Snow Cover as an Indicator of Dust Pollution in the Area of Exploitation of Rock Materials in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains

Snow cover in environmental monitoring is a valuable resource for information on sources of air pollutants and the level pollution. Research areas intense industrial pressure without systematic quality control particular importance this aspect. This case vicinity Łagów (an urban–rural municipality) eastern part Świętokrzyskie Mountains (southern Poland), where rock mining fields have been created over large area. Limestone, marly limestone dolomite are mined The carbonate dust accumulated during two-week deposition significantly altered physicochemical chemical properties snow cover. An inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer-time-of-flight (ICP-MS-TOF), Dionex 3000 ion chromatograph Hach HQ2200 water meter were used analyses. pH, electric conductivity (EC), major ions selected heavy metals (HM) determined samples obtained after melt two measurement campaigns. comparative analysis performed showed an increase EC, Cl, Ca, NO3, SO4 from old (second series) compared to fresh (first series). conducted research indicates potential hazard inhabitants due respirable dusts released into atmosphere extraction, processing transport materials.