Summary:

The article attempts to develop a methodology for the study of environmental hazards due to the existence in rural areas so-called "pesticide burial area" - the places of storage of obsolete pesticides. Pesticides are a problem in all countries around the world. The largest dumpsites of this type of waste are situated in Eastern Europe, which also includes Poland. The problem in Poland has existed since 1965. All burials require disposal because obsolete pesticides threaten the environment. The proposed methodology addresses the key characteristics and location of the object, which favor the spread of pollutants in the environment. Based on the matrix constructed features localization is possible to estimate the hazard categories. The study was carried out in the Warmia and Mazury, where are 17 object on toxic waste disposal. Recognizes four categories of threats and unclassified objects. The study found that the study area there are also 2 and 3 risk categories. The most threatening features of this location as: placement in ground hole, distance from watercourses, source of drinking water (especially municipal), distance from housing about 100 m, time position in the soil for over 30 years and lack of continuous monitoring of environmental receptors. Identification of the categories makes it possible to determine the sequence of the hazard elimination and to monitor the environmental receptors once the elimination process is completed.