Section: Monitoring of natural and anthropogenically disturbed areas
Studies have been carried out to assess the degree of soil pollution in Armenia with heavy metals (HM) near existing
(Kajaran Copper-Molybdenum Plant and Hrazdan Cement Plant) and currently not operating (Alaverdi Mining and Metallurgical Plant and Vanadzor Chemical Plant) industrial enterprises. The selection of soil samples was carried out from
the plots at a distance of 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 5, 10, 15 and 25 km from the source of pollution. Analysis of the results of chemical
analysis of soils showed that at a distance of up to 5 km from technogenic sources, soils are heavily contaminated with
compounds of copper, zinc and lead. As the distance from the pollution source increases to 25 km, a significant decrease
in the concentrations of all HMs occurs, and the comparative series is represented by the following sequence: Zn > Cu
> Pb > Co > Mo. At a distance of 25 km, a significant decrease in anthropogenic load on the soil is noted. The greatest
50 times decrease in the total HM content was found for soils near the Alaverdi Mining and Metallurgical Combine,
and the smallest in the case of the Hrazdan Cement Plant. For the rest of the considered enterprises, the decrease in the
value of the coefficient of total pollution was 25 times on the average. The information obtained can be used to take into
account the migration and storage capacity of HMs in the soil when organizing environmental measures, depending on
the remoteness of the main source of pollution.
Keywords: soil, heavy metals, anthropogenic pollution, remoteness from the source of pollution, the total coefficient of soil pollution
Article published in number 4 for 2021 DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2021-4-090-097
Views: 12
Active carbons as an important factor in the sustainable development of the economy and the quality of life of the population
V.M. Mukhin, N.V. Korolev
Section: Social ecology
The article indicates the severity of the environmental threats and pollution of the biosphere. The main route of
protection of the biosphere with the use of active carbons (AU) is justified. A modern definition of activated carbon is
given as a material with a developed porous structure, having high absorption characteristics for impurities found in
the media to be cleaned (air, gases, water and other liquids). A new approach to the evaluation of the adsorption properties of AU, justified by Academician M.M. Dubinin through the adsorption activity per unit volume of AU (mg/cm3
),
is proposed. The possibility of effective use of activated carbon in environmental technologies for the protection of the
atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and man himself as the main object of the biosphere is shown. Special emphasis
is placed on the coverage of the most important areas of application of AU that ensure the environmental safety of the
Russian Federation, namely, detoxification of soils from pesticide residues, purification of drinking water and wastewater, treatment of waste gases from incinerators. It is shown that the introduction of AU in doses of 100–200 kg/ha into
herbicide-contaminated soil allows not only to increase crop yields by 20–80%, but also to obtain environmentally friendly crop products. It is proved that active carbons of the DAS brand based on anthracite with a high volume microporosity
(0.17 cm3
/cm3
) significantly increase the efficiency of drinking water and wastewater treatment. Thus, the sorption
capacity of DAS for phenol, as the most common pollutant of natural and waste water, is 2.5–3.5 times higher than that
of the industrial sorbent KAD-I based on coal semi-coke. A number of problems of protection of the atmosphere with
the use of AU are highlighted. The important role in the use of AU for detoxification of the human body is emphasized.
New promising technologies of AU production are described. The need for AU for the Russian Federation in the amount
of at least 70,000 tons/year is justified, which allows for the sustainable development of the economy and improving the
quality of life of the population.
Keywords: environmental pollution, active carbons, sorbent, biosphere protection technologies, lithosphere, soil detoxification, hydrosphere, water treatment, atmosphere, incineration plants
Article published in number 4 for 2021 DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2021-4-210-217
Views: 5
Bioindication of oil-contaminated soils using invertebrates
E.N. Melekhina, A.A. Taskaeva
Section: Population ecology
The article discusses the possibility of using springtails (Collembola) as an indicator group of soil invertebrates in
the case of oil pollution, as well as the rate of their recovery in soils reclaimed by different methods. Eight experimental
sites were examined with the use of various biological preparations, agrochemical soil treatment and the background
community in the Usinsk region of the Komi Republic. A decrease in the diversity and abundance of springtails, a depletion of the spectrum of their life forms, and a restructuring of the dominance structure on the experimental sites 12 years
after reclamation are shown. The euedaphic and hemiedaphic species were found to be sensitive to oil pollution. Species
characteristic of the initial stages of restoration of soil communities after oil pollution (Ceratophysella succinea, Proisotoma minima, Desoria hiemalis), as well as a species that may be sensitive to oil pollution (Protaphorura jacutica), have
been identified. Analysis of the diversity of springtails can serve as an alternative to ecotoxicological tests in assessing
the effectiveness of reclamation methods and the rate of restoration of disturbed soils.
Keywords: springtails, pollution of terrestrial ecosystems, bioremediation, European part of Russia
Article published in number 4 for 2021 DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2021-4-181-186
Views: 10
Microbiological monitoring of technogenically polluted reservoirs of the Absheron industrial region
А.S. Gasimova, N.M. Ismailov, А.G. Talibly
Section: Monitoring of natural and anthropogenically disturbed areas
The presence of water bodies of anthropogenic origin on the territory of the Absheron industrial region is one of
the acute problems. Many lakes have become receivers of wastewater and polluted water, they have a negative impact on
adjacent environments – soil cover, groundwater and the atmosphere of the entire Absheron Peninsula, including the
capital of the country, Baku, with its three million population. The object of research in 2016–2017 was the largest and
most polluted lakes of the Absheron Peninsula – Boyuk-Shor (the surface of this reservoir is 1300 hectares) and Zykh
(20 hectares). The research is devoted to the study of the structure of the microbiocenosis of reservoirs contaminated with
oil and oil products, biogenicity and their self-cleaning ability. In the self-purification of these reservoirs, oil-oxidizing
microorganisms play an important role, the abundance of which in the water of reservoirs ranges from 103 to 105
cells/dm3
.
The most active decomposition of organic substances in water occurs in the summer and autumn. This is favored, first,
by the temperature factor. The difference in the degree of biogenicity in different zones of water bodies is associated with
high levels of hydrocarbon pollutants, namely: in the areas of pollutant intake, self-cleaning ability does not compensate
for the rate of their destruction.
Keywords: Absheron Peninsula, water bodies, pollution, self-purification, microorganisms, microbiocenosis structure
Article published in number 4 for 2021 DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2021-4-083-089
Views: 5
Scientific and methodological aspects of the organization of environmental monitoring of near-aerodrome territories
Section: Methodology and research methods. Models and forecasts
A new approach to environmental monitoring of depositing media of near-aerodrome territories is proposed, aimed at increasing its accuracy and information content while reducing the cost. For this purpose, on the basis of correlation analysis of the results of eleven-year monitoring of the adjacent territory to the airfield of state aviation, the choice of analyte-marker of soil pollution by major pollutants is justified; developed a predictive model of soil pollution specific pollutant (aviation fuel) as a result of his kapleobrazovanie and scattering when the aircraft engines in afterburner at takeoff-landing; the developed method piezosensors rapid determination of analyte-marker in the field; the necessity of accurate calculation of the total score and presented to the ranking scale of total pollution of soils paartronic territories the main pollutants to describe the environmental situation. The proposed scheme of geoecological monitoring includes: prediction of soil pollution with an analyte-marker (kerosene) at different distances from the runway; construction of pixel maps of soil pollution with an analyte-marker based on the results of measurements in the field using a mobile and economical piezosensor measuring device; allocation of related areas with high content of analyte-marker on pixel maps; sampling of soils in the selected associated areas and determination of the content of priority pollutants (kerosene, formaldehyde, nitrates, heavy metals) by standard laboratory methods; calculation of the specified total indicator of soil pollution and construction of analog maps with subsequent decision-making on the rehabilitation of environmentally unfavorable areas. The proposed scheme of geoecological monitoring was tested in the adjacent territories to the airfields «Baltimore» and «Engels-2».
Keywords: environmental monitoring, soil pollution, kerosene, formaldehyde, heavy metals, nitrates, state aviation airfield
A technology of pre-design comparative assessment of hazardous industrial facilities alternative location options is
described in this paper. The technology was designed by the St. Petersburg ecologic and design company Eco-ExpressService LLC. Options’ comparison is carried out in two stages using a score/ranking multi-criteria assessment: at first,
the determination and comparison of environmental safety criteria, and then – a summary assessment of all set of criteria.
4 competitive methods are used for consolidation of obtained results into general comparative scoring. These methods
differ in specification degree of the criteria indicator significance and interrelation of different types of object. Stages
of technology application are illustrated with concrete examples. The pre-design comparative assessment technology
was tested for alternative options of the Russian section of the Nord Stream 2 offshore gas pipeline and the Complex for
processing ethane-containing gas on the territory of the Kingisepp municipal district of the Leningrad region. Main positive effects and advantages of its use are determined by the increase of construction environmental safety and essential
economy of the federal, regional and local budgets and investors by eliminating unfavourable object location options at
early stages of development.
Keywords: environmental safety, production facility, technology of assessment, criteria, anthropogenic impact
Article published in number 4 for 2021 DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2021-4-112-118
Views: 12
Environmental monitoring of atmospheric air in the vicinity of Rooppur NPP (People’s Republic of Bangladesh)
D.N. Kurbakov, R.A. Mikailova, A.V. Panov
Section: Monitoring of natural and anthropogenically disturbed areas
The paper presents environmental monitoring system for surface atmospheric air in the vicinity of the Rooppur NPP
in Bangladesh. A monitoring programme was developed. There were selected 3 observation points. Monitoring objects
(atmospheric air and precipitation), a list of observed parameters, observation regulations, as well as investigation methods, were identified. The controlled indicators included the radionuclide composition of surface air and precipitations,
involving natural (40K, 226Ra, 232Th) and artificial radionuclides (54Mn, 60Co 90Sr, 137Cs), the content of heavy metals (HM)
(Сd, Ni, Pd, As, Hg, Co, Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, Al, Fe), the gas composition of the air and the level of dust. The investigations
were carried out in 2014–2017 before and at the construction stage of NPP considering the climatic characteristics of
the region during different seasons. The results of monitoring studies showed the influence of the NPP construction on
changes in the content of HM and dust in the surface air and the absence of an increase in the content of radionuclides.
The concentration of Pb and Cd after the start of the NPP construction began to exceed current standards by 1.6–2.3
times, due to the operation of the equipment and dust formation. The specific activity of radionuclides in the air was
very low. The influence of climate on the dust content in the air during the year was also noted. The values varied from the minimum in the monsoon period (June-September) to the maximum in the dry period (December). Analysis of the gas
composition of the air revealed the presence of H2
S (average content 0.12 mg/m3
), as well as CO (0.57 mg/m3
) and NO2
(0.39 mg/m3
). The detected concentrations excepting single measurements of hydrogen sulfide are quite low and do not
pose a risk to human health.
Keywords: nuclear power plant, environmental monitoring, atmospheric air, radionuclides, heavy metals, chemical pollution
Article published in number 4 for 2021 DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2021-4-076-082
Views: 8
The use of the normalized relative algoindex for the assessment of algae blooms in the reservoirs of the Vyatka-Kama cis-Urals
Т.I. Kutyavina, V.V. Rutman, Т.Ya. Аshikhmina
Section: Monitoring of natural and anthropogenically disturbed areas
The article presents the results of monitoring of two plain reservoirs located in the Vyatka-Kama Pre-Urals, according to remote sensing data and field observations. The reservoirs are located in the Kirov region, have similar morphological parameters, the same origin, but differ in the level of anthropogenic load. According to the satellite images taken from the Sentinel-2 satellite (A, B) in the period from May to September 2015–2020, the normalized relative algoindex (NDAI) was calculated. This index allows you to detect accumulations of phytoplankton in reservoirs. The NDAI values do not depend on atmospheric interference and the influence of the reflection spectrum of the water itself. The index images are built in the QGIS software product, version 3.20. The results obtained are compared with the data of field observations on reservoirs. The NDAI values in the water area of the Omutninsky reservoir during the observation period varied from 0.36 to 0.80, in the water area of the Chernokholunitsky reservoir from 0.32 to 0.84. Intensive algae bloom in the studied reservoirs was observed in August 2016 and July 2020. In the areas of water areas where intense algae blooming was noted, the following species prevailed in the phytoplankton samples: Anabaena lemmermannii P.G. Richter, A. spiroides Klebahn, A. planctonica Brunnthaler, Aphanizomenon flos-aquae Ralfs ex Bornet & Flahault. The optical density of water in this case was from 0.150 and higher (the length of the optical path of the cuvette is 10 mm, λ = 615 nm), and the NDAI values were more than 0.55.
Keywords: reservoir, eutrophication, phytoplankton, remote sensing of the Earth, spectral indices, monitoring
Article published in number 3 for 2021 DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2021-3-060-065
Views: 29
Features of vegetation restoration on the dumps of spent minings of the Subpolar Urals
S.V. Degteva
Section: Monitoring of natural and anthropogenically disturbed areas
The results of long-term restoration of vegetation on the dumps of a spent gold mining in the Kozhim River basin (Circumpolar Urals) are presented. 25 years after the finishing of gold mining, only an small part of the industrial territories open groupings and unclosed plant communities are formed. Significant areas of dumps remained practically lifeless. Biodiversity increases over time up to 212 species for vascular plants and up to 27 species for bryophytes. The composition of plant groups and phytocenoses is characterized by significant variability. This is due not only to unfavorable environmental conditions, but also to the random introduction of seeds. Primary successions during the observation period did not occur according to the zonal type, although the appearance of the emerging vegetation was determined by species of natural flora.
Keywords: restoration of vegetation, disturbed territoties, Subpolar Urals.
The relevance of preserving the genetic resources of the animal and plant world necessitates the search for biologically active substances for the preservation of reproductive cells. Under conditions of hypothermic storage, the osmosis of the extracellular environment, stabilization of membranes and the structure of the cytoskeleton of cells can be provided by various sugars. Xylotrophic Basidiomycete Hericium erinaceus (Bull .: Fr.) Pers. is a source of polysaccharides with high biological activity. Residues of galactose, glucose, arabinose, mannose, fucose, rhamnose, xylose (in order of decreasing % content) were identified in the carbohydrate chains of the polysaccharide fraction (PP) of H. erinaceus BP 16. The effect of PP of different concentrations on the freezing of water in an aqueous solution of glycerin, as well as on the viability of spermatozoa of Holstein bulls under hypothermic (+ 4 °C) storage conditions, on the intensity of LPO processes and antioxidant activity, on the ability of gametes for progressive movement, on sperm resistance to hypoosmotic stress. In connection with the search for new effective components for preserving solutions, the data obtained in this work indicate the prospect of using the PP of H. erinaceus as a component to slow down the rate of ice crystallization in cell suspensions during freezing and as an antioxidant regulator of the functional usefulness of gametes during cooling