Abstract

The work presents the results of soil and environmental studies on the Bolshoy Solovetsky Island. The main environmental problems in this territory include the presence and operation of production facilities, discharge of untreated water into the White Sea bays, and non-compliance with the established requirements for the storage of municipal solid waste. In order to assess the anthropogenic impact on soils, 44 samples were taken in the summer of 2016-2017. The study included the determination of both physico-chemical and biological indicators. During the study, the differentiation of the soil profile by granulometric composition was revealed: the upper part is heavier and the lower part is lighter, which affected the change in all indicators. A slightly acidic environment has been established for the soils of the studied areas. The average pH of water for all studied samples was 5.7, varying down the profile from the surface from 4.4 to 5.9. The average organic matter content for all samples was 10 %. Its content in the coarse-humus horizon varied from 20 to 36 %, in the eluvial horizon it decreased to 2-3 %, and in the lower horizons of sandy horizons with various inclusions – up to 1 % and lower. The obtained indicators of the content of heavy metals (HM) and petroleum products (РP) were correlated with the accepted pollution levels. Soils in separate trial areas of TM, primarily zinc and lead, as well as petroleum products. The data obtained showed the presence of influence on the soil of three structures - a gas station and a diesel power station, a dry dock. The average value of catalase activity for all studied soil samples from the Solovetsky village amounted to 10.6±0.3 in the surface horizon of the control soil sample was 19±1 mg H2O2 for 1 hour per 3 g of soil. Eliminating the influence of natural abiotic factors, an increase in enzyme activity to 29 units relative to the control sample in soil with a high content of HM (about 10,000 μg/kg) and a sharp (up to 3 units) decrease in activity in soil with a high level of pollution of РP (13400 μg/kg). According to the results of soil research Solovetsky village showed a very high level of contamination at some PPs and a reliable response to this effect of catalase activity. It has been suggested that it is possible to use the activity of this enzyme as a diagnostic indicator of soil contamination in the Solovetsky village with the above pollutants.

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