Absheron Peninsula Research Articles

Muslim Shia pilgrimage sites in Baku and the Absheron Peninsula

This article outlines the key pilgrimage sites in Baku and the Absheron Peninsula in Azerbaijan, offering a comprehensive discussion of the history of Shia Islam in this region, with a particular focus on the Republic of Azerbaijan. Each site is examined in terms of its historical development, the figure of devotion associated with it, architectural features, surrounding environment, and religious practices, encompassing both orthodox and heterodox traditions. By integrating personal observations and an analysis of existing literature, this study discusses the main patterns of worship and devotion, providing insights into the broader context of Shia religious practices in Azerbaijan.

Impact of petroleum contamination on soil properties in Absheron Peninsula, Azerbaijan

This study aims to assess the extent of hydrocarbon and heavy metal contamination in soils from specific areas on Azerbaijan's Absheron Peninsula, including Absheron, Suraxanı, and Baku, and to evaluate the impact of this contamination on soil properties. Soil samples were analyzed for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) and heavy metals, including aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and iron, alongside assessments of soil physical, chemical and biological properties. The results revealed significant contamination across all studied areas, particularly in Suraxanı, where TPH levels reached 190 ± 20 mg/kg, exceeding the environmental standard of 100 mg/kg. Similarly, Suraxanı soils exhibited alarmingly high concentrations of heavy metals, with aluminum at 30,128 ± 1,500 mg/kg, arsenic at 50.94 ± 2.5 mg/kg, and cadmium at 0.153 ± 0.01 mg/kg, all surpassing acceptable limits. These contaminants severely degraded soil health, evidenced by increased bulk density (1.7 g/cm³ in Suraxanı) and reduced soil porosity. Microbial activity, a key indicator of soil fertility, was also markedly lower in contaminated regions, with the total bacterial count in Suraxanı being less than half that of the uncontaminated area. The findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive soil management practices and stricter environmental regulations to mitigate contamination's adverse effects and protect both ecosystems and public health in Azerbaijan’s petroleum contaminated areas.

Causes of the Groundwater Levels Rise in the Absheron Peninsula and the Ways of its Regulation

In connection with the growth of Baku city and its adjacent regions located in the Absheron Peninsula, this territory is the most densely populated part of our republic. The waste from industrial enterprises and oil and gas fields, a significant part of which is also located within the Peninsula, has a negative influence on the ecological situation of the studied area. This article provides an overview of the hydrogeological conditions of various areas of the object under study and identifies changes in the level of groundwater in these areas while establishing the reasons for its rise. Physical and chemical analyses of water samples taken from drilled wells and dug wells throughout the region were carried out. The reasons for the increase in the level of underground water were established, which lead to flooding, swamping, and recurrent salinization of the soil in the Absheron Peninsula. Measures and recommendations were developed to restore the ecological balance of the study area. In addition, groundwater, phreatimetric data, and water reservoir strikes in cities, villages, and settlements located on the peninsula were studied. The physico-chemical composition of underground waters and their mineralization levels were studied in laboratory conditions. The groundwater levels in drilled and dug wells across the peninsula were established and compared with data from historical records and literature. The studies conducted allowed for the evaluation of the suitability of groundwater for various national and economic uses. It has been established that, simultaneously with natural factors, anthropogenic factors have had a significant influence on the rise in the level of groundwater, including the absence of central sewage and drainage systems, the discharge of water from industrial enterprises, and household water, among others. To eliminate the environmental emergency, it is recommended to carry out priority temporary measures in some areas of the Absheron Peninsula at the initial stage.

Efficiency analysis of the application of thermal methods at the Pirallahi and Darwin bank fields

The efficiency of oil and gas field development is associated with the correct choice of appropriate measures to be implemented. This research considers the Pirallahi and Darwin Bank fields with hard-to-recover oil reserves. The Pirallahi field is located in the eastern part of the Absheron Peninsula. The initial balance reserve for the facility is 4 million tons, and the level of reserve utilization is 19%. Among the notable features, the Pirallahi deposit represents the southern fold of the PK (Pre-Kirma- ki) horizon. Across the horizon, the initial balance reserve is approximately one million tons, and the utilization rate is 17%. In other groups, the level of utilization exceeds 20%. Accordingly, the volume of initial balance reserves ranges between 8-35 million tons. Industrially important objects here are KSv (Kirmaki suite, fifth horizon), KSn (Kirmaki suite, n horizon), and PKS (Post-Kirmaki suite). To develop oil reserves, more than 1000 production wells were drilled at different stages of the development process. The southern fold consists of a brachyanticline extending from northwest to southeast. The main tectonic element of the southern fold is its thrust nature and its very complex tectonic structure. The fold is heavily watered. Therefore, to increase the efficiency of developing these fields, it is necessary to use appropriate methods of influencing the formations. To enhance the efficiency of the development process in the northern part, the in-situ combustion method was applied. The Darwin Bank field belongs to the Absheron archipelago and has a tectonic brachyanticlinal structure. The structure is complicated by numerous longitudinal and transverse faults. It is divided into six tectonic zones by several transverse and one longitudinal fault passing through the crest. Darwin Bank oils are heavy oils with low sulfur content. In addition, low paraffin and high resin content are observed in the composition of field oil. For both fields, the recovery rate of geological reserves fluctuates around 30%. The article, primarily, examines the selection of objects and the use of enhanced oil recovery methods in these fields. The in-situ combustion method was used in the northern part of the Pirallahi field and Darwin Bank.

Sustainable development and environmental protection in the Absheron peninsula: a geo-ecological perspective

The research focuses on the ecological and geographical aspects of the Absheron region in Azerbaijan, highlighting the significant environmental challenges and the need for sustainable resource management. Given the region’s rapid economic development and urbanization, there is a crucial need to balance economic growth with environmental conservation to ensure long-term ecological stability. The Absheron region faces numerous environmental issues due to intensive industrial activities, particularly in the oil and gas sectors, and increasing urbanization. These activities have led to significant anthropogenic impacts, necessitating comprehensive studies to assess and mitigate their effects on the natural environment. The article’s primary aim is to analyze the current dynamics of economic progress in the Absheron peninsula, assess the anthropogenic impacts, and identify efficient strategies for environmental management. The study also aims to provide a comprehensive ecological survey of the region, focusing on sustainable green economic practices. There has been significant urban growth in cities like Baku, Sumgayit, and Khyrdalan, contributing to increased environmental pressure. Modern settlements and infrastructure development have played a crucial role in organizing advanced systems for economic purposes. The economic activities, particularly in the oil sector, have significantly impacted the region’s natural complexes, necessitating the implementation of green economy principles. Effective management practices are essential to prevent pollution, maintain ecological balance, and protect natural resources. The study highlights the importance of greening initiatives and emergency response plans to manage environmental risks. The author emphasizes the need for a balanced approach to economic development and environmental conservation in the Absheron region. The study provides valuable insights into the ecological and geographical challenges of the Absheron region and offers practical solutions for achieving sustainable development. The article outlines the potential of geographic information systems and remote sensing technologies in monitoring and managing environmental change, in particular, in assessing the impact of industrial activity and urban expansion. The results of the study indicate the need for a comprehensive policy that combines economic development goals with environmental protection measures to ensure long-term environmental sustainability and economic prosperity in the Absheron Peninsula.

The Oriental Fruit Moth (Grapholitha Molesta Busck.) and its Natural Enemies in the Absheron Peninsula

Abstract Garden plants, trees and bushes suffer damages caused by lots of pests by 30-50 % every year, and sometimes by 80-90 % during the period when they grow massively. For this purpose, scientific bases for the use of perspective entomophages in the biological fight against harsh pests by studying the species composition, bioecological features of 6 species of insects, which damage garden and forest plants, and entomophages (parasites and predators), which regulate their number, have been developed in Azerbaijan. The research paper established that the oriental fruit moth infests fruit crops by 50-60 %. It was found that 22 types of parasites play a role in the regulation of abundance. Among them, macrocentrus infests oriental fruit moth larva up to 80 %, scambus up to 60 %, apanteles up to 40-50 %. The scoliidae parasite is of economic importance and can be used for biological control against the oriental fruit moth. Considering the prospects of some parasites, the bioecological features on the Absheron Peninsula have been studied.

Comparative Analysis of the Distribution of the Main Helminthiasis Causative Agents in the Absheron Peninsula and Khizi Region

The research was conducted on sheep farms located in the Absheron region in 2015-2020. The major helminth fauna in sheep in the private and farmer farms of the Absheron region was found to consist of helminth species: Fasciola hepatica, F. gigantica, Dicrocoelium lanceatum, Paramphistomum cervi, Moniezia expansa, M. benedeni, Taenia hydatigena, T. ovis, Multiceps multiceps, Echinococcus granulosus, Protostrongylus hobmaieri, P. kochi, P. railleti, Muellerius capillaris, Trichocephalus ovis, Chabertia ovina, Haemonchus contortus, Dictyocaulus filaria. The extensiveness and intensity of the distribution of the 18 main helminths detected in the region by the complete helminthological dissection method in 19 research areas (14 in the Absheron peninsula: Zire, Hovsan, Mashtagha, Mehdiabad, Gobu, Sulutepe, Z. Taghiyev, Fatmayi, Novkhani, Mammadli, Khirdalan, Jeyranbatan, Mushvigabad, Guzdek; 5 in the Khizi region: Yeni Yashma, Shorabad, Altiaghaj, Gizilgazma, Tudar) are described in tables. Higher invasion levels were identifi­ed for T. ovis(43.2%, 1-53 samples), E. granulosus (39.2%, 1-18 samples), H. contortus (35.0%, 2-56 samp­les), and they we­re con­si­de­red the do­mi­nant hel­minth spe­ci­es of the re­gi­on. Ba­sed on the complete helminthological dissection, in the Absheron peninsula, IE was 17.7% and II was 1-64 samples, and in the Khizi district, IE was 29.0% and II was 1-83 samples. Thus, complete helminthological examination methods allowed us to conclude that the infection rate in the Khizi region is higher than in the Absheron Peninsula. This makes it necessary for farmers and veterinarians to start veterinary sanitary measures, both prophylactic and treatment measures against helminths in the Khizi district.

On the transition of liquid dispersion states and their physical-thermodynamic nature in the development of gas-condensate reservoirs in depletion mode

This work presents new results of physical and chemical analysis of samples from contaminated areas of the Absheron field. The advantages and disadvantages of the used and traditional methods of cleaning oil waste are shown. Modern methods have been used to determine the characteristics of oil sludge samples from the Balakhany, Ramana, Surakhany, Bibiheybet fields of the Absheron Peninsula: oil sludge composition, viscosity, density, water content, chemical composition, temperature, cutting size, toxicity, volume, pH level, turbidity, BOD (biological oxygen demand), TDS (total dissolved solids). The main properties of oil sludge from the fields of the Absheron Peninsula are analyzed and compared. Chromatographic analysis (Agilent 7820A GC) allowed us to separate the oil waste and mixtures of the studied samples into individual compounds and components. The separation and determination of the components of the waste mixture by gas chromatography consisted of three stages: 1) Introduction of the sample into the chromatograph, 2) Separation of the sample into individual components, 3) Determination of the compounds contained in the sample. An inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (Agilent 7500 cs) with reaction cell was used for the efficient determination of trace heavy metals in petroleum waste. The ion lens unit used in the Agilent 7500cs provided high sensitivity measurements. Thus, trace metals were detected in the samples. A vacuum distiller (Retort Oil and Water Kit RROW-50) was used to quantify liquid and solids in drilling mud. Comparison of our oil sludge analysis results with field data demonstrates the effectiveness of these methods in identifying the composition of oil sludge for obtaining target products. From the studied wastes of the oil industry, it is possible to obtain special additives and use them, for example, for asphalt concrete. The dependences of oil sludge evaporation (of the Balakhany, Ramana, Surakhany, Bibieybet deposits) on air temperature and thermal resistance of the waterproofing material of the oil storage facility have been studied. The evaporation of components also depends on the concentration of oil sludge. Based on our sample analyses, it has been shown that the combined use of physicochemical and chemical methods makes it possible to purify oil sludge to acceptable limits. The dependences of oil evaporation on air temperature and the thermal resistance of the waterproofing material of an oil tank on the concentration of oil sludge have been established.

The humic acids influence on the quantity and quality of table grape varieties under the Absheron peninsula conditions

Humates are widely used in viticulture, including ecological viticulture. Humic stuffs benefit the qualitative and quantitative indicators of the grape harvest and can reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. This article presents the results of tests on the foliar application of various doses of the “Rostok” fertilizer in the conditions of the Absheron zone of Azerbaijan on local varieties of table grapes – traditional Tabrizi and a selection variety of Scientific Research Institute of Viticulture and Wine-making Ganjavi, grown in the Ampelographic collection of the institute, located on the Absheron peninsula. Fertilizer was applied in three doses – 0.5; 1.0 and 1.5 liter per hectar. Under the influence of the fertilizer, such elements of yield as the vigor of shoot growth, the number of opened buds, fruitful shoots, the number of berries in a bunch, the weight of a bunch, as well as the sugar content of berry juice increased. Fertilizer application had a positive effect on eliminating signs of leaf chlorosis. No toxic effect on the vegetative organs of the grape plant, on its development, or on the beneficial insect fauna of the vineyard was noted. Based on the data obtained, as well as calculations of economic efficiency, a four-fold application of fertilizer (twice before flowering, once after, once during veraison) at the rate of 1 liter per hectare was recommended for widespread use in wine-growing farms.

Ontogenesis and Bioecological Features of the Species Rosmarinus prostratus in Apsheron Conditions

The ontogenesis and bioecological composition of the species Rosmarinus prostratus, belonging to the genus Rosmarinus L., were studied. The study was conducted on the territory of the Absheron Peninsula on the experimental site of the Institute of Dendrology Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan in cultural conditions. The species Rosmarinus prostratus, belonging to the genus Rosmarinus L., has normal periods of development in the natural conditions of the Absheron Peninsula. This species can be used as an ornamental plant for landscaping parks and gardens, as well as a medicinal plant for mass production, industrially various drugs.

THE ROLE OF AIR TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT DURING FOG RECURRENCES ON THE ABSHERON PENINSULA (AZERBAIJAN)

The article focuses on the characteristics of air temperature and dew point changes observed during repeated fog events in the Absheron Peninsula in 2000...2022. For this purpose, continuous observation data of Heydar Aliyev International Airport was used. Here is an analysis of all types of fog by month of occurrence. The limits of total fog, Meteorological Optical Range ≤ 500 m. and 501...1000 m. are considered in the analysis. Repeating such criteria, attention was paid to the recorded air temperature and dew point indicators for I...III, IV...VI and X...XII months of the year. The analyzes show that the fogs observed in the peninsula are mostly recorded at a temperature of 6...8 0C. The most commonly observed dew point temperature ranges of 0,0...0,3 0C and 1,0...1,2 0C at all ranges of MOR in fog repeats. The results of the research are of particular importance for the planning of the work of all transport areas and the forecast of fogs.

Azerbaijan—The Land of Unquenchable Fire

_ For millennia, Zoroastrian fire worshippers traveled on pilgrimage to pray at temples built where methane seeping from deep underground caused flames to burst from the earth on the Absheron Peninsula near Baku, the capital of today’s Azerbaijan. The Venetian merchant Marco Polo observed such mysterious fires and puddles of oil that bubbled or even gushed as fountains to the surface as he trekked along the Silk Road through the Caucasus Mountains in the 13th century. In a travelogue written in 1298, The Travels of Marco Polo, he is said to have described: “Near the Georgian border there is a spring from which gushes a stream of oil in such abundance that a hundred ships may load here at once. This oil is not good to eat, but it is good for burning and as a salve for men and camels affected with itch or scab.” He was referring to the Khanates of Azerbaijan, a part of the Persian Empire in Marco Polo’s time but absorbed in 1806 into the Russian Empire whose czars took an interest in financing early oil production—hand dug and exported on camel back. Its high paraffin content was valued for producing kerosene lamp oil and lubricants including cannon grease. World’s First Mechanically Drilled Oil Well As the Industrial Revolution swept from West to East in the mid-19th century, many of the innovations and business systems around which the modern oil and gas industry were soon to coalesce were tested in the ancient “Land of Fire.” Czar Nicholas I (1825–1855) financed the world’s first mechanically drilled oil well in 1846 using a cable-tool percussion drilling method. A 21-m-deep (69 ft) exploration well was the result. This happened a decade before Edwin Drake added steam-engine power to a mechanical drill to put Titusville, Pennsylvania, on the map in 1859, as described in the Branobel History archives. By 1871, with Nicholas’ son, the reformer Alexander II now on the Russian throne, boreholes had replaced buckets across the Bibi-Heybat and Balakhani oil fields. The arrival from Sweden in the 1870s of Alfred Nobel’s brothers, Ludvig and Robert, brought a step change to Azerbaijan in terms of industrial innovation, construction, and logistics such that by 1900 Azerbaijan was producing 50% of the world’s oil, historical sources agree. Alexander II had abolished the state monopoly on oil production in 1869, opening the door to foreign industrialists and their capital. Robert Nobel obliged and opened the joint stock Branobel Co. in 1878 with a partner from a weapons plant in the Russian town of Izhevsk. He put down share capital of 3 million rubles ($30,000 in today’s money) to register Tovarishestvo Neftyanogo Proizvodstva Bratyev Nobel—in English, The Brothers Nobel Paraffin Production Company (aka Branobel). The transformation of Baku’s oil fields into a capitalist production sector had begun in 1872 with the auction of 15 blocks in the Balakhani oil field and two blocks in Bibi-Heybat, according to a history prepared by Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Energy in 2020. This drove a 340% growth in oil production between 1876 and 1882, from 24,000 to 816,000 tons, respectively, between those years. By 1894 Azerbaijan’s production equaled that of the US (5.55 million tons per year) though Baku’s fields were 20 times less productive, according to Branobel archivists.

Magneto-based earthquake hazard models for Absheron Peninsula

Magneto-based earthquake hazard models for Absheron Peninsula

Synanthropic Components of the Flora of the Absheron Peninsula

Information is given about 319 synanthropic species of the flora of the Absheron Peninsula. A brief description of synanthropic species, their classification, and adaptive features is given. The species richness of various ruderal biotopes of the Absheron is described. The distribution routes of synanthropic species on the territory of the peninsula are indicated. The results of original research on the introduction of these species are presented. The result of synanthropization of vegetation cover is analyzed.

Study of Bacterization of Medicago sativa L. and Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. During the Process of Phytoremediation of Oil-contaminated Soils

Recultivation of oil-contaminated soils on the Absheron Peninsula is one of the most important environmental and social problems for this region. One of the promising ways to solve the problem of soil pollution with petroleum hydrocarbons is the development of methods and approaches for their purification and detoxification in situ, and above all, biodetoxification and bioremediation. In a model vegetation experiment using complex systems of a mixture of plants and microorganisms, phytoremediation of soil contaminated with crude oil at a concentration of 15 g/kg was investigated. It has been established that the inoculation of plants with the modified Fermi-Start biological product affects the number of rhizosphere microorganisms that stimulate plant growth, as well as the degree of purification of gray-brown soil from oil. Cynodon dactylon is an effective biosystem for the remediation of oil-contaminated gray-brown soils as it is modified by a culture of an oil-oxidizing microorganism of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa, isolated from oil-contaminated gray-brown soil, the Fermi-Start biological product and belongs to the group of “effective microorganisms”, associated with plants — Medicago sativa. The joint introduction of the Fermi-Start biological product and the culture of P. aeruginosa had the greatest protective effect on seedlings from exposure to crude oil. The height of the shoots increased by 71% compared with the negative control, in parallel, the degree of oil degradation increased to 24%. A significant role of alfalfa in stimulating the number of rhizosphere microorganisms capable of hydrocarbon degradation has been revealed. This is confirmed by data showing that the number of microorganisms in the plant rhizoplane was 1–2 orders of magnitude higher (about 1.1×107 on average) than in the rhizosphere (about 1.4×105 on average), which may be due to secretion of plant root exudates. The results of the research allow us to recommend the use of a plant-microbial biosystem consisting of Medicago sativa and Cynodon dactylon, together with a Fermi-Start modified biological product for phytoremediation of gray-brown soil contaminated with crude oil.

Prospectivity of Pliocene-Miocene deposits of the Khasilat field of the Absheron oil and gas bearing region according to surface and well seismic data

Prospectivity of Pliocene-Miocene deposits of the Khasilat field of the Absheron oil and gas bearing region according to surface and well seismic data

ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF OIL AND OIL PRODUCTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND LIVING ORGANISMS

Phytotoxic properties of Absheron soils were studied when they were contaminated with oil and oil products. For this purpose, samples were taken from gray-brown semi-desert soil from Binagadi settlement of Absheron region and light chestnut soil from Saray settlement. Studies conducted with these soil types have shown that arid areas are not resistant to pollution by oil and oil products in terms of phytotoxicity. It was found that the soils of the Absheron peninsula contaminated with oil and oil products have a negative effect on the growth and development of test plants.

Ecological problems of technogenically disturbed lands on the Absheron Peninsula


 
 
 The study area occupies an important place in our republic’s economic, political, and agricultural development. It is very important to properly use the land of an area with such an advantageous position. In addition to rich deposits of oil, gas, and gas condensate, the Absheron Peninsula has widespread mineral deposits (limestone, gypsum, crushed stone, bentonite, sand, etc.). Currently, the accumulation of waste in the territory of quarries and dumps after the extraction of non-metallic minerals on a large scale has led to the formation of technogenically disturbed areas. On the territory of the quarries themselves and adjacent lands, well-developed soils are widespread (irrigated ordinary gray soils with different granulometric composition and thickness, semi-desert gray-brown soils). During the extraction of deposits, as a result of the use of multiton machines and mechanisms, these lands were subjected to varying degrees of technogenic degradation, lost their fertility, and have not yet been studied either genetically or economically. Therefore, when writing this article, the main goal was a large-scale study of these lands and the development of recommendations for their restoration. Various scientists have conducted research on the geochronology of the formation of the soil and vegetation cover of the Absheron Peninsula, the degree of exposure to technogenic impacts, the development of a typological classification, mapping and modeling them to a fertile state in order to evaluate them in terms of biological productivity. However, it has not been possible to fully study the land and use it in different economic sectors. For this reason, an important topic of our time is touched upon in the presented article and is chosen again due to its relevance. As an object of study, the soil and vegetation cover of the territory where organic and non-metallic resources of the peninsula were mined, as well as lands that remained outside the scope of large-scale research, spread over the deformed areas of the Absheron Peninsula, were chosen. In order to give the research a greater scientific-theoretical and scientific-practical orientation, we laid soil-vegetation sections, described natural vegetation, and took sam- ples for laboratory analysis from reference places in the study area,. According to the analysis in the studied soils, it can be said that the amount of dry residue, which is considered the main indicator of the degree of salinity, ranges from 0.172-2.312% in the upper reaches of the accumulative-humus layers, which indicates that a small part of these soils has a predominantly weak medium, strong and very strong salinity.
 
 

The Influence of Seismological and Magnetic Activity on Mortality from Cardiovascular Pathologies in the Absheron Peninsula of the Republic of Azerbaijan

The Influence of Seismological and Magnetic Activity on Mortality from Cardiovascular Pathologies in the Absheron Peninsula of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Assessment of a radioecological situation in Azerbaijan, based on spectral analyses of radionuclides

Radioecological research studies – that is, studies about radioactivity – in the Absheron Peninsula, Azerbaijan, were launched in 1930–1932, initially based on samples taken from soil, water and underground water. It was determined that the main cause of the radioactive pollution in the area is not limited to the effects of radioactive isotopes of natural origin. Rather, pollution takes place also due to the contamination of oilfields driven by technogenic processes and the contact of water solutions of different mineralisation types with rocks and oilfields. However, complete exploration of the area in those times was not possible because of lack of modern equipment and devices and new technologies. It should be noted that despite the critical ecological situation prevalent in the Absheron Peninsula, no comprehensive studies have been conducted on the radiation level of the area and the diminishing of possible radiation risk among the population living and working in the nearby areas. In this paper, the regularities of the distribution of the radiation background in the territory of the Absheron Peninsula were analysed and the most dangerous areas in terms of dwelling and operating were identified with proposal of necessary measures towards such areas. Moreover, the changing of the radioactive background in relationship with the age and type of soil was determined for the first time based on laboratory analysis of samples taken from the area and the fieldworks conducted. In this paper, the radiation background of the Absheron Peninsula was studied, thus determining not only the areas with an average value of the radiation background at 8.5 μR/h but also the areas where it equalled 400–600 μR/h – that is, the dangerous levels for living and working.