POLLUTION AND NATURAL DISASTERS IN POLAND

Poland is home to various types of pollution and environmental disasters that have a negative impact on the environment. Unfortunately, we are one of the countries with the highest air pollution level in Europe. The main source is emissions from the fuel, industrial and transportation sectors, especially coal and biomass. Air pollution leads to the formation of smog that negatively affects human and animal health. It is estimated that about 50,000 people a year die prematurely because of it.

Poland has many rivers, lakes and seas that are affected by various types of pollution. The main causes are discharges of waste from sewage treatment plants, industrial waste and agricultural fertilizers from fields. Water pollution leads to the destruction of aquatic ecosystems and loss of biodiversity, as was the case with the Sea Empress oil spill (1996) or the Oder River disaster (2022). No ecological disaster of this magnitude of aquatic mortality has been documented before in this part of Europe. Millions of fish, mussels and snails have died out. The losses in the ichthyofauna along the Oder River amounted to 60 percent of the fish biomass. The presumable cause of the disaster were the discharges of saline water from industry and mining plants.

Poland is also experiencing natural environmental disasters that have serious environmental consequences. The examples include floods, which are becoming more frequent and more extreme due to climate change. The 1997 flood was called the "flood of the millennium" and covered western Poland, the Czech Republic, Eastern Germany, northwestern Slovakia and eastern Austria.

Another example is the numerous forest fires in Poland, which have serious consequences for the ecosystem, leading to the burning of trees and vegetation, loss of habitat for animals, and the emission of large amounts of pollutants into the atmosphere.

One of the biggest problems affecting Polish nature is the cutting down of forests. The main cause is economic activity, including road construction, industrial plants, and agricultural development. As a result of cutting down forests, numerous animal and plant species are dying. At the same time these areas are losing their ability to naturally regulate the climate. High soil pollution is also particularly evident in industrial areas with outdated plants and landfills. Soil pollution leads to soil degradation, reduced agricultural farming opportunities and the entry of toxic substances into the food chain.

The most serious effect of the above disasters is the loss of biodiversity. As a result of human activity, many plant and animal species are threatened with extinction. Intensive agriculture, deforestation, water pollution and urbanization are just some of the factors that lead to the loss of biodiversity in Poland. This is not only a tragedy for nature, but also for our ecosystem, which maintains a balance between different species. Conservation policies, the implementation of renewable energy sources, recycling and educating the public are just a few steps towards reducing the negative impact of human activity on the environment. Therefore, one of the main challenges for Poland is to fight against these pollutants and environmental disasters, through the use of various ways and forms of environmental protection, In recent years, the Polish government has been taking measures to improve the environment, but the problem still exists and requires further action.