http://hdl.handle.net/11089/1304 Tue, 07 Apr 2026 23:12:57 GMT 2026-04-07T23:12:57Z http://hdl.handle.net/11089/56789 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Impact of municipal and industrial wastewater on river catchment water quality Matuszewska, Dominika; Kiedrzyńska, Edyta; Kiedrzyński, Marcin; Zalewski, Maciej Due to the environmental threat posed by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), these compounds are included on the priority substance lists of both the U.S. EPA and the European Union. Monitoring their sources is therefore crucial for protecting aquatic ecosystems. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the PAH content of municipal and industrial wastewater and its transport and distribution along the Pilica River continuum, the largest left-bank tributary of the Vistula River. The highest PAH loads to the Pilica River were discharged by class IV municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs); this was related to the volume of WWTP outflow, and the composition of treated wastewater, which was dominated by phenanthrene (PHE), pyrene (PYR) and naphthalene (NAP). Among industrial sources, the fruit and vegetable processing sector contributed the most PAHs, while the furniture sector showed the greatest variation in PAH composition. Despite the large PAH loads carried along the Pilica river continuum, none of the identified concentrations in the tested samples exceeded the standards contained in Directive 2013/39/EU of the European Parliament and Council. Furthermore, among all sample types, the emission of PAH loads peaked in the autumn-winter period; the samples also demonstrated common correlation patterns, indicating common sources and similar environmental properties. A key innovation of the study is its holistic approach, i.e. it treats the entire river basin as a unified research system. This perspective enables better understanding of PAH transport, retention, and degradation processes, which are essential for assessing ecological risk and developing effective pollution management strategies. Sat, 01 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/11089/56789 2025-11-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/11089/56446 Wastewater as a Driver of Heavy Metal Pollution in River Catchments – a study of possible scenarios Matuszewska, Dominika; Kiedrzyńska, Edyta; Harnisz, Monika; Kiedrzyński, Marcin Heavy metal pollution is one of the main problems of the Baltic Sea, caused by the inflow of large loads with river waters. Heavy metals can enter rivers i.a. from point sources such as wastewater treatment plants and industrial plants with inadequately-treated wastewater. The present article examines (i) the impact of WWTPs and industrial facilities on the pollution of the Pilica River, (ii) heavy metal loads along its continuum, and (iii) the identification of common pollution patterns in wastewater and river water, and the effect of their physicochemical properties. Among WWTPs, the highest heavy metal concentrations are generated by the smallest plants, and the highest loads by the largest ones, which is related to the size of their flow. In addition, industrial plants are significant sources of point pollution of rivers, with arsenic, tin, zinc, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, nickel, lead, chromium, mercury and barium being detected in wastewater. The most common heavy metal in the Pilica was found to be Barium, with the highest loads observed in winter (66.29-216.98 kg/day). In addition to Ba, depending on the season, arsenic, copper and nickel were also detected. The article takes an innovative approach employing two data calculation variants, which allowed for a comprehensive analysis that captured both typical and less predictable scenarios of river pollution. It also presents an example of modification of the sedimentation-filtration system as a sustainable solution for removing heavy metals from treated wastewater. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/11089/56446 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/11089/55647 An analysis of catchment factors associated with heavy metal export into the Baltic Sea and Nature-Based Solutions aimed at its limitation Matuszewska, Dominika; Kiedrzyńska, Edyta; Jóźwik, Adam; Kiedrzyński, Marcin The aim of the article was to determine the shares of individual Baltic countries participating in the inflow of metal loads to the Baltic Sea and identify patterns of similarity between these countries regarding the causes of heavy metal load generation. The analyses used HELCOM and EUROSTAT data. The findings indicate that Finland and Sweden generate the highest total loads of heavy metals flowing in through rivers. However, Lithuania and Finland are distinguished by high metal loads calculated per km² of catchment area. Clustering countries in terms of their similarity in the heavy metal loads provided to the Baltic resulted in three groups. Finland and Lithuania generates the highest mean loads of cadmium, chromium, nickel and zinc per unit area [kg/km²/year]. Estonia and Latvia generates the highest mean annual loads of lead, mercury and copper. Poland, Germany and Sweden generates the lowest heavy metal loads. Multidimensional data analysis showed a strong correlation between aquaculture production in the Baltic Sea catchment area, the number of cattle, beef, mutton, pigs, poultry, and meat produced from them, the amount of waste, trucks, cereal production, the use of nitrogen fertilizers, and the loads of heavy metals reaching the Baltic Sea with river waters. Therefore, there is a need for continuous monitoring of the loads and transfer of heavy metals to the Baltic Sea, and for activities aimed at eliminating them from the environment. For this purpose, Nature-Based Solutions can be used, as they represent inexpensive, nature-friendly methods for removing pollutants from surface waters. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/11089/55647 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/11089/55342 MK-8776 and Olaparib Combination Acts Synergistically in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells, Demonstrating Lack of Adverse Effects on Liver Tissues in Ovarian Cancer PDX Model Bębenek, Wiktoria; Gajek, Arkadiusz; Marczak, Agnieszka; Malý, Jan; Smejkal, Jiří; Statkiewicz, Małgorzata; Rusetska, Natalia; Bryś, Magdalena; Rogalska, Aneta Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells critically depend on PARP1 and CHK1 activation for survival. Combining the PARP inhibitor (PARPi) olaparib with a CHK1 inhibitor (MK-8776, CHK1i) produced a synergistic effect, reducing cell viability and inducing marked oxidative stress and DNA damage, particularly in the HepG2 cells. This dual treatment significantly increased apoptosis markers, including γH2AX and caspase-3/7 activity. Both HCC cell lines exhibited heightened sensitivity to the combined treatment. The effect of drugs on the expression of proliferation markers in an olaparib-resistant patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model of ovarian cancer was also investigated. Ovarian tumors displayed reduced tissue growth, as reflected by a drop in proliferation marker Ki-67 levels in response to PARPi combined with CHK1i. No changes were observed in corresponding liver tissues using Ki-67 and pCHK staining, which indicates the absence of metastases and a hepatotoxic effect. Thus, our results indicate that the dual inhibition of PARP and CHK1 may prove to be a promising therapeutic approach in the treatment of primary HCC as well as OC tumors without the risk of liver metastases, especially in patients with olaparib-resistant tumor profiles. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/11089/55342 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z