About department

About Department

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) since its inception (1972) performs analysis on a broad spectrum of determinations and studies in the field of environmental protection.

The Department of Environmental Protection specializes in physical and chemical testing of surface, underground and marine waters, sewage sludge, bottom sediments, soils and wastes in the full range of determinations required for development the following topics:

  • Ecological reviews
  • Ground and surface water monitoring
  • Qualitative and quantitative equation of wastewater
  • Expertize in the field of industrial waste and bottom sediments
  • Water-based surveys for water abstraction and sewage disposal
  • Technological testing of specific sewage and water treatment plants devices
  • Environmental impact of onerous objects (landfills, petrol stations, industrial plants)
  • preparation of required data for integrated permit application in the field of water and sewage management

There are 19 people employed in the DEP: 17 with higher education (including 4 with a PhD degree) and 2 with secondary education (analyst technician, environmental protection technician).

The Department of Environmental Protection owns a Laboratory that has implemented the Quality System according to the PN-EN ISO/IEC 17025 standard, and from 01.09.2005 has the CERTIFICATE OF the POLISH CENTER for ACCREDITATION No. AB 646 confirming that the requirements of the abovementioned standard have been met.

In 2016, the DEP Laboratory introduced the analysis of metals in water using the ICP-OES method within the flexible scope.

Maintaining the quality of results and services provided by the Laboratory is possible thanks to the work based on the guides of good professional practice of the entire team of Lab employees and using own modern measuring and research equipment.

The Department of Environmental Protection is a member of the Polish Research Laboratories 'POLLAB'.

The DEP ensures the confidentiality and professional interpretation of the results.

Cooperation with PSEZ and GSTP

As part of the cooperation of the Pomeranian Special Economic Zone (PSEZ) and the Gdansk Science and Technology Park (GSTP) together with Maritime Institute in Gdansk (MIG), the Environmental Protection Laboratory, which is an inseparable part of the Department of Environmental Protection, moved its headquarters to the GSTP.

In addition to its own equipment with modern devices and apparatus, the Laboratory uses the equipment purchased by the Park as a result of the project "Gdansk Science and Technology Park - Stage III" implemented by the Pomeranian Special Economic Zone. These are the following apparatus:

  • Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)
  • Ion Chromatograph for the analysis of inorganic anions
  • Automatic extractor for high-performance extraction of solid samples under high pressure and high temperature conditions
  • Total organic carbon and total nitrogen analyser TOC-LCSH / CSN
  • Spectrophotometer Hach
  • Laboratory disinfector, deionizer, muffle furnace, centrifuge
  • Fume hoods

The owned apparatus allows to perform specific analyses in the field of organic and inorganic chemistry, such as nitrogen and phosphorus concentration in seawater or tributyltin (TBT) in the bottom sediment.

Projects

Implementation of projects financed from European funds:

  • Liquid Energy – Liquefied (bio-)gas as a driving force for development and use of green energy technology. Seed Money South Baltic Cross-border Co-operation Programme 2014-2020; implementation in the years 2016-2017 as a Lead Partner

  • ECODUMP – Application of ecosystem principles for the location and management of offshore dumping sites in SE Baltic Region. South Baltic Cross-border Co-operation Programme 2007-2013; implementation in the years 2011–2014;

  • SMOCS – Sustainable Management of Contaminated Sediments in the Baltic Sea. Baltic Sea Region Programme 2007-2013; implementation in the years 2009–2012;

Implementation of projects financed from national resources:

  • WaterPUCK - Modelling of the impact of the agricultural holdings and land-use structure on the quality of inland and coastal waters of the Baltic Sea, (NCBiR No. 343927) National Center for Research and Development, BIOSTRATEG programme; implementation in 2017-2021.

Participation in projects financed from European funds:

  • Nordic Alternative Protein Potentials - Mapping of regional bioeconomy opportunities, partner - Maritime Institute in Gdansk. Nordic Council of Ministers; implementation in 2014-2015.

  • Recreation of the E-40 waterway along the Dnepr-Vistula section: from strategy to planning. Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Poland-Belarus-Ukraine 2007-2013: implementation in 2015

  • SubMariner – Sustainable Uses of Baltic Marine Resources; implementation in 2007-2013

Scientific and implementation activities financed from national resources:

  • Assumptions for the monitoring program of disposal sites in Polish sea areas - implementation in 2016 under the contract BDG-320_U-97/16 between the Ministry of Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation, and the Maritime Institute in Gdansk

  • Physicochemical monitoring of surface water in the LIFE13 NAT/PL/000050 project "Restoration of the hydrographical network in the middle basin of the Biebrza Valley. Stage II "- implementation in 2014-2018 under contract No. 10/2015 between the Biebrza National Park and the Maritime Institute in Gdansk

  • Development of a plan for waste management from oil spills resulting from maritime accidents - implementation in 2014-2015 under contract No. 3/2015 between the Ministry of the Environment and the Maritime Institute in Gdansk

  • Examination of bottom sediments from port areas designated for the implementation of the project "Deepening of the approach fairway and internal basins of the Port of Gdynia. Stage I-III" - implementation in 2014-2015 under contract No. 42 / JD / I / 2014 between the Port of Gdynia Authority SA. and the Maritime Institute in Gdansk

  • Offshore wind farm Baltic Central II. Report on environmental impact - in the field of physicochemical research, implementation in 2015

  • Research on physical and chemical conditions of sediments in the area of ​​the offshore wind farm Baltic Central III - implementation in 2013-2014

  • Studies on hydrological and hydrochemical conditions in the area of ​​the offshore wind farm Baltic Central III - implementation in 2013-2014

  • Seabed research for the Kosakowo-Gdansk undersea gas pipeline - in the field of physicochemical research, implementation in 2013-2014

  • Research of biological elements in the area of ​​the installation for intake and discharge of the planned nuclear power plant (Choczewo, Żarnowiec) as part of the project: "Environmental research, location testing and services related to obtaining permits and permissions necessary in the investment process related to the construction by PGE EJ1 Sp . z o.o. the first Polish nuclear power plant with a capacity of around 3000 MW - in the field of physicochemical research, implementation in 2013-2014

  • Preparatory study for the implementation of the project entitled: Plan for the management of waste from oil spills resulting from maritime accidents - implementation in 2012 under the agreement No. 5497/ZOŚ/2012 between the Ministry of Transport, Construction and Maritime Economy and the Maritime Institute in Gdansk

  • Guidelines on the ecosystem method of site selection and management of coastal disposal sites in the south-eastern part of the Baltic Sea - a co-financing grant ECODUMP project - implementation in 2012-2014 under contract No. 2297/SBP 2007-2013/11/2012/2 between the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and the Maritime Institute in Gdansk

  • Sustainable management of contaminated sediments in the Baltic Sea - a grant co-financing the SMOCS project; implementation in 2011-2013 as part of the decision of the Minister of Science and Higher Education No. 2091/BSR 2007-2013/2011/2

Offer of the Laboratory of the Department of Environmental Protection

A well-equipped Laboratory and excellent specialists allows to perform full-responsibility physico-chemical analyses in the field of inorganic and organic chemistry as well as specific analyses in:

  • underground, surface and sea water
  • communal and industrial sewage
  • bottom sediments
  • sewage sludge
  • waste
  • soils

We provide accredited sampling:

  • soils
  • sea ​​water, surface and core bottom sediments in cooperation with the Department of Operational Oceanography
  • sewage
  • surface water
  • groundwater

INSTRUCTION FOR SAMPLES DELIVERY BY THE CUSTOMER

When samples are to collected by the customer, the following conditions should be maintained: 1. SOIL and SEDIMENT samples

Parameter

Sample container

Transport conditions

Addition information

PAH, PCB, TBT A container made of dark glass, covered with aluminium foil under the cap In the cold, and without light access, containers are to be placed upside down (caps to the bottom) Sample size about 0.5 kg
pesticides
Mineral oils
BTEX
VOX
Other organic substances
Heavy metals Glass or plastic container. Do not put aluminium foil under the cap In the cold Sample size about 0.5 kg
Nitrogen, phosphorus Glass or plastic container In the cold
Humidity, pH, ignition losses Glass or plastic container tightly closed In the cold
2.WATER and SEWAGE samples
Parameter Sample container Transport conditions

Addition information

PAH, PCB Dark glass container (bottle) In the cold, and without light access Min. sample vol. – 2 dm3
pesticides Min. sample vol. – 1 dm3
Mineral oils Min. sample vol. – 0,5 dm3
THM Dark glass container (bottle). Fill the container completely, to avoid trapping air inside bottle Min. sample vol. – 0,5 dm3
BTEX Min. sample vol. – 0,5 dm3
VOX Min. sample vol. – 0,5 dm3
Other organic substances Min. sample vol. – 1 dm3
Heavy metals Plastic container In the cold Min. sample vol. – 0,5 dm3
Nitrogen compounds Plastic or glass container In the cold Min. sample vol. – 0,5 dm3
Phosphorus compounds Plastic or glass container In the cold Min. sample vol. – 0,5 dm3
BOD5 Glass or plastic container. Fill the container completely, to avoid trapping air inside bottle In the cold and without access to light. Samples must be delivered to the Laboratory within 12 hours! Samples are accepted until 13.00 from Wednesday to Friday Min. sample vol. – 0,5 dm3
COD Glass or plastic container In the cold and without access to light. Min. sample vol. – 0,5 dm3
Chloride Glass or plastic container In the cold Min. sample vol. – 0,5 dm3
Sulphur Glass or plastic container In the cold Min. sample vol. – 0,5 dm3
pH Glass or plastic container. Fill the container completely, to avoid trapping air inside bottle In the cold Min. sample vol. – 0,5 dm3
Oxidisability Glass or plastic container In the cold and without access to light Min. sample vol. – 0,5 dm3
Suspension Glass or plastic container In the cold Min. sample vol. – 0,5 dm3
Dissolved substances, Dry residue Glass or plastic container In the cold Min. sample vol. – 0,5 dm3
Aggressive carbon dioxide 2 glass containers: first container (with powdered marble) - fill the sample completely and tightly closed. Fill the second container completely and tightly closed (without marble) In the cold Deliver to the Laboratory within 12 hours! Min. sample vol. – 0,5 dm3each container

In case of any questions or determinations not mentioned in the instructions, please contact the Head of the Department of Environmental Protection – PhD Grażyna Dembska,

tel. +48 58 301 69 56, mobile: 690 490 338.

After prior notification, all sample containers can be collected in the DEP Laboratory.

If samples are submitted to the Laboratory in an inappropriate way or in incorrect containers - samples will not be accepted for analysis.

All analyses are carried out in the Accredited Laboratory with the Management System, whose functioning has been assessed by the Polish Center for Accreditation and confirmed by the certificate No. AB 646.

Accreditation scope of the Laboratory of DEP

In addition to the tests listed in the scope of accreditation, the Laboratory also performs analyses:

  • THM, halomethane, haloethanes
  • petroleum derivatives: n-alkanes
  • pesticides: organophosphorus, carbamates
  • cyanides, colour, odour, taste, carbon dioxide free, aggressive carbon dioxide, anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, neutralizing power, granulometric composition, reduction and oxidation potential, salinity, free chlorine, well-dropping suspension.

Prices are negotiated depending on the scope of work, i.e. the number of samples and the type of determinations as well as the time-consuming nature of analyses.

The Laboratory of the Department of Environmental Protection systematically participates in international and national Proficiency Testing (PT) and Inter-Laboratory Comparison (ILC).

  • PT/ILC are organized by: Wageningen University, Environmental Sciences (Holandia) WEPAL – SETOC
  • Aquachcek LGC Standards – water analyses
  • CONTEST LGC Standards – soil analyses
  • SILESIALAB (Ośrodek Badań i Ochrony Środowiska - OBiKŚ) – water, sewage, sewage sludge, waste analyses
  • Politechnika Krakowska, Zakład Chemii Analitycznej, Wydział Inżynierii i Technologii Chemicznej – water analyses
  • Centrum Badań Ekologicznych PAN – natural waters
  • ENVIRON, GEOTECHNICS and SAMPLING of Proficiency Testing – water and sediment samples and analyses
  • ERA, Soils & Hazardous Waste

With excellent laboratory equipment and qualified personnel, the DEP is able to react immediately in emergency situations (e.g. with oil spills in ports and other water reservoirs) to identify the source of contaminants.

In addition to the aforementioned activities, research works are also carried out, the results of which are published in domestic and foreign journals. The employees of the Department of Environmental Protection of the Maritime Institute in Gdansk take an active part in conferences and symposia, at which they present the results of their work.

Organizational structure of the DEP

The activities of the Department of Environmental Protection are carried out in four areas of research:

Area of ​​classical analyses (supervision: Grażyna Pazikowska-Sapota, PhD; Agnieszka Flasińska, MSc) Area of ​​spectrometric analyses (supervision: Grażyna Dembska, PhD) Area of ​​chromatographic analyses (supervision: Katarzyna Galer-Tatarowicz, PhD) The area of ​​sample taking (supervision: Katarzyna Galer-Tatarowicz, PhD)
The DEP Laboratory is operating specialist equipment and the most modern research devices:
  • for sample preparation: calibrated balances and weights, calibrated thermometers, calibrated automatic pipettes, refrigeration and thermostatic cabinets, muffle furnaces, freeze drier (lyophilizer), microwave sample digestion system, sample extraction system

  • for physicochemical parameters measurement: Secchi disc and measurement tape (calibrated), pH-meters, conductometers (calibrated), spectrophotometers (Pharo 100 and Hach - calibrated), Buchi k-360 distillator and mineralization furnace with scrubber

  • for analysis of organic compounds in water, sewage, sludge, sewage sludge, soil and wastes samples :

- Hewlett Packard HP 6890 gas chromatograph with HP 5973 mass spectrometer

- Gas chromatograph Agilent Technologies 7890 with mass spectrometer 5977A - for PAH analysis (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), organotin compounds (TBT, DBT, MBT), chloroorganic pesticides, gasolines, BTEX

- Gas chromatograph Agilent Technologies 6890N with flame ionization detector (FID), electron capture detector (ECD) and PT (Purge and Trap) - for analyses of petroleum hydrocarbons: gasolines, BTEX, mineral oil index, THM


- Gas chromatograph Agilent Technologies 7890A / 220 Ion Trap / HSP 7697A with ion trap and HeadSpace - for analysis of halomethane and halo acetates, THM, volatile petroleum hydrocarbons: gasolines, BTEX


  • for ion analysis in water and wastewater samples:

- Ion Chromatograph ICS-1100 - Thermo Scientific

  • for the analysis of metals in samples of water, sewage, sludge, sewage sludge, soils and waste:
 

- Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy ICP-OES - Perkin Elmer


- Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry ICP-MS - Perkin Elmer


- MA-2 mercury analyser - Nippon Instruments Corporation - for mercury analysis in solid and liquid samples


  • for the analysis of total carbon (TC), inorganic carbon (IC), total organic carbon (TOC) and the amount of total nitrogen contained in water with the addition option of analysis of solids:
- Analyser of total organic carbon and total nitrogen TOC-LCSH/CSN – Shimadzu

  • for taking samples of waters and soils:
    • "Whale" auxiliary drive pumps
    • submersible pumps - Gigant 12 V
    • Water Sample Bottles - KC Denmark A/S Research Equipment and Ocean Scientific International
    • Beaker water sampler
    • Eldman drill - Eijkelkamp.

With excellent equipment and qualified staff, we are able to solve any environmental problem. If you are interested in cooperation, please contact us.

The Department of Environmental Protection depending on the implemented projects, in cooperation with:

  • the Department of Operational Oceanography of MIG, uses vessels and research equipment in possession of this Department, for example when collecting samples of marine waters and sediments

  • the Department of Marine Ecology of MIG, implements projects in which biological samples determinations are necessary

  • the Department of Economics and Law of MIG, carries out projects referring to transport and law regulations in the field related to the environment

  • the Department of Maritime Hydrotechnics of MIG, implements projects regarding the management of dredged material and port issues.

Certificate

The Laboratory of the Environmental Protection Department meets the requirements of the PN-EN ISO / IEC 17025 standard Accreditation scope AB 646 Certificate

References

  • Ciech S_A.
  • EDF Polska S_A_
  • Energotherm Consulting Sp_z o_o
  • Grupa LOTOS S_A
  • Port of Gdynia Authority S.A.
 

I accept cookies from this site.