Polish Rivers Research Articles

Selected EPs in the water of certain Polish lakes and rivers

Negative and effectively “irreversible” changes in the environment have often been caused by one or more factors including the intensive development of new technologies, progressing urbanisation and - above all - insufficient knowledge of the properties and toxic effects of many chemicals used. Hundreds of non-natural compounds capable of exerting a negative effect on the natural environment have now been identified in it, including within the broad categories of pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Such new and emerging pollutants pose a serious threat to living organisms on account of their tendency to accumulate in certain parts of the environment. Furthermore, the substances in question may prove toxic and harmful to human beings and the environment even at low concentrations. Work described here thus had as its objective an analysis of the pollution of surface water in Poland in terms of content of organic compounds in general, and the aforementioned emerging organic pollutants in particular. Results confirm the presence in waters of such substances as phthalic esters, polybrominated diphenylethers, and organic tin compounds. Reference to average values for individual parameters in the cases of different rivers and lakes further show that, as of 2014-15, the various Polish surface waters researched were characterised by similar levels of pollution, other than in the case of naphthalene.

Nieznany list Zygmunta Vogla do króla Stanisława Augusta oraz kilka refleksji o edukacji malarza

The article presents a letter from Zygmunt Vogel (1764-1826), a future watercolorist, to King Stanislaw August, found in the collection of the National Archives in Cracow. The letter, written in 1786, is very interesting, because it provides a handful of new and unexpected facts to the biography of this important artist, it also indicates – as it seems – the key moment in his life. It turns out that at that time he suffered vision problems and asked the king for permission to leave the Castle Art Workshop, where he was educated, and incorporate him into the corps of the Crown Army engineers. Vogel’s interest in engineering issues stemmed from his previous contacts with Christian Gottfried Deybel von Hammerau, an officer in the pontooner corps, and Jan Ferdynand Nax, a royal builder, dealing with the navigability of Polish rivers, who appeared as teachers of civil and military architecture. The supplication was not acquiesced, because the monarch, appreciating his inherent talent and acquired painting skills, dissuaded him from doing so, supported him with a monthly salary, and soon – after his return from a trip to Kaniow in 1787 – hired him to preserve the architectural monuments of the national past in watercolor vedutas. Vogel did it perfectly and was appointed the royal “cabinet draftsman.” In the autobiography, written by the painter, an image of “the most important moment” in his life appeared – an accidental conversation with Stanislaw August who, giving his patronage to the young man, guided him. However, the published letter to the king proves a certain hoax perpetrated by Vogel. The monarch’s interest was not completely accidental, but was provoked by a petition addressed to him.

Using on-line analyzers and RAC parameters to determine the amount of TN and TP pollutants discharged from Poland into the Baltic Sea

Despite the numerous measures taken to protect its environment for many years, Poland is among the top countries with the largest contributing share in the pollution of the Baltic Sea. It is undoubtedly the case that we are dealing with excesses in the permissible concentrations of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) on many sections of Polish rivers. However, in order to be able to thoroughly analyze this problem, it is first necessary to increase the frequency of TN and TP monitoring in surface waters. The article presents the first results obtained from the TN and TP monitoring system launched in 2016 at the IMGW-PIB on the calculation profile Szczecin (the Odra River) and Tczew (the Vistula River). The on-line analyzers installed for this purpose make it possible to perform measurements several times a day, allowing for the assessment of diurnal and seasonal variations of TN and TP. Using the results obtained, the daily values of the River Absorption Capacity (RAC) parameter were also calculated. The obtained results showed that, in general, the value of the RAC parameter on the analyzed calculation profiles was positive for both TN and TP throughout the entire period, irrespective of the time of year.

Néhány megjegyzés a pannóniai víznevek legrégibb rétegéhez II.

The paper attempts to evaluate earlier solutions given for the etymologies of the river names Drau/Dráva and Raab/Rába. The analysis of these names produces a rather complicated picture: depending on whether the root vowel was originally short or long in Drau/Dráva, this name is either identical or only cognate with the river name Drawa/Drage in Poland. If they are identical, it must be supposed that they originally meant ‘area along the river XY’. The name of the area along the river was then transferred to the river itself. This process must be presupposed for the Polish river name. If the root vowel was short, it is most probable that it was lengthened when the river name was used by a Romance-speaking population before it was borrowed by Slavic people and later by Hungarians. In the case of the river name Raab/Rába, the problem is that at least two concurring etymologies exist, both, however, work only if certain additional suppositions are accepted. Researchers will probably have to grow accustomed to the fact that the one and only solution for the etymologies of river names from this oldest layer will only rarely be found.

Why and how we estimate the growth rate of fish? Practical aspect: Does the preservative size of barbel Barbus barbus is defined properly in Poland?

Based on fish scales, we can determine the age of fish, as well as the rate of growth of the individual from birth until the time of capture. The paper presents a method for determining the rate of growth of fish and the example of their practical application to determine the protective size limit of fish, on the example of barbel in Poland. The available data on the growth rate of barbel in Polish rivers, based on 12 field surveys carried out in 1948–2004 was compared. The growth rate of barbel in different habitats is variable. Barbel growth depends on the size of the river and thermal conditions. The results were compared with maturation age of barbel. Protective size limit definited for barbel, which is 40 cm, is correct. All populations of barbel can reproduce at least once before they reach the preservative size. Most of the populations may reproduce at least two or three times.

Habitat requirements of Elodea canadensis Michx. in Polish rivers

Abstract The main objectives of this work were to investigate the range of habitat conditions (in terms of water chemistry and hydromorphological parameters) at sites colonized by Elodea canadensis and to analyze the species composition of communities with this plant species. We analyzed physicochemical, hydromorphological and biological data from 1135 sites located in Polish rivers to identify environmental factors that determine the occurrence of Elodea canadensis. Canadian waterweed was present at 18.1% of the analyzed river sites, located mainly in the lowlands (26.2% of all lowland sites).The results show that Elodea canadensis prefers moderately mineralized water (545 ± 329 μS cm−1), rich in calcium and magnesium carbonates (174 ± 63 mg CaCO3 l−1, 84.1 ± 31.4 mg Ca2+ l−1 and 11.1 ± 6.4 mg Mg2+ l−1), with moderate concentrations of chlorides and sulfates (38.9 ± 59.1 mg Cl- l−1 and 62.3 ± 50.9 mg SO4 2− l−1) and in terms of nutrients, it prefers water from moderately rich to mesotrophic and eutrophic. This plant has high light requirements and grows mainly in unshaded sections of shallow rivers. The studied species avoids sections of rivers strongly transformed and those with reinforced banks and bottoms. Canadian waterweed occurs mostly in the company of vascular macrophytes associated with slow-flowing rivers with sandy bottom material, indicating mesotrophic and eutrophic water.

Spatial and temporal patterns of total organic carbon along the Vistula River course (Central Europe)

Various recent trends of river organic matter concentrations and flux have been presented for Northern Hemisphere. The catchment of the Vistula River has been a place of intensive economic transformation since the 1980s, which has been accompanied by increase of extreme weather and hydrological events. The patterns of total organic carbon (TOC) has not yet been studied on Vistula River, the largest Polish river, with a basin area of 194000 km2 and a mean annual flow exceeding 1000 m3s-1. Annual TOC concentrations in the river mouth decreased from 10.7 mgC dm−3 to 7 mgC dm−3 between years 2000–2014; however, during a 55-year period, the TOC decrease was estimated to be 45% as a result of a large scale reduction of waste supply to Polish rivers. The Vistula River annual mean TOC export (flow normalized) was 1.54 gC m−2 and significantly decreased, with a high inter-annual variations depending on hydrology. Gradual decreases of TOC flux were observed along the river continuum from headwaters to downstream. TOC export in wet years was 5 times higher than in dry years, indicating the important role of river flooding and droughts on TOC load to the southern Baltic Sea. Dam reservoir located on the lower part of the Vistula River course have had a large impact on the retention of terrestrial TOC load, reducing annual flux by approximately 20%.

The Signal CrayfishPacifastacus leniusculus— Distribution and Invasion in the Southern Baltic Coastal River

The signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus (Dana, 1852) of North American origin was introduced to Europe (to Scandinavia) in the 1960s. Since that time due to translocation to many countries, biological features and ecological plasticity, it became widespread, invasive and displaced native species. The paper reports first multi- point colonization of P. leniusculus in the Polish rivers. The aim of the study was to determine the current distribution of the signal crayfish in the coastal Baltic tributary (the River Wieprza) after 20 years of deliberate releases in its drainage area. During sampling at 28 sites with use of the “Pirate” crayfish traps and hand collection methods in spring and summer 2014, 127 P. leniusculus individuals were found at 8 sites in the Wieprza and its two tributaries, both away from and close to known sites of their introduction in 1995 and 1996 in the Wieprza River drainage area. The species spreads via the Wieprza River towards the Baltic brackish waters. With such expansion of this species, it is expected to be found in Polish coastal waters of the Baltic Sea and in other coastal rivers in the near future. The conflict between legal aspects of the signal crayfish farming, colonization by the species of the natural aquatic ecosystems and the expectations of consumers is discussed.

The genetic approach for assessing sea trout stock enhancement efficiency – An example from the Vistula River

Abstract Many countries in the Baltic Sea basin have initiated enhancement programs for Baltic migratory sea trout, Salmo trutta L., to compensate for losses stemming from anthropogenic pressure that has resulted in the declining population abundance of this species. Regular stock enhancement has been conducted in Poland since the 1960s. Currently, over one million sea trout smolts are released into Polish rivers annually. In most Baltic countries, including Poland, stock enhancement depends on hatcheries producing material using spawners caught in native rivers. However, increasing difficulty obtaining spawners in recent years in Poland has meant that stock enhancement performed in the Vistula has been done largely with material obtained from broodstocks. Simultaneously, there is a lack of information regarding the proportion of wild and cultured sea trout in this river basin. This paper is a review of methods applied to identify individuals from natural and artificial sea trout spawning in rivers, and it proposes using genetic techniques as an alternative to traditional marking methods. A set of 13 microsatellite loci are proposed that are characterized by high selectivity. Using negative controls while simulating the assignment of parental pairs revealed that the number of loci in the set was highly significant and should not be reduced. This method could be useful in the proposed assessment of the proportions of wild and cultured fish in Polish rivers.

Fate and Removal of Pharmaceuticals and Illegal Drugs Present in Drinking Water and Wastewater

Abstract Rapid development of pharmaceutical industry, and thus widespread availability of different types of therapeutical and increased intake of pharmaceuticals, results in elevated concentrations of pharmaceuticals in municipal wastewater subjected to treatment in wastewater treatment plants. Pharmaceuticals present in raw wastewater discharged from hospitals, households, veterinary and health care clinics eventually end up in wastewater treatment plants. Commonly applied methods for treating wastewater do not allow complete removal of these contaminants. As a consequence, pharmaceuticals still present in treated wastewater are introduced to water environment. The most frequently identified pharmaceuticals in surface water belong to the following groups: non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs, beta-blockers, estrogens and lipid regulators. The most difficult is removal of diclofenac, clofibric acid and carbamazepine as these substances show low biodegradability. Diclofenac can be removed in the process of wastewater treatment by 40%, carbamazepine by 10%, and clofibric acid from 26 to 50%. The presence of diclofenac sodium in the rivers in Poland was confirmed and the concentrations were following: 380 ng/dm3 (the Warta river), 470 ng/dm3 (the Odra river), 140 ng/dm3 (the Vistula river). Naproxene was found in the Warta river at the concentration of 100 ng/dm3. The presence of pharmaceuticals in surface water can be toxic to aqueous microorganisms and fish. Recent studies confirmed also the presence of pharmaceuticals in drinking water. This is considered as a problem especially in urban agglomerations such as Berlin or large cities in Spain and China. The studies showed that pharmaceuticals were also identified in the samples taken from the Polish rivers and drinking water. The presence of naproxene and diclofenac at the concentrations of 13 and 4 ng/dm3 was identified in drinking water sampled from water intakes in Poznan. Surface water and drinking water showed also the presence of illegal drugs.

Use of Entropy in the Assessment of Uncertainty of River Runoff Regime in Poland

The objective of this paper is to describe spatial differences in the uncertainty of features of the runoff regimes of Polish rivers based on entropy in Shannon’s information theory. They included: the entropy of monthly river runoff and the entropy of river runoff distribution over time. An analysis of monthly flow series for the years 1951–2010 from 395 gauging stations located on 248 rivers in Poland was performed. This allowed a quantitative determination of the degree of uncertainty of two regime characteristics indirectly establishing the predictability, regularity, and stability of their appearance and their spatial variability. An analysis of relations between the calculated entropy, as well as between the entropy and the classical parameters commonly used was performed in describing the hydrological regime. The obtained grouping of rivers into four categories in terms of entropy of volume and distribution of runoff in the annual cycle clearly coincides with the types of river regime distinguished in Poland.

Determination of antibiotic residues in southern Baltic Sea sediments using tandem solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry

Summary The main objective of this study was to adapt analytical procedures for determining antibiotic residues in solid and aquatic samples to marine sediments and to investigate the occurrence of 9 sulfonamides, trimethoprim and 2 quinolones in southern Baltic Sea sediments. The analytical procedure was applied to sediment samples characterized as sand and silty sand. The validation results showed that a sensitive and efficient method applying tandem solid-phase extraction (SPE) and liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) was obtained. Analytes were determined in the lower ng g −1 range with good accuracy and precision. The proposed analytical procedure was applied to the analysis of 13 sediment samples collected from the Baltic Sea along the Polish coast. Concentrations of antibiotic residues in environmental samples were calculated based on external matrix-matched calibration. Residues of nine out of twelve of the above antibiotics were detected in sediment samples in a concentrations of up to 419.2 ng g −1 d.w. (dry weight). Sulfamethoxazole and sulfachloropyridazine were the most frequently detected compounds (58% of the analyzed samples). The occurrence frequency of trimethoprim was 42% and it was always detected simultaneously with sulfamethoxazole. Preliminary studies on the spatial distribution of the analyzed antibiotics indicate a high level of antibiotics occurring in the Pomeranian Bay and close to the mouths of Polish rivers. The study is the first one to demonstrate the occurrence of antibiotic residues in sediments of the Polish coastal area. The obtained results suggest that sediment can be an important secondary source of antibiotic residues in the marine environment.

Long-term changes in temperature of river waters in the transitional zone of the temperate climate: a case study of Polish rivers

ABSTRACTThe article discusses the range and course of changes in the thermal regime of 14 rivers in Poland over the period 1961–2010. Eleven rivers are located in the Central European Plain, and the others flow in the foothills of the Carpathians Mountains. Statistical analyses take into consideration the results of daily measurements of water temperature carried out at 16 hydrological stations by the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management—National Research Institute. In the first part of the analysed period (1961–1986) water temperature in most rivers declined in relation to its mean value for the entire study period (1961–2010). In 1987 there was a reverse trend: the temperature started rising. The fastest increase in water temperature was recorded in the western part of the study area, and it became slower towards the east. In the southern part of the study area (the foothills) changes of that kind were not observed. The mean yearly temperature of fluvial waters in the Central European Plain showed a positive trend, ranging from 0.17 to 0.27°C (10 years)-1, whereas it did not change in the rivers in the foothills of the Carpathians Mountains. Its fastest rise was recorded in spring, and it reached from 0.08 to 0.43°C (10 years)-1. The increase in water temperature correlated strongly with rising air temperature. The temperature of river waters in the lowlands is believed to be a good indicator of climatic changes.Editor M.C. Acreman Associate editor T. Okruszko

CPLFD-GDPT5: High-resolution gridded daily precipitation and temperature data set for two largest Polish river basins

Abstract. The CHASE-PL (Climate change impact assessment for selected sectors in Poland) Forcing Data–Gridded Daily Precipitation & Temperature Dataset–5 km (CPLFD-GDPT5) consists of 1951–2013 daily minimum and maximum air temperatures and precipitation totals interpolated onto a 5 km grid based on daily meteorological observations from the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW-PIB; Polish stations), Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD, German and Czech stations), and European Climate Assessment and Dataset (ECAD) and National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration–National Climatic Data Center (NOAA-NCDC) (Slovak, Ukrainian, and Belarusian stations). The main purpose for constructing this product was the need for long-term aerial precipitation and temperature data for earth-system modelling, especially hydrological modelling. The spatial coverage is the union of the Vistula and Oder basins and Polish territory. The number of available meteorological stations for precipitation and temperature varies in time from about 100 for temperature and 300 for precipitation in the 1950s up to about 180 for temperature and 700 for precipitation in the 1990s. The precipitation data set was corrected for snowfall and rainfall under-catch with the Richter method. The interpolation methods were kriging with elevation as external drift for temperatures and indicator kriging combined with universal kriging for precipitation. The kriging cross validation revealed low root-mean-squared errors expressed as a fraction of standard deviation (SD): 0.54 and 0.47 for minimum and maximum temperature, respectively, and 0.79 for precipitation. The correlation scores were 0.84 for minimum temperatures, 0.88 for maximum temperatures, and 0.65 for precipitation. The CPLFD-GDPT5 product is consistent with 1971–2000 climatic data published by IMGW-PIB. We also confirm good skill of the product for hydrological modelling by performing an application using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) in the Vistula and Oder basins. Link to the data set: doi:10.4121/uuid:e939aec0-bdd1-440f-bd1e-c49ff10d0a07.

Comparison of Two Nonstationary Flood Frequency Analysis Methods within the Context of the Variable Regime in the Representative Polish Rivers

Changes in river flow regime resulted in a surge in the number of methods of non-stationary flood frequency analysis. Common assumption is the time-invariant distribution function with time-dependent location and scale parameters while the shape parameters are time-invariant. Here, instead of location and scale parameters of the distribution, the mean and standard deviation are used. We analyse the accuracy of the two methods in respect to estimation of time-dependent first two moments, time-invariant skewness and time-dependent upper quantiles. The method of maximum likelihood (ML) with time covariate is confronted with the Two Stage (TS) one (combining Weighted Least Squares and L-moments techniques). Comparison is made by Monte Carlo simulations. Assuming parent distribution which ensures the asymptotic superiority of ML method, the Generalized Extreme Value distribution with various values of linearly changing in time first two moments, constant skewness, and various time-series lengths are considered. Analysis of results indicates the superiority of TS methods in all analyzed aspects. Moreover, the estimates from TS method are more resistant to probability distribution choice, as demonstrated by Polish rivers’ case studies.

Determination of Parabens in Polish River and Lake Water as a Function of Season

ABSTRACTA method for the determination of methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, and benzylparaben is reported. A polymeric cartridge containing ultra-pure polystyrene cross-linked with 50% divinylbenzene and 50% poly(methyl methacrylate) was employed for the isolation of parabens from water samples. The extracted samples were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The limits of detection for the method were from 0.3 to 2.9 ng L−1 that allowed the determination of parabens in river and lake water samples with suitable precision and accuracy. There was high variability in the results depending on time of sample collection. The highest concentrations were obtained for samples collected in July – up to 466 ng L−1 of methylparaben and 144 ng L−1 of propylparaben.

Occurrence of immunosuppressive drugs and their metabolites in the sewage-impacted Vistula and Utrata Rivers and in tap water from the Warsaw region (Poland)

Immunosuppresive therapy following organ transplant frequently includes treatment with tacrolimus and mycophenolic acid derivatives. These pharmaceuticals may enter the environment through wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents and may have a potentially harmful effect on aquatic biota. Tacrolimus, mycophenolic acid and their metabolites were measured at specific points of a large Polish river (Vistula), a smaller river (Utrata) and in tap water samples from the Warsaw region. Analysis was performed using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, after solid phase extraction for water samples, or QuEChERS extraction for sediments. Residues of tacrolimus were below quantitation limits in both water and sediment samples. However, in water samples mycophenolic acid concentrations were measured at up to 180 ng L−1 downstream of WWTP outfalls. No immunosuppressive drugs were detected in tap water. Concentrations of mycophenolic acid exceeded the predicted no effect concentration (PNEC) value in some Polish surface water, and risk calculations predicted at least twice higher concentrations in some other countries of the European Union. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of these immunosuppressive drug concentrations in the environment.

Analysis of the filtration processes in soil embankment based on numerical modelling and temperature measurements

This paper presents analysis of the filtration processes in experimental soil embankment. The analysis is made during flooding experiments. The analysis is based on numerical modelling and temperature measurements. The measurements were performed on experimental embankment, which size is in scale 1:5 comparing to Polish typical river embankments. This experimental embankment was built in a frame of ISMOP project [1]. It was constructed by the NeoSentio company to investigate the influence of sensors installation for the filtration process and structure stability. The embankment was dry in the beginning of the experiment. The flooding and discharging process took about 8 hours. Filtration of water through the embankment caused changes of the inner temperature, which was measured by thermal sensors inside the embankment. Pore pressure sensors registered changes in water level in embankment. Furthermore, 2D numerical modelling in FLAC 7.0 software was performed. The model reflects the geometric and geotechnical attributes of the real embankment. Comparison between measured and modelled temperatures was performed. The model quite well predicts the time when water reach each sensor. But there is a difference in the rate of fall of water level. Modification the parameters of the model allows to fit the modelled data to measured values.

Mapping of Dermacentor reticulatus expansion in Poland in 2012–2014

Rapid expansion of the tick Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabricius) has been reported in many European countries. In Poland its range was limited to the area on the eastern side of the Vistula River up until the 1990s. However, new foci were recently discovered, while the centre of the country and mountain regions are believed to be free of this tick and are known as “the gap”. A few unconfirmed factors, like unfavourable weather conditions, changes in land cover and absence of competent hosts have previously been reported as possible reasons for the absence of D. reticulatus in this area. Since D. reticulatus plays an important role for the maintenance and the circulation of tick-borne pathogens, we (1) determined its actual range in Poland, (2) monitored its expansion in 2012–2014 and (3) correlated abiotic conditions on its known range. Dragging was conducted in the area between the Vistula River and the western border of Poland in 2012–2014, along the three major Polish rivers and their tributaries. Temperature and humidity on the ground were recorded 4 times a day at a total of 32 sites.D. reticulatus was found in 21 new locations on the western side of the Vistula River and in 22 locations in western Poland. The presence of this tick species was confirmed for the first time in Wielkopolskie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie and Łódzkie voivodeships. Existence of ‘the gap’ was confirmed on a strip of land along the northwest–southeast axis (an area of approximately 151000km2), that extends between Zachodniopomorskie and Pomorskie in the North, and the mountain areas with foothills in the South, in Opolskie, Śląskie, Małopolskie and Podkarpackie voivodeships. This gap divides the tick population in Poland into two separated populations – Western and Eastern. The lowest abundance of ticks was found in the newly established foci in central and western Poland.Our study showed the need for the monitoring of the D. reticulatus expansion. Early detection of new foci is crucial for taking proper prevention measures.

TRANSFORMATION OF THE WATER QUALITY IN THE SŁUPIA RIVER (POLAND)

The objective of this paper was to present the water quality changes of the one of Polish rivers - Słupia River, located in the Pomeranian Region. The Słupia River receives pollutants derived from non-point and point sources of pollution. This is due to the agricultural and forested character of the river’s basin and the location of the towns of Słupsk and Ustka on the river. The elaboration covers the period from 1988 to 2007 and is based on hydrological data, completed as a part of surface water monitoring programme run by the Inspectorate for Environment Protection and the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management. The changes of physicochemical properties of Słupia River i.e. phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations, BOD5, and amounts of heavy metals were studied. Presented data, showed that the Słupia River has responded to a major nutrient loading reduction. The current concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus form in river allows qualifying the water to first quality class.