Influence of combat actions on the content of gross forms of heavy metals in the soils of Sumy and Okhtyrka districts of Sumy region

Abstract

The article highlights the ecological danger of military operations on the territory of Ukraine. The results of experimental studies of the content of gross forms of heavy metals in ten soil samples taken from agricultural lands of Sumy and Okhtyrka districts of Sumy region are presented. Three samples were taken from the places where air bombs had fallen, seven from the places of broken military equipment. As a result of the conducted research, it was established that the background level in terms of lead content was exceeded in all soil samples, the average content of the element in the polluted territories was 5.4 times higher than the background value. Exceeding the background level in terms of zinc content was noted in nine out of ten soil samples, the average content of the element in the polluted areas was 3.9 times higher than the background value. The average content of cadmium in the polluted territories was 1.4 times higher than the background value (the excess was noted in eight soil samples). Exceeding the background value of the gross copper content was found in eight soil samples, on average, according to the experiment, the copper content is 4.6 times higher than the background value. Exceeding the background value for the content of nickel and iron was noted only in three soil samples, and the average content of the elements exceeded the background value by 1.2 and 1.1 times. The average manganese content in the polluted areas was 4.8 times higher than the background value (the excess was noted in six soil samples). Based on the results of the research, it was established that the gross content of lead (in six soil samples), zinc and manganese (in two soil samples), and copper (in five soil samples) from the sites of hostilities exceeded the permissible limits. The content of gross forms of cadmium and nickel did not exceed the MPC. A significantly higher coefficient of variation of the content of gross forms of heavy metals in the combat zone, compared to the content outside the combat zone (background value), may indicate the intensity of the influence of a negative factor on the soil cover. The highest degree of disturbance of the ground cover as a result of hostilities was noted in the places of burned equipment (the villages of Kosivshchyna, Stare Selo, Nyzy, Sumy district, Sumy region). According to the results of the correlation analysis, an extremely strong dependence was established between the content of the studied forms of heavy metals.