Prognosis of environmental impact of trace elements from brown coal-fired power plant Bełchatów

A forecast of the negative impact exerted on the environment by selected trace elements in "Bełchatów" Power Plant has been prepared on the basis of the results of investigations into these elements’ distribution carried out as part of earlier research on coal from “Bełchatów” Field and the data on updated analyses of the content of these elements in 55 brown coal samples from test boreholes. Work in "Bełchatów" Power Plant, which is supplied with coal from "Szczerców" Field, will be accompanied by trace elements transfer. On the basis of the conducted investigations it has been found that the biosphere is most threatened by mercury emissions. As shown by the presented results of analyses and calculations, the emissions of mercury in "Bełchatów" Power Plant are low. Mercury is accumulated chiefly in gypsum produced in the FGD plant. The content of mercury in slag and ash is low.