The authors present the results of chemical and mineralogical analyses of urban dusts collected in the spring seasons of 2015 and 2016 in three different parks of the Cracow agglomeration. The parks are located in the city centre, in the Nowa Huta industrial district and in a new housing development situated around 9 km west of the city centre. Mineralogical instrumental analyses included the SEM, FTIR and XRD methods and revealed that the dusts of Cracow are highly amorphous and contain significant amounts of hydrocarbons, whereas quartz, feldspars, kaolinite and gypsum are their crystalline phases. Chemical analyses were carried out using the ICP-MS method on aqua regia extracts of the starting samples. The contents of selected toxic elements are: As 5–123; Cd 1–14; Pb 56–258; Zn 486–1891 mg/kg and Fe 0.74–4.02 wt%. The health risk of these elements imposed on the residents of Cracow frequently visiting the three urban parks was assessed on the basis of the health quotient index HQ. At its values exceeding 1, adverse health effects are probable in humans. The HQ values calculated for As and Tl contained in the Cracow Park dusts in the case of adults are 3.42E−01 and 3.00E−01, respectively. They are significantly higher (one order of magnitude) in the case of children 3.19E+00 and 2.27E+00, respectively.

Metallurgical waste originating from the Zn and Pb refining process presents varying chemical composition and physical properties and contains varying quantities of pollutants. In the study, both fresh and weathered samples of production slag from the final Pb refining process were used to determine its physical parameters and chemical composition as well as to perform an environmental risk assessment (RAC, mRAC) related to its storage. This paper focuses on determining parameters such as natural humidity (1.8%) and bulk density (1267 kg/m³) of the slag. Also, its toxicity was analysed using bio-tests, its pH was measured (11.92) and the content of sulphates (3.5 wt%), chlorides (0.3 wt%) and selected heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb) was determined. The Individual Contamination Factor was determined, yielding the following order of the hazard level: Pb > Cu > Zn > Cd > Fe > Mn. Based on the mobility of metals determined using the Mobility Factor, it was concluded that the hazard level followed the sequence Cd > Pb > Zn > Mn > Fe > Cu. The obtained water leaching results were compared to the values found in the legal regulations in force. Based on this comparison, it was established that the slag studied constitutes toxic waste containing considerable quantities of sulphides and chlorides. The material is also a considerable source of readily leaching elements (Cd, Zn and Pb), and thus any product created using the slag may become hazardous to the environment. Also, the waste studied must not be used in the form in which it is currently stored due to the leaching of particularly toxic elements (Cd and Pb) in water solutions with increasing acidity.