Features of soil contamination of rural settlements in the central part of the Belgorod region with heavy metals

Abstract

Introduction: The Belgorod region is one of the most favourable regions of Russia in terms of all natural indicators. It is distinguished by a diverse and comfortable climate, highly productive soils, rich surface and groundwater, and a diverse flora and fauna. In addition to the indicated factors, the Belgorod region includes a complex of the largest deposits of ore and non-metallic minerals. These circumstances became the basis for the dense development of the territory of the Belgorod region by the population, the number of residents is 55.82 people/km2 . The contradiction that arose between favourable natural conditions and the powerful technogenic mining complex determined the relevance of the considered problem. The purpose of the study: An analysis of soil contamination of rural settlements located in various areas of the Belgorod region with heavy metals. Methodology: The methods included field work on the selection of soils and sediments of the aeration zone along a uniform network; preparation and analysis of samples using MAKS-GVM spectroscan; calculation of concentration coefficients of leading pollutant elements; determination of patterns of their distribution over area and section. Results: Metallurgical production caused the formation of a persistent ecological-geochemical anomaly for cobalt in the soils of the Obukhovsky rural settlement, located in contact with the enterprise’s facilities. The excess of cobalt concentration coefficients in soils was 10–18 units. Within the Novoukolovsky rural settlement, located 60 km from the main sources of pollution, an excess of strontium and barium was detected: the soils and ground had an alkaline reaction; with depth, a proportional decrease in strontium concentrations was observed; barium tended to concentrate in the soil section, its content increased with depth.