Ecogeochemical assessment of heavy metal contamination in the soil cover of the Izyum district under the impact of military operations
Abstract
Purpose of the study. The ongoing military conflict in eastern Ukraine has caused significant damage to the environment, especially the soil cover in regions that have been subjected to intensive shelling. The purpose of the study is to assess the impact of hostilities on the ecogeochemical composition of soils in the Kharkiv region using modern monitoring and laboratory analysis methods, as well as to determine the level of environmental risk of heavy metal contamination in areas of missile and artillery shelling.
Materials and methods of research. The study was carried out in the format of a comprehensive expedition organized within the Izyum district, in the east of the Kharkiv region - the region that suffered the greatest destruction from artillery shelling and bombing. Experimental studies were conducted in the laboratory of ecological and analytical research on the basis of the Scientific Research Institution "Ukrainian Scientific Research Institute of Ecological Problems" (UKRNDIEP) (Kharkiv). The main method for determining the concentration of BM was atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), which provides high sensitivity and accuracy of measurements. The analysis covered key toxic chemical elements - lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn), as well as a number of associated heavy metals (Fe, Cr, Mn), which allowed for a more significant characterization of the geochemical background. The interpretation of the results was based on modern approaches to environmental risk assessment. First of all, the contamination factor (CF) was determined, which shows how many times the BM content exceeds the natural background level. Next, the geoaccumulation index (Geoaccumulation Index, Igeo) was calculated, which made it possible to establish whether the excess concentrations are a consequence of man-made influences, in particular military actions. At the final stage, an integral Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI) was calculated, which takes into account the toxicity of each HM and predicts the possible consequences of its accumulation for the ecosystem.
Results. This study presents the results of a comprehensive field and laboratory study of chemical contamination of soils in the eastern Kharkiv region, focusing on areas directly affected by artillery and air bombardments. Soil samples were collected from 12 explosion craters throughout the Izyum district using georeferenced sampling methods. Concentrations of heavy metals, namely zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and others, were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry. The data show significant excesses of background levels for several toxic elements, especially Zn, Pb and Cu, with contamination closely correlated with the composition of munitions and metal debris. Pollution indicators such as the contamination coefficient (CF), geoaccumulation index (Igeo) and potential ecological risk index (PERI) indicate moderate to high ecological risks in most of the studied sites. The highest PERI values were observed in areas of concentrated bombing, which highlights the long-term ecological consequences of military operations. The obtained ecogeochemical assessment emphasizes the need for an intelligent environmental monitoring system and provides a scientific basis for soil restoration strategies in post-conflict areas.
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References
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