ENVIRONMENTAL-CONDITIONS AND CHEMICAL TIME BOMB HAZARDS IN POLAND

Observations on the state of the environment, soil properties, soil ha zards and some possible changes in soil parameters are discussed. Sand y and light loamy soils cover more than 50 per cent of the arable land in Poland. About 58 per cent of soils are acid (pH<5.5) in the surfac e layer and 25 per cent in the layer from 100 to 150 cm. About 51.3 pe r cent of soils are very vulnerable to pollution. According to a BIGLE B-SOWEP prognosis, in the year 2000 about 13 per cent of soils will be seriously at risk from chemical degradation. Acidification will proce ed due to increases in the emission of SO2 and NO(x), and the end of l iming. The environmental conditions in Poland favour delayed responses to environmental hazards: chemical time bombs.