Ecotoxicological assessment of soddy-podzolic soil under the influence of hostilities

Abstract

Military сonflict on the territory of Ukraine since 2014 has caused and continues to exert a detrimental impact on soil resources. The research results present the changes in ecotoxicological parameters of chernozem soil that underwent degradation due to military actions in Bucha district of Kyiv region in February–March 2022 during the Russian invasion. The use of artillery weapons, including mortars, in the territory of Torf'iane village revealed damage to the soil cover on agricultural and forest lands. Soil degradation resulting from mortar shelling was confirmed by an increase in the content of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Ni, Cr, Cd, Pb) in the soil layer of 0–20 cm one year after artillery shelling. At a distance of 2.5 m from the edge of the craters (Nо 1 and No 2), there was an increase in the gross content of Zn, Ni, Cr by 1.1–1.2 times, Pb by 1.1–1.6 times, and Cu by 1.5–1.8 times. The increase in Cd content by 1.1–1.2 times at a distance of 2.5 m was observed only within crater No 2. At a distance of 30 m from the craters, a high gross content of zinc (151–155 mg/kg), lead (43–44), chromium (39–41), nickel (24–28), copper (17–18), and cadmium (2–3 mg/kg) was found. Exceedances of the content of mobile forms of heavy metals directly in the crater and within a distance of up to 30 m were detected on average by 3–9 times. The highest concentration coefficient values for heavy metals in the soil were found to be, on average, zinc — 6–14 times higher than the background, chromium — 7–9 times, and lead — 4–8 times. Exceedances of the maximum allowable concentrations (MAC) in the soil around the craters were recorded for chromium by 7–26% and nickel by 15–21%. Slight exceedance of the MAC for lead in the soil was observed by 3–6%. No exceedance of the MAC for copper (0.1–0.3 MAC), zinc (0.2–0.4 MAC), cadmium (0.4–0.6 MAC), and lead (0.5–1 MAC) content in the soil was observed one year after the shelling of these territories.