Interdisciplinary study of post-agricultural pollution in the Wielkopolski National Park (Poland)

A study was carried out in the Wielkopolski National Park (mid-western Poland) to trace the pathways along which pollutants migrated from an area that was previously in agricultural use. During a 1-year study, major ions (Na+, NH4 + K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl− , F− , NO3 −, NO2 −, SO4 2− and PO4 3−) were determined in groundwater samples from boreholes, the springs that feed Lake Góreckie and the lake itself. The vertical variability of water-soluble constituents of sediments near the lake was also studied. It was found that changes in groundwater-dependent ecosystems are related to the type of sediment, groundwater, springs and lake eutrophication. Nitrate and chloride concentrations in groundwater and springs were found to exceed the water quality standards set by both the Polish national limits and those of the World Health Organisation.