Staff members of the Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection are carrying out another project focused on assessing the ecological status of rivers in Poland and monitoring priority substances in the tissues of aquatic organisms.

The project is conducted by a research team led by Professor Krzysztof Kukuła and Associate Professor Aneta Bylak. The project team also includes Dr Natalia Kochman-Kędziora and Ms Elżbieta Hałoń from the Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection. The total funding allocated for this research amounts to nearly PLN 171,000.

The current project covers 49 surface water bodies (SWBs) selected by the Chief Inspectorate for Environmental Protection. Fieldwork, laboratory analyses and desk studies are conducted in accordance with strictly defined procedures. The research aims to provide reliable and scientifically sound information on the condition of surface waters, essential for implementing effective measures to improve their quality and prevent pollution. These activities are intended to protect aquatic ecosystems from eutrophication and the influx of substances that penetrate water and soil, accumulating both in cultivated plants and in the tissues of aquatic animals.

The priority substances under investigation include compounds that undergo bioaccumulation and biomagnification, such as mercury and its compounds, dioxins, and hexachlorobenzene.

This marks yet another year in which the Department’s researchers serve as experts actively involved in the monitoring of flowing waters in Poland. Their expertise and experience contribute significantly to a better understanding of the condition of Polish rivers and provide valuable support for shaping both national and European environmental policy.

We warmly congratulate the team on securing another major research project!