4
Particles with dimensions up to 10 micrometers (PM10) are long retained in the
air and are formed as a result of natural and anthropogenic sources. Natural sources
include volcanic eruptions, yellow rains, forest fires, and chemical reactions. The
most important anthropogenic sources are the combustion of coal, wood, and oil,
industrial processes, traffic, and waste incineration. Particularly toxic chemicals are
released through uncontrolled incineration of household waste (i.e., incineration of
waste in yards), which is common in cities, especially in rural areas (Sarti et al.
2017; Longoria-Rodríguez et al. 2020).
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a toxic gas that occurs as a result of combustion of
fuels from transport vehicles, incomplete combustion of fuels in power plants,
incomplete combustion of solid waste, and industrial processes (Vallero 2008).
Tropospheric ozone (O 3 ) is formed by the reaction of pollutants (nitrogen oxides
and volatile organic compounds) under the action of sunlight. Sources of such pollution include emissions from vehicles and industrial processes, vapors from gasoline, and chemical solvents. Even rural areas are prone to rising ozone levels as
wind carries ozone and pollutants hundreds of miles from the source. Also, organic
compounds released from forest areas affect the formation of ozone. However, its
content is influenced by the period of the day (intensity of solar radiation) and the
seasons. The highest concentrations of this pollutant are observed in spring and
summer, while the lowest concentrations are observed during the winter period
(Grasimov 2004).
Soil The soil has a number of ecological functions, which are essentially important
for the protection of the environment, but also for the economy and the progress of
the society as a whole. The impacts on the soil caused by human activities are constantly increasing and lead to degradation and desertification of the land, which
causes serious socioeconomic consequences. The main threats to the healthy condition of soils are erosion, local and diffuse contamination, salinization, soil loosening, etc. (Siegel 2002; Jarup 2003; Kabata-Pendias and Mukherjee 2007). Nowadays,
there is an increasing need for the adoption of appropriate regulations, especially for
developing countries, which will treat the soil in many respects as an environmental
medium. It is necessary to define the maximum allowed concentrations in the soils
of heavy metals and then certain substances such as pesticides, polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons, halogen hydrocarbons, and others (Laden-Berger 2012.)
Water Water pollution involves the introduction of various pollutants into rivers,
lakes, and groundwater, but also into the seas and oceans. This occurs during direct
or indirect introduction of pollutants into the water in the absence of appropriate
purification measures and disposal of harmful substances (Fitzpatrick et al. 2007).
In most cases, freshwater pollution is invisible because the pollutants are dissolved in the water. But there are exceptions: foam detergents, but also petroleum
products that float on the surface and uncleaned watercourses (riverbeds, canals).
There are several natural pollutants. Aluminum compounds found in the ground
reach the freshwater system as a result of chemical reactions. Floods absorb magnesium compounds from meadow soils, which cause great damage to fish populations.
B. Balabanova
Particles with dimensions up to 10 micrometers (PM10) are long retained in the
air and are formed as a result of natural and anthropogenic sources. Natural sources
include volcanic eruptions, yellow rains, forest fires, and chemical reactions. The
most important anthropogenic sources are the combustion of coal, wood, and oil,
industrial processes, traffic, and waste incineration. Particularly toxic chemicals are
released through uncontrolled incineration of household waste (i.e., incineration of
waste in yards), which is common in cities, especially in rural areas (Sarti et al.
2017; Longoria-Rodríguez et al. 2020).
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a toxic gas that occurs as a result of combustion of
fuels from transport vehicles, incomplete combustion of fuels in power plants,
incomplete combustion of solid waste, and industrial processes (Vallero 2008).
Tropospheric ozone (O 3 ) is formed by the reaction of pollutants (nitrogen oxides
and volatile organic compounds) under the action of sunlight. Sources of such pollution include emissions from vehicles and industrial processes, vapors from gasoline, and chemical solvents. Even rural areas are prone to rising ozone levels as
wind carries ozone and pollutants hundreds of miles from the source. Also, organic
compounds released from forest areas affect the formation of ozone. However, its
content is influenced by the period of the day (intensity of solar radiation) and the
seasons. The highest concentrations of this pollutant are observed in spring and
summer, while the lowest concentrations are observed during the winter period
(Grasimov 2004).
Soil The soil has a number of ecological functions, which are essentially important
for the protection of the environment, but also for the economy and the progress of
the society as a whole. The impacts on the soil caused by human activities are constantly increasing and lead to degradation and desertification of the land, which
causes serious socioeconomic consequences. The main threats to the healthy condition of soils are erosion, local and diffuse contamination, salinization, soil loosening, etc. (Siegel 2002; Jarup 2003; Kabata-Pendias and Mukherjee 2007). Nowadays,
there is an increasing need for the adoption of appropriate regulations, especially for
developing countries, which will treat the soil in many respects as an environmental
medium. It is necessary to define the maximum allowed concentrations in the soils
of heavy metals and then certain substances such as pesticides, polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons, halogen hydrocarbons, and others (Laden-Berger 2012.)
Water Water pollution involves the introduction of various pollutants into rivers,
lakes, and groundwater, but also into the seas and oceans. This occurs during direct
or indirect introduction of pollutants into the water in the absence of appropriate
purification measures and disposal of harmful substances (Fitzpatrick et al. 2007).
In most cases, freshwater pollution is invisible because the pollutants are dissolved in the water. But there are exceptions: foam detergents, but also petroleum
products that float on the surface and uncleaned watercourses (riverbeds, canals).
There are several natural pollutants. Aluminum compounds found in the ground
reach the freshwater system as a result of chemical reactions. Floods absorb magnesium compounds from meadow soils, which cause great damage to fish populations.
B. Balabanova