Section: Monitoring of natural and anthropogenically disturbed areas
A comparative analysis of the mobile forms of heavy metals (HM) content in the Svirsk snow cover, soils and children’s hair was carried out. Features of the HM distribution and accumulation in natural environments and children’s hair in different functional sites of the city were identified, due to the significant technogenic impact of emissions from industrial enterprises, thermal power plants, private households and accumulated hazardous waste from former industries. It was found that the highest levels of HM accumulation compared to background values are observed in soils for As, Zn, Cr and Pb (10.5–145.0 times), significantly lower in snow cover for Cd, Mn, Zn and Pb (2.0–4.6 times). In the city districts the HM total pollution indicator (Zс) in snow cover corresponds to a low level, and in soils – from moderately dangerous in the center of multi-storey residential buildings of the city to dangerous and extremely dangerous levels of pollution in industrial and low-rise residential sites. High levels of Mn, Cr, Zn, Cd, Pb and As accumulation in children’s hair were revealed, exceeding reference values by 1.4–24.0 times. Close correlations (r = 0.78–0.83) have been established between the HM content in the snow cover near schools and in the children’s hair in different city sites. The above indicates environmental tension in the city and a high risk to public health.
Keywords: heavy metals, snow, soil, children’s hair, city territory
Article published in number 1 for 2026 DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2026-1-088-095
ISSN 1995-4301
Select viewing options