Landfill leachates are potentially harmful to the environment and to human health. The objective of this study was to characterize leachates in order to analyze whether a relationship exists between the stored waste and the composition of leachates, and to detect possible leakages of pollutants into the environment. To achieve these objectives, field data, Global Positioning System data and physico-chemical data were used. Biological tests are becoming increasingly popular in determining leachate toxicity; therefore, two toxicity tests were performed with the seeds of white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) and duckweed (Lemna minor L.). Leachates were sampled from the leachate pond. Groundwater quality was monitored by using drill holes. The research and analysis carried out are important to determine their potential impact on agricultural areas located near the landfill. Demonstrably increased (P < 0.05) concentrations of heavy metals were detected only in the leachate pond which closes the landfill body, where it links up with the landfill insulation layer. Water sampled from drill holes reaching into groundwater was not contaminated. The results showed that the leachates did not leak outside the landfill. Nevertheless, they were found to be phytotoxic. Both toxicity tests showed that the increasing amount of leachates resulted in the increasing growth inhibition of the tested plants. The proper handling of leachates should have been ensured.

Nanotechnology and nanomaterials, including silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), are increasingly important in modern science, economics, and agriculture. Their biological activity involves influencing plant health, physiological processes, growth, and yields, although they can also be toxic in the environment. A new fertiliser was made based on a urea solution with a relatively low content of AgNPs obtained by the reduction of silver nitrate V. Laboratory tests were used to assess the effect of a fertiliser solution containing 10 ppm AgNPs on the germination of agricultural plant seeds (barley, peas, oilseed rape) and vegetables (radish, cucumber, lettuce) and its foliar application on chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance, and seedling biomass. Field experiments were conducted to assess the effect that a foliar application of 15 ppm AgNPs in working liquid had on physiological plant parameters and yields of rape and cucumber. The AgNPs in the tested fertiliser reduced infestation of the germinating seeds by pathogens and positively affected the physiological processes, productivity, and yields of plants. Plant response depended on plant species and habitat conditions. Reduced pathogen infestation of seeds, higher germination energy, increased chlorophyll content and stomatal conductance, and higher seedling masses all occurred under the influence of AgNPs, mainly in oilseed rape and cucumber, and especially under thermal stress. The beneficial effect of AgNPs on the yield of these plants occurred in years of unfavourable weather conditions. The positive agricultural test results, especially under stress conditions, indicate that fertiliser produced with AgNPs as an ingredient may reduce the use of pesticides and highly concentrated mineral fertilisers. Such a fertiliser is fully in line with the idea of sustainable agriculture. However, research on the effects that AgNPs and fertiliser have on the environment and humans should continue.

The experiment was carried out in order to evaluate the effects of trace element immobilizing soil amendments, i.e., chalcedonite, dolomite, halloysite, and diatomite on the chemical characteristics of soil contaminated with Cr and the uptake of metals by plants. The study utilized analysis of variance (ANOVA), principal component analysis (PCA) and Factor Analysis (FA). The content of trace elements in plants, pseudo-total and extracted by 0.01 M CaCl₂, were determined using the method of spectrophotometry. All of the investigated element contents in the tested parts of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) differed significantly in the case of applying amendments to the soil, as well as Cr contamination. The greatest average above-ground biomass was observed when halloysite and dolomite were amended to the soil. Halloysite caused significant increases of Cr concentrations in the roots. The obtained values of bioconcentration and translocation factors observed for halloysite treatment indicate the effectiveness of using Indian mustard in phytostabilization techniques. The addition of diatomite significantly increased soil pH. Halloysite and chalcedonite were shown to be the most effective and decreased the average Cr, Cu and Zn contents in soil.

In many post-industrial sites, the high contents and high mobility of different potentially toxic elements (PTEs) make the soils unsuitable for effective management and use. Therefore, immobilization of PTE seems to be the best remediation option for such areas. In the present study, soil samples were collected in post-industrial areas in Northeastern Poland. The analyzed soil was characterized by especially high contents of Cd (22 mg·kg⁻¹), Pb (13 540 mg·kg⁻¹), and Zn (8433 mg·kg⁻¹). Yellow lupine (Lupinus luteus L.) and two types of mineral-based amendments were used to determine their combined remediation effect on PTE immobilization. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of chalcedonite and halloysite on plant growth, chlorophyll a fluorescence, the leaf greenness index (SPAD), PTE uptake, and the physicochemical properties and toxicity of soil. The application of chalcedonite resulted in the greatest increase in soil pH, whereas halloysite contributed to the greatest reduction in the contents of Ni, Pb, Zn, and Cr in soil, compared with the control treatment. The addition of halloysite significantly increased plant biomass. The application of mineral-based amendments increased the ratio of variable fluorescence to maximum chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) in yellow lupine leaves. The leaf greenness index was highest in plants growing in soil amended with chalcedonite. The results of this study suggest that mineral-based amendments combined with yellow lupine could potentially be used for aided phytostabilization of multi-PTE contaminated soil in a post-industrial area.

En tr Environmental pollution is one of the most critical factors adversely affecting human health. Improvement in living standards, the rapid increase of urban populations, and widespread industrial production, all result in the generation of huge amounts of environment-polluting waste. Various methods are used to remove the pollutants generated by industrial activity but most of these methods require advanced technologies, involving a large financial investment and qualified personnel. Taking these costs and overheads into consideration, some economically developed countries have recently started working with phytoremediation (plantbased remediation) which, compared with the alternatives, is a much more environment-friendly waste treatment system. Also known as plant-based remediation, phytoremediation is defined as the use of various plants to stabilize or reduce contamination in the environment. Compared with other remediation technologies, phytoremediation offers the advantages of on-site treatment, aesthetic value, and low costs. Hyperaccumulators such as Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea), Red Fescue (Festucarubra), and Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) are known to absorb heavy metals, releasing them into the atmosphere in the form of gas. This study examines phytoremediation technology, the plant species that could be used for this purpose, and the feasibility of using phytoremediation in Turkey Günümüzde insan sağlığını olumsuz yönde etkileyen önemli faktörlerin başında çevresel kirlilikler gelmektedir. Hayat standartlarının artması, kentlerdeki hızlı nüfus artışı ve bunun yanında sanayinin gelişmesi ile birlikte oluşan atıklar çevreyi olumsuz yönde etkilemektedir. Endüstriyel faaliyetler sonucunda çevreye yayılan kirleticilerin giderilmesi için çeşitli yöntemler kullanılmaktadır. Bu yöntemlerin çoğunda ileri teknolojiler kullanılır. Bu ise yüksek yatırım ve işletme maliyetlerinin yanında yetişmiş eleman ihtiyacını da zorunlu kılar. Gelişmiş ülkeler bu olumsuz koşulları dikkate alarak son yıllarda diğerlerine nazaran daha çevre dostu bir arıtma sistemi olan fitoremediasyonu (bitkisel ıslah sistemleri) geliştirmişlerdir. Bitkisel ıslah olarak da bilinen fitoremediasyon ortamda bulunan kirleticilerin giderilmesinde veya etkisiz hale getirilmesinde çeşitli bitkilerin kullanılması şeklinde tanımlanmaktadır. Diğer ıslah teknolojileri ile karşılaştırıldığında fitoremediasyon; yerinde arıtım sağlaması, estetik açıdan memnun edici ve düşük maliyetli olması gibi avantajlara sahiptir. Hardal (Brassicajuncea), Kırmızı Yumak (Festucarubra), Karahindiba (Taraxacumofficinale) gibi hiperakümülatör bitkiler ağır metalleri bünyelerinde tutup gaz formuna dönüştürerek doğaya saldıkları bilinmektedir. Bu çalışmada, toprak kirliliğinin giderilmesinde kullanılabilecek fitoremediasyon teknolojisi, bitki türleri ve ülkemiz açısından uygulanabilirliği ortaya konulmaktadır.