Petroleum Products Content in Natural and Anthropogenic Soils in the Primorsky Krai

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the background content of petroleum products (PP) in natural soils of Primorsky Krai and anthropogenic soils of sites of different land users. Materials and methods. The PP content and soil properties were determined in soil samples according to standard methods, more than 500 samples were analysed. Results and discussion. It has been established that the PP content in soils is influenced by various factors: density, organic matter content, granulometric composition and position in the relief. Soils of eluvial and transit landscapes contain less PP in comparison with soils of accumulative territories. The highest concentrations of petroleum products are characteristic of the soils of gas stations and roadside strips of asphalt-covered roads, where areas with very high and high degree of contamination are found. The PP content in agricultural soils is comparable to that in natural soils. The pollution level of the majority of anthropogenically transformed soils is characterized as acceptable, although the PP content in them is much higher than the background level. The data obtained for Primorsky Krai soils confirm the previously published data, including those for other regions of the world. Conclusions. The background content of oil products in natural soils of the region is 35 mg/kg, the previously recommended value of the regional background for the area of Primorsky Krai (40 mg/kg) does not need to be adjusted. A database of PP content in the main soils of the region has been compiled. The data obtained can be used for engineering and ecological surveys.