The study of bottom sediments was conducted within the basins of water bodies used for recreational purposes (e.g., bathing, fishing and diving) in the Silesian Upland and its periphery in southern Poland. Various concentrations of trace elements were found in bottom sediments, reflected by the following levels: Pb (30–3020 mg/kg), Zn (142–35,300 mg/kg), Cd (0.7–286 mg/kg), Ni (10–115 mg/kg), Cu (11–298 mg/kg), Co (3–40 mg/kg), Cr (22–203 mg/kg), As (8–178 mg/kg), Ba (263–19,300 mg/kg), Sb (0.9–52.5 mg/kg), Br (1–31 mg/kg), Sr (63–510 mg/kg) and S (0.001–4.590%). These trace elements are present in amounts that usually exceed those found in other bodies of water or are sometimes even unprecedented among bodies of water in the world (e.g., cadmium—286 mg/kg, zinc—35,300 mg/kg, lead—3020 mg/kg, arsenic—178 mg/kg). It was found that bottom sediments were contaminated to varying degrees with toxic metals, metalloids and non-metals, as evidenced by the values of geoecological indicators, i.e., the geoaccumulation index (−6.31 < I_geo < 10.90), the sediment contamination factor (0.0 ≤ $C_f^i$ < 286.0), the sediment contamination degree (4.6 < C_d < 513.1) and the ratios of the concentrations found to the regional geochemical background (0.5 < I_RE < 196.9). It was concluded that the presence of toxic elements (e.g., lead, zinc, cadmium, chromium, strontium and arsenic) in bottom sediments should be taken into account when classifying water bodies as suitable for recreational use. A maximum ratio of the concentrations found to the regional geochemical background of I_RE ≤ 5.0 was proposed as the threshold for the permissibility of recreational use of water bodies. The water bodies used for recreational purposes in the Silesian Upland and its periphery do not meet the geoecological conditions for safe use in terms of recreation and leisure activities. Forms of their recreational use that directly affect the participants’ health (e.g., fishing and the consumption of fish and other aquatic organisms) should be abandoned.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to analyze mood regulation in people practicing hatha yoga in the background of people who do not practice this sport activity. Materials and Methods: 96 Respondents from the Slaskie and Kujawsko-Pomorskie province took part in the research The subjects were divided into two groups: practicing hatha yoga (N = 46) and control (N = 49). The analysis was carried out by means of a diagnostic survey using the standardized tool: Mood Control Scales. During the tests, the age and sex of the respondents were taken into account. Results: The average results of males and females exercising and not exercising hatha yoga in the Elevated Mood Scale are very similar to each other and range from 3.91 to 3.97 in women and from 3.87 to 3.91 in men. The results of men in the Depressed Mood Scale, as in the Elevated Mood Scale, differ slightly. However, a large difference, up to 0%, can be noticed by observing the results of women, 2.22 for exercising women and 2.79 for non-exercising women. Conclusions: Practicing hatha yoga has a beneficial effect on the level of mood regulation, contributing to the improvement of the mental state, the implementation of vital tasks and life goals and, consequently, reducing the negative mood and proper social functioning. Decreasing the level of low mood positively affects the quality of life. People with the ability to regulate the mood are less subject to mechanisms exacerbating the negative mood and, consequently, do not undertake the procedures leading to this mood. It can therefore be assumed that a bad mood is not treated in the category of failure, life catastrophe or a state without a way out. The conducted research allowed to show a greater tendency to reduce the level of low mood in women practicing hatha yoga. In the analysis, there were dependencies between the tendencies of mood regulation and gender. These dependencies were seen in women, whereas with men this did not play a significant role research did not play a significant role. However, there was no negative effect of the hatha yoga exercise on the level of mood.

A study was conducted concerning the perceptions of a future reservoir (4.7–8.9 square kilometres, 42.2 million cubic metres) by residents, tourists, and visitors; the location in question was the former Kotlarnia sand pit in the catchment area of the Bierawka River (tributary of the Oder River in southern Poland). Divergent concepts for the reclamation and development of the former sand pit emerged; the construction of a reservoir was initially the dominant option but was eventually abandoned despite it having the greatest acceptance among the respondents (out of the 134 respondents, 43.3% favoured the creation of a water reservoir, 29.9% favoured introducing nature protection arrangements in the area to enable spontaneous nature regeneration, and 16.4% favoured reforestation). A clear discrepancy arose between the public’s expectations related to the reclamation and development of the former sand pit in order to create a reservoir and the official position of the land user and administrator of the potential reservoir, which indicated that it no longer intended to create such a reservoir. This study indicates that in the process of developing concepts related to the reclamation and development of former mineral workings, it is essential to obtain the results of public consultation based on a diagnostic survey conducted among representatives of the local community. This is an effective tool for predicting the optimal use of sites regenerated after the damage caused by open-pit mining provided that all technical considerations related to the planned project are taken into account in advance.