Region In Southern Poland Research Articles

DETERMINANTS OF COOPERATION IN A TOURIST REGION

The aim of the article is to identify determinants of cooperation in tourism under Polish conditions and to present how—positively or negatively—they might impact this cooperation. The author builds a conceptual framework of classifying cooperation determinants in a tourist region. Within this framework, and using a case study approach (the example of a mountain tourist region in southern Poland), two broad groups of cooperation determinants are distinguished: exogenous and endogenous. These are further divided into economic, socio-cultural, demographic, legal, political and spatial factors. The author also finds that, within a Polish context, certain determinants are hindering rather than fostering stakeholder cooperation in a tourist region.

Characterization of bacterial communities at heavy-metal-contaminated sites

The microbial community in soil samples from two long-term contaminated sites was characterized by using culture-dependent and culture-independent methods. The two sites investigated contained high amounts of heavy metals and were located in the upper Silesia Industrial Region in southern Poland. The evaluation of the aerobic soil microbial population clearly demonstrated the presence of considerable numbers of viable, culturable bacteria at both sites. A high fraction of the bacterial population was able to grow in the presence of high amounts of metals, i.e. up to 10mM Zn2+, 3mM Pb2+ or 1mM Cu2+. Site 1 contained significantly (P<0.05) lower bacterial numbers growing in the presence of 10mM Zn2+ than site 2, while the opposite was observed for bacteria tolerating 1mM Cu2+. This coincided with the contents of these two metals at the two sites. Ecophysiological (EP) indices for copiotrophs (r-strategists) and oligotrophs (K-strategists) pointed to high bacterial diversity at both sites. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis indicated that Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria represent the physiologically active fraction of bacteria at the two sites. Shannon diversity (H′) indices for FISH-detected bacterial phylogenetic groups were not significantly different at the two sites.

The larch bark beetle Ips cembrae (Heer) (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae) in young and older larch stands of southern Poland

Kornik modrzewiowiecIps cembrae(Heer) (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae) w młodnikach i starszych drzewostanach modrzewiowych południowej Polski

Ecotoxicological and microbiological characterization of soils from heavy-metal- and hydrocarbon-contaminated sites

The aims of this study were to characterize soils from industrial sites by combining physicochemical, microbiological, and ecotoxicological parameters and to assess the suitability of these assays for evaluation of contaminated sites and ecological risk assessment. The soil samples were taken from long-term contaminated sites containing high amounts of heavy metals (sites 1 and 2) or petroleum hydrocarbons (site 3) located in the upper Silesia Industrial Region in southern Poland. Due to soil heterogeneity, large differences between all investigated parameters were measured. Microbiological properties revealed the presence of high numbers of viable hetrotrophic microorganisms. Soil enzyme activities were considerably reduced or could not be detected in contaminated soils. Activities involved in N turnover (N mineralization and nitrification) were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in samples from the metal-contaminated sites than in samples from the hydrocarbon-contaminated site, whereas the opposite was observed for phosphatase activity. The Microtox test system appeared to be the most appropriate to detect toxicity and significant differences in toxicity between the three sites. The Ostracodtoxkit test was the most appropriate test system to detect toxicity in the hydrocarbon-contaminated soil samples. Correlation analysis between principal components (obtained from factor analysis) determined for physicochemical, microbiological, and ecotoxicological soil properties demonstrated the impact of total and water-extractable contents of heavy metals on toxicity.

Environmental geochemical mapping of the Olkusz 1:25 000 scale map sheet, Silesia–Cracow region, southern Poland

Detailed, multi-media geochemical mapping has been conducted in the heavily industrialized Silesia–Cracow region in southern Poland. This paper focuses on results for a portion of the region within the Olkusz 1:25 000 scale map sheet as an example. Mapping in the Olkusz area has focused on: topsoils collected from 0–0.3 m; subsoils taken from 0.8–1 m; sediments from streams, ponds, and canals; and surface water. The soils were collected at a sampling density of 16 sites per km 2 . Concentrations of Ag, Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mg, Mn, Ni, P, Pb, S, Sr, Ti, V and Zn were determined in topsoil, subsoil and sediments following a hot aqua regia digestion. In addition, organic carbon and grain size distribution were determined in topsoil samples; pH was measured in topsoils, subsoils and surface waters; and conductivity was determined in surface water. Constituents of surface water analysed included Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Cl, Co, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, Sb, SiO 2 , SO 4 , Sr, Ti, Tl, U and Zn. The results revealed that the soils in the Olkusz map sheet are extremely contaminated with As, Cd, Hg, Pb and Zn in the vicinity of Zn-Pb mines and processing facilities, and that these elements show highly anomalous values in areas where soils were developed on outcrops of Zn-Pb ore-bearing Middle Triassic dolomites. The concentrations of the studied elements decrease exponentially with distance from the sources. The sediments of the main watercourses are polluted with Ag, As, Cd, Pb and Zn. In surface waters of high conductivity and nearly neutral pH, high concentrations of heavy metals and Na, K, Li and SO 4 were observed.

P1256 Outbreaks of invasive meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis group C in two regions of southern Poland

P1256 Outbreaks of invasive meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis group C in two regions of southern Poland

Micronuclei in peripheral blood lymphocytes and buccal epithelial cells of Polish farmers exposed to pesticides

In this biomonitoring study, we investigated whether an occupational exposure to a complex mixture of chemical pesticides produced a significant increase of micronuclei (MN) in both peripheral blood lymphocytes and buccal cells. Forty-nine male workers exposed to pesticides, from an agricultural area of Małopolska Region in Southern Poland, together with 50 men from the same area without indication of exposure to pesticides that served as controls, were used in this investigation. No statistically significant differences in the frequencies of cytogenetic damage were detected between exposed and control individuals, for either type of cells. The multiple linear regression analysis in the case of lymphocytes indicated that the studied cytogenetic endpoints were inversely influenced by alcohol; whilst a negative binomial regression, in the case of buccal cells, indicated that the MN values were directly influenced by the ingestion of red meat. An inverse negative relationship between the cytokinesis-block proliferation index and age, and a significant increase of miscarriages due to the exposure to pesticides were also observed.

Molecular epidemiological study of non-small-cell lung cancer from an environmentally polluted region of Poland

The p53 mutation spectrum can generate hypotheses linking carcinogen exposure to human cancer. Although it is well-documented that tobacco smoking is a major cause of lung cancer, the contribution of air pollution is less well-established. We determined the molecular and immunohistochemical changes (p53 gene mutations, p53 protein accumulation and WAF1 protein expression) and genetic polymorphisms of GSTM1, CYP1A1 and CYP2D6 genes in a case series of non-small-cell lung cancers from Silesia. This region of southern Poland is highly industrialized with considerable environmental pollution. More than 50% of lung cancers (90/164) contained p53 mutations and 75% showed the combined alteration of the p53 gene and protein accumulation. Males occupationally exposed to coal-derived substances showed a relatively high frequency of squamous and large-cell carcinomas, relatively frequent mutations in codon 298 of p53 and a low frequency of p53 immunohistochemically positive tumours. Codon 298 GAG→ →TAG mutations have rarely been found in lung cancers in other populations. We found no correlation between WAF1 protein expression and mutations in the p53 gene or p53 protein accumulation. No statistically significant relationship was found between p53 mutations and GSTM1, CYP1A1, CYP2D6 genotypes. Never smokers with lung cancers from Silesia had a higher frequency of G:C→ →T:A transversions than previously reported of the p53 mutation spectrum in never smokers (6/15 vs 4/34; P = 0.06 by χ2). These data are a tentative indication that occupational and environmental exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, such as benzo(a)pyrene, in polluted air contributes to the molecular pathogenesis of lung cancer in never smokers. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaign

Seasonal variation of aromatic DNA adducts in human lymphocytes and granulocytes.

DNA adducts were measured by 32P-postlabelling in lymphocytes and granulocytes of 75 healthy men exposed occupationally and environmentally to high concentrations of aromatic compounds in the ambient air. Volunteers enrolled in the study were men working at the coke batteries and nonoccupationally exposed inhabitants of Silesia, a highly industrialized region in southern Poland. Blood samples were drawn twice: in February and September 1992. Seasonal variations in the levels of DNA adducts were found only in lymphocytes: 3.6- and 8.7-fold in the occupationally and environmentally exposed groups respectively. In smokers the seasonal variation was as large as 12.8-fold in the environmentally exposed group. No seasonal variations were observed in granulocytes. The observed seasonal variation in the level of aromatic DNA adducts coincided with winter/summer differences in the concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene in the ambient air of Silesia. The study recommends the application of lymphocytes for adduct studies in chronic exposures and provides evidence on the repair of aromatic adducts in lymphocytes.

Geological prognosis of potential zinc and lead resources for Triassic formations in the Silesian-Cracow region in southern Poland

Geological prognosis of zinc and lead potential resources for Triassic formations was carried out for the Olkusz district in the southeast part of Silesian-Cracow region. Known deposits, typical phenomena in surrounding rocks, and quantitative methods for metallic ores for the perspective region or formation were a basis for the models. Statistical analysis of zinc and lead distributions and their interpretation were used to distinguish between the populations of background, anomalies, and ore bodies. Estimated values of the thresholds in the Triassic formations, i.e., 0.5 (anomalies) and 1.1 (ore bodies) wt. % of Zn, and 0.3 and 0.7 wt. % of Pb, respectively, represent the natural limits of concentration for both metals. Similar values of the thresholds obtained by other authors for other districts indicate regional regularities of zinc and lead concentration in the Triassic formations in the whole Silesian-Cracow region. Using these threshold values, the perspective zones of metals concentration can be proposed in the poorly explored areas of this region. In known deposits, the natural limit of zinc used as a cut-off value increase the reserves by about 30–40%.

Effects of the degradation of the biophysical environment on mortality in Upper Silesia, Poland

Abstract Upper Silesia is the region of southern Poland where Poland's largest industrial agglomeration connected with coal exploitation and the greatest concentration of metallurgical industry have existed since the 19th century. It is also the most densely populated area in Poland. These old industries cause life conditions that are very difficult, and the degradation of the biophysical environment greatly exceeds acceptable norms. Demographic data in Poland, and especially in this area, are very scarce and often inaccessible, and hence I use only illustrative data and the results of several research studies conducted by demographers and physicians. The clearly negative influence of the biophysical environmental degradation as seen in the increased mortality among children, as well as increased mortality, given as the percentage of people dying of circulatory system and tumorous illnesses, is larger than in other parts of Poland.

Jurassic magnetostratigraphy, 4. Early Callovian through Middle Oxfordian of the Krakow Uplands (Poland)

A magnetic polarity pattern has been constructed for the Early Callovian through Middle Oxfordian stages of the Jurassic from several ammonite-rich magnetostratigraphy sections within the Krakow-Czestochowa-Wielun region of southern Poland. These overlapping sections encompass portions of every ammonite from the late-Early Callovian through late-Middle Oxfordian; however, the presence of several hiatuses and condensed intervals within the shallow-marine to pelagic sediments preclude reliable identification of the complete polarity pattern. The mean Callovian-Oxfordian pole from these sites is at 74.3°N, 200.3°E (α 95 = 4.7°). The Callovian through Early Oxfordian is dominated by reversed polarity with a minimum of five normal-polarity zones. The early-Middle Oxfordian is predominantly of normal polarity, and the late-Middle Oxfordian is characterized by reversed polarity, with several relatively brief normal-polarity episodes. The Callovian and Oxfordian stages appear to average a minimum of two magnetic polarity reversals per million years. This reversal frequency is similar to the average Tertiary record, but is less than the reported spacing of Callovian and Oxfordian magnetic anomalies in the Pacific.

Epidemiology of Down's syndrome in Southern Poland

All live and still-born newborhs were registered in five regions of Southern Poland. A population of 33120 newborns was ascertained. This group constitutes of 54 infants with Down's syndrome, giving the birth prevalence, of 1.63/1000. The occurence risk depended neither on pregnancy order nor paternal age, both standardized for maternal age. The latter standardized for pregnancy order significantly influenced the risk of Down's syndrome(X12=37.6 p<0.0005). The distribution of incidence and relative risk of Down's syndrome depending on maternal age revealed the “J” shaped pattern, beign highest beyond the age 45 (53/1000 and RR=42.25). No association between the prevalence of Down's syndrome and parental occupation was found. Also the distribution of~probands birthdates revealed no significant seasonal trend. Highest standardized incidence of the disease /2.6/1000/ was observed for the Oświcim region a typically industrial area. The relative risk of bearing a child with Down's syndrome in this region in comparison to the remaining population was RR=1.9 (X12=5.03).

Ocena jakości poroża rogaczy w lasach regionu przemysłowego Polski południowej

Examination was made of 357 roe-deer (Capreolus capreolus Linnaeus, 1758) antlers obtained in the Niepołomice Forest (50°07´N, 20°23´E) during the period 1920-1973, analyzing the weight of the antlers, length of the two branches, volume of the antlers as a whole and their quality (general evaluation in accordance with CIC international tables). Zbadano 357 poroży sarn (L.) pozyskanych z Puszczy Niepołomickiej w latach 1920-1973 (Tabela 1). Analizowano przy tym ciężar trofeów, długość obu tyk, objętość poroża oraz jego piękno (ocena ogólna wg międzynarodowych tabel CIC).