Extractability and phytotoxicity of heavy metals and essential elements from plastics in soil solutions and root exudates.

Plastic waste is increasing and is a serious environmental problem. Among the threats associated with plastics is the release of contaminants into the environment. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of metals release from plastics (low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polypropylene (PP)) as affected by different soil solution types, artificial root exudates, and distilled water.

Effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest outcomes - systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction And Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has recently presented the world with an unprecedented challenge. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to investigate the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) by comparing data from infected and non-infected individuals. The study adds to our understanding of the broader effects of the pandemic on public health and emergency care by examining the influence of COVID-19 on OHCA.

A comprehensive review and meta-analysis of suPAR as a predictor of acute kidney injury.

Introduction And Objective: The global impact of acute kidney injury (AKI) has not been thoroughly investigated. With the development of new techniques, soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) has become increasingly important in the diagnosis of AKI. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis was carried out to evaluate the predictive value of suPAR for AKI.

Humic lakes with inefficient and efficient transfer of matter in planktonic food webs.

Humic compounds and related factors are the main constraints for the development of zooplankton in humic lakes, leading to low transfer efficiency in food webs. The results of this study indicated that some zooplankton species could have an advantage under these conditions. We found that the mass development of omnivorous Asplanchna priodonta in temperate humic lakes could be caused by the domination of high nutritional algae such as Gonyostomum semen and Botryococcus braunii.

Anthropogenic noise interacts with the predation risk assessment in a free-ranging bird.

Anthropogenic noise can affect a number of behavioral, physiological, and ecological aspects of animals from major taxonomic groups, raising serious conservation concerns. For example, noise pollution impacts communicative behavior and perception of signals, movements and distribution, as well as predator-prey interactions, such as hunting success or predator detection and predation risk assessment. We have carried out an experimental playback study, in which we investigated whether exposure to anthropogenic noise (sound of a tractor) distracts free-ranging barn swallows from paying attention to an approaching human "predator" (the "cognitive distraction" hypothesis), or whether noise leads to increased responsiveness to this "predator" (the "increased threat" hypothesis).

Assessment of functional capacity of the elderly.

Introduction And Objective: Ageing is a continuous, progressive process of functional reserve loss. Physical fitness and mental state have a significant impact on the functionality level of the elderly population. Assessing the degree elderly people's of independence regarding self-care is an important aspect of the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA).

Prediction value of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) in COVID-19 patients - a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction And Objective: In COVID-19, the rapid prediction of the severity of a patient's condition using modern biomarkers can accelerate the implementation of appropriate therapy, and thus improve the patient's prognosis.

Material And Methods: A meta-analysis was conducted of data available in the literature on the differences in baseline suPAR blood concentration between patients (1) who tested positive and negative for COVID-19, (2) who had severe and non-severe COVID-19, and (3) COVID-19 survivors and non-survivors.

Results: SuPAR levels in SARS-CoV-2 negative and positive patients varied and amounted to 3.

Modelling benzo(a)pyrene concentrations for different meteorological conditions - Analysis of lung cancer cases and associated economic costs.

Air pollution originating from the household presents a significant burden to public health, especially during the wintertime in countries, such as Poland, where coal substantially contributes to the energy market. One of the most hazardous components of particulate matter is benzo(a)pyrene (BaP). This study focusses on the impact of different meteorological conditions on BaP concentrations in Poland and associated impacts on human health and economic burdens.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the National Clean Air Programme in Terms of Health Impacts from Exposure to PM2.5 and NO Concentrations in Poland.

The health impact of air quality has recently become an emerging issue. Many regions, especially densely populated regions, have deteriorating air quality. The primary source of pollution in Poland is the municipal sector.

Ecotoxicological characteristics and properties of zinc-modified biochar produced by different methods.

Despite the dynamic progress of BC engineering, there is a lack of knowledge on the toxicity and environmental impact of modified BC. The aim of this study was the ecotoxicological evaluation of BC modified with zinc (Zn) using different methods: impregnation of feedstock with Zn before pyrolysis (PR), impregnation with Zn after pyrolysis (PS) and impregnation with Zn after pyrolysis with an additional calcination step (PST). The ecotoxicological assessment was based on tests with invertebrates (Folsomia candida, Daphnia magna) and bacteria (Aliivibrio fischeri).

The effect of zinc supplementation on the course of COVID-19 - A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction And Objective: Zinc is a trace element that plays a role in stimulating innate and acquired immunity. The aim of the study was to determine the antiviral effect of the administration of zinc in COVID-19 patients.

Material And Methods: A literature search was performed in P Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane databases from 1 January 2020 - 22 August 2022.

Impact of isolation on the biopsychosocial functioning of older people with COVID-19.

Introduction: COVID-19 is a highly contagious coronavirus disease that has had a significant impact on the functioning of society. On 11 March 2020, due to the rapid spread of the virus, the WHO declared a global pandemic. By the end of 2021, 5 variants of SARS-CoV-2 had been identified since the beginning of the pandemic.

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) model; impacts and sustainable investment - Global trends and Poland's perspective.

In recent years, financial markets have been hit hard by the Great Financial Crisis of 2008, the acceleration of climate change, and now the COVID-19 pandemic. The result of these events is the acceleration of the implementation of a new model of socioeconomic development of societies referred to as the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) model. It has been particularly evident in the financial investment sector.

Association of residential and school green- and bluespace with academic performance in 10-13-year-old Polish schoolchildren with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Background: Several studies, mostly based on the USA data, have reported that school greenspace was associated with better academic performance. However, nearly all of them were conducted on aggregated data. We are among the first individual data-based studies worldwide to examine whether exposure to school and residential green- and bluespace can boost academic performance.

Digestion of plastics using in vitro human gastrointestinal tract and their potential to adsorb emerging organic pollutants.

Excessive plastic use has inevitably led to its consumption by organisms, including humans. It is estimated that humans consume 20 kg of plastic during their lifetime. The presence of microplastics in the human body can carry serious health risks, such as biological reactions e.

Estimating nutrient thresholds for eutrophication management: Novel insights from understudied lake types.

Nutrient targets based on pressure-response models are essential for defining ambitions and managing eutrophication. However, the scale of biogeographical variation in these pressure-response relationships is poorly understood, which may hinder eutrophication management in regions where lake ecology is less intensively studied. In this study, we derive ecology-based nutrient targets for five major ecoregions of Europe: Northern, Central-Baltic, Alpine, Mediterranean and Eastern Continental.

Investigating impact of physicochemical properties of microplastics on human health: A short bibliometric analysis and review.

Microplastics (MPs) are contaminants of emerging concern that attracted the attention of researchers over the last decade. They can occur in saliva and stool, and on scalp hair together with skin. Further, MPs can end up in the human diet through seafood, honey, salt, and mineral water.

Potential environmental risk assessment of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate emissions from a municipal solid waste landfill leachate.

Background: In certain countries, including Poland, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) waste, together with di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) contained within (up to 60%), is mostly directed to municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. From there, over time, it is released from the polymer matrix and can migrate with landfill leachate into the environment. The amount of DEHP placed on the Polish market since the start of industrial production and the prevalent landfilling disposal of PVC waste in Poland, indicate that DEHP pollution can increase risk factors in the future.

ZIPLA: Zooplankton Index for Polish Lakes' Assessment: a new method to assess the ecological status of stratified lakes.

Zooplankton is widely recognized as a key component of pelagic ecosystems and forms the basis for major trophic webs. Although zooplankton has often been used as an indicator of trophic state, it has not been included as an obligatory element of the water assessment systems compliant with the Water Framework Directive. This article introduces the Zooplankton Index for Polish Lakes' Assessment (ZIPLA) as a new method to assess the ecological status of stratified lakes based on the zooplankton community.

Colonization of Warsaw by the red fox Vulpes vulpes in the years 1976-2019.

The red fox is one of the most adaptable carnivores inhabiting cities. The aim of our study was to describe the process of Warsaw colonization by the red fox. We focused on: (1) the fox distribution in Warsaw on the basis of presence-absence data (2005-2012) over a grid of 1 × 1 km, (2) the process of settlement in 29 green areas (study periods 1976-1978, 2004-2012, and 2016-2019) in relation to habitat type, and (3) temporal and spatial patterns of the red fox incidents (1998-2015) reported by Warsaw citizens.

12-month interim results of a prospective study of patients with mild to moderate open-angle glaucoma undergoing combined viscodilation of Schlemm's canal and collector channels and 360° trabeculotomy as a standalone procedure or combined with cataract surgery.

Purpose: To characterize clinical outcomes of combined viscodilation of Schlemm's canal and collector channels and 360° trabeculotomy as a standalone procedure or combined with cataract surgery in eyes with mild to moderate open-angle glaucoma (OAG).

Methods: In this prospective case series, the OMNI glaucoma surgical platform (Sight Sciences, Menlo Park, CA) was utilized to perform the procedure either combined with phacoemulsification or as a standalone procedure. Changes from baseline in intraocular pressure (IOP) and IOP-lowering medications were evaluated through the first 12 months of a planned 24-month follow-up period.

Effect of salt stress in urban conditions on two species with different sensitivity.

Background: The benefits of trees in urban areas include the following: an increase in ecosystem health, an increase in human health, the mitigation of the effects of heat and drought at microclimate level, the storage and sequestration of carbon, and a reduction in air pollution and noise. These ecosystem services can be provided only by trees that are in good health. The main cause of salt stress in urban environments is the use of de-icing salts on the streets in winter.

Municipal waste landfill as a source of polychlorinated biphenyls releases to the environment.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of municipal waste landfill on polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) release to the environment concerning groundwater flow directions. The contents of polychlorinated biphenyls in soils, plants and water were analysed at various distances from the landfill. Thanks to low solubility PCBs in water groundwater flow direction, under the landfill, have an influence on PCBs concentration in groundwater.

Impact of municipal and industrial waste incinerators on PCBs content in the environment.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been withdrawn from the market due to their toxicity, bioaccumulation capacity, and persistence. PCBs have been observed to potentially form in combustion processes under appropriate conditions and in the presence of precursors containing chlorine. The study covered a municipal waste incineration plant and an industrial waste incineration plant.