Technogenic loading of eastern industrial zone of Zhytomyr on vegetation of adjoining ecosystems

Abstract

The results of investigations of the peculiarities of the heavy metals accumulation in soil and phytomass of wildlife vegetation from the territory exposed to the influence of the Eastern industrial zone in Zhytomyr are presented. The activity of the enterprises of the Eastern industrial zone leads to the inorganic dust entering the atmosphere, which includes toxic compounds and heavy metals that are transferred at considerable distances, settle and are accumulated in the components of the surrounding ecosystems. It has been determined that significant concentrations of Mn, Zn, Pb, Cu, Fe are accumulated in non-localized dust, which determines the elevated levels of these metals in the vegetation of ecosystems as well. The grass cover has accumulated more elements — dust components — in the south-eastern and southern areas, 2–4 times less — in the eastern and north-eastern areas. The accumulation peculiarities of two groups of metals in plant samples of the territory influenced by the enterprises zone of the Eastern industrial zone in Zhytomyr differ in the ability of air migration, depending on the dust fraction they belong to. The activity of the enterprises located in this zone causes the inorganic dust entering into the atmosphere, which includes toxic compounds and heavy metals. It has been found out that further from the Eastern industrial zone Mn, Zn and Fe are accumulated most in the above-ground phytomass. This is due to the high concentration of these elements in the fine dust fraction.