscle and organ meats of Red Deer hunted in Poland. The analytical data obtained were also discussed in terms of Se supplementation and deficit to Deer as well as the benefits and risk to humans associated with the essential and toxic metals intake resulting from consumption of Deer meat and products. These elements were determined in 20 adult animals of both sexes that were obtained in the 2000/2001 hunting season from Warmia and Mazury in the north-eastern part of Poland. The whole kidneys contained Ba, Cd, Cr, Ga, Pb, Se, Sr and Tl at statistically greater concentrations than liver or muscle tissue from the same animal. Liver showed statistically greater concentrations of Ag, Co, Cu, Mn and Mo than kidneys or muscle tissue, and muscle tissue was richer in Zn, when compared to the kidneys or liver. Cs and Rb were similarly distributed between all three tissue types, while V was less abundant in liver than kidneys or muscle tissue. There were significant associations between some metallic elements retained in Red Deer demonstrated by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of the data set. In organ and muscle meats (kidneys, liver and muscle tissue considered together) the first principal component (PC1) was strongly influenced by positively correlated variables describing Se, Ba and Cd and negatively correlated variables describing Ag, Co, Cs, Mn, Pb, Tl and V; PC2, respectively, by Cu, Mn and Mo (+) and Zn (−); PC3 by Ga (+) and PC4 by Sb (+). Selenium occurred in muscle tissue, liver and kidneys at median concentrations of 0.13, 0.19 and 4.0mg/g dry weight, respectively. These values can be defined as marginally deficient (<0.6mg Se/kg liver dw) or satisfactory (≤3.0mg Se/kg kidneys dw) for the amount required to maintain the Deer's body condition and health, depending on the criterion for supplementation used. In terms of human nutritional needs, a relatively high selenium content of kidneys can be beneficial. The muscle meat, liver and kidneys of Red Deer can be considered as a very good source of essential Co, Cr, Cu, Mo, Mn, Se and Zn in the human diet. Lead is generally considered as toxic, and the concentrations found in Red Deer (via the food chain intake) were well below the European Union tolerance limit. Pb from the lead bullets can always create food hygienic problem, if not well recognized during sanitary inspection, and this was noted for one muscle meat sample in this study (5% surveyed). There is no tolerance limit of Cd in game animal meats. The median values of Cd noted in fresh muscle tissue, liver and whole kidneys were 0.07, 0.18, and 3.3mg/kg wet weight, respectively. Cd exists as a chemical element present at trace levels in plants and mushrooms in Deer's food chain in background (uncontaminated) areas. When these are consumed by the Deer, the amount of Cd sequestered with metallothioneins and retained in the organ and muscle meat in this study is low enough to be considered safe for human consumption.

Nuclear and mitochondrial patterns of introgression into native dark bees (Apis mellifera mellifera) in Poland

SummaryThe genetic diversity of the north and western European subspecies of honey bee, Apis mellifera mellifera (the “dark bee”) is severely endangered due to hybridization with introduced bees of evolutionary branch C. Genetic variability of native honey bees in the north-eastern part of Poland, including a special isolated breeding zone in the Augustów Forest, has been investigated using mitochondrial DNA and nuclear microsatellites. These involve analysis for alien haplotypes of the tRNAleu-COII region and presence of diagnostic alien alleles respectively, in conjunction with a Bayesian model based approach. We found that approximately 10 to 30% of the nuclear gene pool and 3 to 50% of mitochondria in the studied populations were derived from non-native bees. Our data revealed the presence of hybrids in populations formerly considered to be the most pure populations of dark bees in Poland. We suggest that the Bayesian analysis of admixture based on nuclear microsatellites provides a reliable tool for measuring introgression in dark bees, which should be routinely used for evaluation during conservation programmes.

Bornholm i ældre stenalder – Status over kulturel udvikling og kontakter

Bornholm i ældre stenalder – Status over kulturel udvikling og kontakter

Changes in commercially exploited populations of tench, Tinca tinca (L.) in lakes of Northeastern Poland

Commercially exploited tench populations in 755 lakes in the Northeastern part of Poland were observed on the basis of the fishing data from 1951 to 1994. The observations were analyzed in five size categories of water reservoirs, whose total area reached over 123,900 ha. The analyses were performed according to the parameter of a commercial fish catch per area unit, taking into consideration the number of months per year when the lakes were exploited. Statistically significant differences were determined in the mean value of the tench catch parameter between the different size categories of lakes. Similar time-related differences were observed. In the lakes >100 ha the relative tench catch gradually declined in the successive time intervals. Tench was the rarest in catches from lakes <50 ha. The complete disappearance of tench from commercial catches occurred first as early as the late 1960s in lakes <200 ha. The largest quantities of tench stocking material were introduced to the lakes from 1951 to 1972. The amount of stocking material per 1 ha of stocked lakes decreased for larger lakes. The average frequency of tench stocking in the analyzed lakes was higher in larger lake size categories. On the other hand, in each lake size group the frequency of stocking was found to have declined along with the average volume of the stocking material in the subsequent 11-year-long periods.

Effect of the earthworm Lumbricus rubellus on the nematode community in a peat meadow soil

The effect of different densities of Lumbricus rubellus on the nematode community was studied in a field experiment. The stand, a cultivated meadow on peat-muck soil developed from moderately decomposed alder peat, was located on drained fens in the central basin of the Biebrza valley in the north-eastern part of Poland. Samples were taken from soil isolators into which 0, 2, 4 or 6 earthworms were previously introduced. The abundance and trophic structure of the nematode fauna in the different treatments were compared 30, 60, 90 and 120 d after the introduction of L. rubellus. The effect of L. rubellus on soil nematodes was most pronounced at the beginning of the experiment. Thirty days after introduction of L. rubellus, the total number of nematodes in all trials with earthworms was significantly lower than in the control, and nematode numbers decreased with increasing L. rubellus density. On later sampling dates, the results were less clear and 120 d after introduction of L. rubellus no significant effect on the total number of nematodes was observed in the treatments. The abundance of the bacterial-, fungal- and plant-feeding nematodes in the treatments with earthworms was lower than in the control 30 d after introduction of L. rubellus, but significant differences were found only in the case of bacterial feeders.

Variation in Juvenile Growth Rhythm among Picea abies Provenances from the Baltic States and the Adjacent Regions

Knowledge on the pattern of variation in growth rhythm among Baltic Picea abies populations is limited. Growth rhythm of 108 Picea abies provenances from the Baltic states, north-eastern Poland, western Russia, north-western Belarus, Sweden and southern Finland was studied for three growth periods in two nursery trials located in central Sweden and in central Lithuania. Damage by natural frost desiccation was assessed at an age of two years in the Swedish trial. Variation among the Baltic provenances in juvenile growth rhythm traits was essentially clinal over latitude and longitude. According to a multiple regression function, a change in 1° of latitude corresponded to 2.4° degree change in longitude. When moving from the north-eastern part of Poland towards north-east, the seedlings became shorter and more tolerant to frost desiccation with earlier budburst and budset. Photoperiod and temperature climate were identified as the main determinants for the clinal variation among the Baltic populations of Picea abies in growth rhythm traits over the ecological gradients from south to north and from coastalto inland sites.

Study of 222Rn concentrations in drinking water in the north-eastern hydroregions of Poland

This paper presents the results of radon concentration measurements in the drinking water from the municipal water supply system and private wells located in the north-eastern part of Poland. The measurements were carried out on 643 samples using a liquid scintillation method. The mean value was found to be 5262 Bq m −3 with a maximum of 38347 Bq m −3. The samples were obtained from different water-bearing levels, i.e. surface water, deep borehole water and well water and have respective mean values of 3398, 5178 and 6155 Bq m −3. In 57 water samples, a guideline maximum level of 11 000 Bq m −3 was found to be exceeded. The observed radon concentration in water can contribute to a 2% increase in indoor radon concentration.

Bottom sediments in a humic lake with artificially increased calcium content: Sink or source for phosphorus?

Lake Flosek (north-eastern part of Poland) is a small shallow and without outflow lake which has been limed in 1970. The concentration of Ca was increased from 3-4 mg L-1 to 17 mg L-1 in the water and from 0.2-0.3% dry weight to 0.9-1.7% dry weight in sediments (5 cm upper layer) due to CaCO3 addition to the lake.

Analytical determination of actinides in environmental samples of the North Eastern Part of Poland

Low level alpha-spectrometry was applied for the determination of actinides separated from environmental samples. Interference free detection limits of 1.5–2.0 E-5 Bq at a counting interval of 150,000 sec and detection limits of the investigated samples of 0.05–0.005 Bq kg−1 were determined.