Air Pollution in Krakow – A Glance Into the Future From a Historical Perspective

Abstract

High concentrations of air pollution probably occurred in Krakow in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Since the late 1960s due to the development of monitoring networks level of air pollution is well documented. In the past few decades, a considerable drop in SO 2 concentration has been observed in conjunction with a major increase in the particulate matter and nitrogen oxides concentrations. The complex composition of aerosol particle samples (quartz, feldspars, clay minerals, carbonates, sulphates, chlorides, aluminosilicate and iron or iron oxide spherules of industrial origin and soot) suggests the multiplicity of their sources. In the near future, increased concentration of very fine particles and precursors of photochemical smog should be expected because of increasing emission from vehicle engines.

Low-cost air pollution monitoring system—an opportunity for reducing the health risk associated with physical activity in polluted air

“…3 (panels F, G, H, I). The PM 2.5 /PM 10 ratio observed in our study was 0.82, which is very close to the values previously reported by others ( Wilczyńska-Michalik & Michalik, 2017 ).…”

“…In Poland, a prime example of a city struggling with high air pollution resulting, among others, from the low ventilation ratio is the city of Kraków ( Bokwa, 2008 ; Jedrychowski, 2007 ; Osrodka et al, 2010 ; Piotrowicz, 2010 ). According to a recent study by Wilczyńska-Michalik & Michalik (2017) , the principal sources of PM in Kraków are: vehicle emission; so-called low-emission—related to household heating; emission from industrial plants and numerous small factories; resuspension from streets, construction and demolition sites; resuspension from soil; and dispersed plant debris. The most dominant components of air pollution in Krakow are PM, benzo(a)pyrene in PM, and nitrogen oxides, but other components—such as soot, which dominates in PM 2.5 , and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons—are also present in substantial quantities.…”

Effect of Species Composition on Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) Accumulation in Urban Forest Soils of Krakow

“…Kraków is the second largest town in Poland with an area 327 km 2 . Kraków has become one of the most polluted cities in Europe, in recent years (Wilczyńska-Michalik and Michalik 2017). The main contaminations are SO 2 , NO x , CO and benzo(a)pyrene.…”

Environmental Protection in School Curricula: Polish Context

“…It is an attractive way that does not require much effort from teachers. Additionally, as proved by international research [33], the level of involvement and awareness of educational goals that are easily achieved by out-of-school activities translate into the effective implementation of these goals among students.…”

“…This may mean that in rural areas, where students have regular contact with nature, teachers are more aware of the needs of our planet and are more willing to include such issues as using renewable sources of energy or recycling in their daily curricula. It is unexpected that teachers working in cities, where there is intensiveanti-smog campaigning [33] and heavy use of renewable energy sources, less often introduce environmental protection issues into their daily lessons. Another statistically significant relationhipis the relation between including environmental protection issues into curricula and thedegree of professional promotion (Tables 16-18).…”