Search results

1

The issues of drainage of discussed mines in the Katowice conurbation, Poland

100%

Lamparska M.

Environmental & Socio-economic Studies

|

2013

|

vol. 1

|

issue 1

17-21

EN

The Katowice conurbation is situated in the Upper-Silesian Coal Basin, in a region which had high rate of water inflow in the pre-mining period. In order to make deposits of mineral resources accessible, it was, and still is, necessary provide mines with a draining system, which now reaches as deep as 1200 m. The area of the depression sink which was thus created is about 1200 km2. Currently, all metal ore mines within the conurbation, as well as part of coal mines, have been closed down, but water which flows into them is still pumped out due to the legal obligation to protect neighbouring operating mines. After the operation and drainage of mines cease, water coming to abandoned excavations will begin restoring static reserves in the orogen, which, depending on hydrological conditions, will take between several and a few dozen years. As the level of underground water rises, the process of subsidence of old shallow mining excavations will intensify, and many depressions may appear in highly urbanized areas. In areas of mining subsidence, the underground water-table will be close to the surface, causing flooding of basements and building foundations, and the deepest subsidence basins will probably be completely flooded. Current location of operating mines on the northern and southern sides of the conurbation with the central belt of drained excavations is unfavourable for its sustainable development. A solution, which would make it possible for the conurbation to grow, would be to close down and flood the mines on the northern side as soon as their mining concessions expire, which will be in early 2020s. Then, the area would regain its original stability within a decade and all kinds of construction activities could be carried out there. That, however, requires authorities of municipalities to object to the extension of concessions for mines, which may be impossible to obtain due to fears of social discontent resulting from miners - residents of those municipalities - being made redundant.

2

Sezonowa zmienność zasobów wód podziemnych o zwierciadle swobodnym w zlewni Pilicy

75%

Tomalski P.

Annales Universitatis Mariae Curie-Sklodowska, sectio B – Geographia, Geologia, Mineralogia et Petrographia

|

2015

|

vol. 70

|

issue 2

EN

The paper attempts to identify seasonal variability of groundwater table in the Pilica catchment. Procedure created by Ch. G. Markham was used. It allows to compare results with analogical characteristics of other aquifers from central Poland. Sixteen piezometers were used for the research.They represent shallow aquifers located in the Pilica catchment and its surrounding and they are part of a measurement network of PIG-PIB (years from 2003 till 2014 were used). All of the aquifers with 10 years data series were chosen for the analyzed group. They represent the whole spectrum of occurrence of groundwaters in the Pilica catchment.Before the analysis homogeneity of time series was checked by two statistical tests: parametric F-Snedecor test (exams null hypothesis about variance equality) and non-parametric series test (exams null hypothesis about origin of two samples from the same general population). All of numeric strings were statistically homogeneous.Time series of mean monthly depth to groundwater table in all piezometers were changed into groundwater ordinates. In that way, maximum values are compared with the maximum level of groundwater table. Next, for all the aquifers the Markham characteristics of seasonal variability were calculated. First of them is seasonality index (IS) and it ranges from 0 to 100%. The second characteristic is time of concentration (WPK). During the interpretation of WPK values it is important to remember that this characteristic shows only time of concentration (it must not be associated with terms of maximum level of the examined phenomenon).Aquifers in the Pilica catchment are characterized by differential seasonality index raning from 1 to 30%. It means that rhythm of groundwater table changes is not seasonal in part of aquifers. Despite that, the seasonal variability of groundwater level is stronger in the Pilica catchment than in other aquifers in central Poland (IS is on average almost double). Time of concentration coefficients are differential too. They occur from February to July in the Pilica catchment, while in the whole central Poland they are concentrated in two terms (late winter and summer). Unlike other parts of central Poland, changes of groundwater resources are characterized by poor correlation with hydrogeological parameters of aquifers or mean depth to the groundwater level in piezometers in the Pilica catchment.

3

Zagrożenia chemiczne związane z eksploatacją gazu łupkowego

63%

Pakulska D.

Medycyna Pracy

|

2015

|

vol. 66

|

issue 1

99-117

EN

The development of the shale industry is gaining momentum and hence the analysis of chemical hazards to the environment and health of the local population is extremely timely and important. Chemical hazards are created during the exploitation of all minerals, but in the case of shale gas production, there is much more uncertainty as regards to the effects of new technologies application. American experience suggests the increasing risk of environmental contamination, mainly groundwater. The greatest concern is the incomplete knowledge of the composition of fluids used for fracturing shale rock and unpredictability of long-term effects of hydraulic fracturing for the environment and health of residents. High population density in the old continent causes the problem of chemical hazards which is much larger than in the USA. Despite the growing public discontent data on this subject are limited. First of all, there is no epidemiological studies to assess the relationship between risk factors, such as air and water pollution, and health effects in populations living in close proximity to gas wells. The aim of this article is to identify and discuss existing concepts on the sources of environmental contamination, an indication of the environment elements under pressure and potential health risks arising from shale gas extraction. Med Pr 2015;66(1):99–117

PL

Rozwój przemysłu łupkowego nabiera tempa, w związku z czym analiza związanych z nim zagrożeń dla środowiska i zdrowia ludzi jest niezwykle aktualna i istotna. Zagrożenia chemiczne powstają podczas eksploatacji złóż wszystkich kopalin, jednak w przypadku eksploatacji złóż gazu łupkowego jest znacznie więcej niewiadomych co do skutków stosowania nowych technologii. Doświadczenia amerykańskie wskazują na narastające ryzyko skażenia środowiska naturalnego, głównie wód gruntowych. Największy niepokój budzi niepełna znajomość składu płynów służących do szczelinowania skał łupkowych oraz nieprzewidywalność odległych skutków szczelinowania hydraulicznego dla środowiska naturalnego i zdrowia mieszkańców. Duża gęstość zaludnienia na starym kontynencie powoduje, że skala zagrożeń jest w Europie znacznie większa niż w USA. Mimo rosnącego niezadowolenia społecznego dane na ten temat są ograniczone. Przede wszystkim brakuje badań epidemiologicznych mających na celu ocenę zależności między czynnikami ryzyka, takimi jak zanieczyszczenie powietrza i wody, a skutkami zdrowotnymi w populacjach żyjących w bliskim sąsiedztwie odwiertów gazowych. Celem artykułu jest wskazanie i omówienie istniejących koncepcji na temat źródeł skażenia środowiska, wskazanie elementów środowiska najbardziej podlegających zmianom w wyniku eksploatacji gazu łupkowego i potencjalnych zagrożeń zdrowotnych. Med. Pr. 2015;66(1):99–117

Refine search results

1 Annales Universitatis Mariae Curie-Sklodowska, sectio B – Geographia, Geologia, Mineralogia et Petrographia

1 Environmental & Socio-economic Studies

1 Medycyna Pracy

1 Lamparska M.

1 Pakulska D.

1 Tomalski P.

2 2015

1 2013

The issues of drainage of discussed mines in the Katowice conurbation, Poland

Sezonowa zmienność zasobów wód podziemnych o zwierciadle swobodnym w zlewni Pilicy

Zagrożenia chemiczne związane z eksploatacją gazu łupkowego