Environmental Assessment Of Soil Research Articles

Environmental Assessment of Soil and Groundwater Pollution by BTEX Leaching in Valencia Region (Spain)

The impact of hydrocarbon spills in the unsaturated zone is a significant environmental concern, particularly in locations where contamination arises from leaks in underground fuel storage tanks (USTs). This paper presents the outcomes achieved through the utilization of VLEACH, a finite-difference numerical model, to assess the concentrations of organic contaminants in the solid, liquid, and gas phases within the vadose zone. Additionally, it evaluates the mass transfer of pollutants to the aquifer as part of an environmental assessment for the placement of a forthcoming service station. The study encompasses an analysis of 18 scenarios under realistic conditions based on actual field data. These scenarios were constructed, taking into account various factors, including the nature of the leak (one-time or permanent), the depth of the phreatic level, and the soil conditions and properties. The results highlight the potential environmental consequences of a permanent leak as compared to those resulting from a specific accident. The findings further emphasize the substantial influence of soil moisture on transport phenomena within the vadose zone. Variations in soil moisture significantly alter hydraulic conductivity, impact magnitudes, transport velocities, and even the predominant transport mechanism. Consequently, precise delineation of soil moisture becomes a crucial parameter in such simulations. Additionally, it has been observed that each component of BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene) experiences varying transport velocities through the vadose zone. Benzene, having a greater propensity to concentrate in the liquid and gas phases, exhibits the swiftest movement through the vadose zone. The detection of benzene in aquifers can serve as an indicator of the potential future arrival of the remaining BTEX compounds.

Environmental Assessment of Soils and Crops Based on Heavy Metal Risk Analysis in Southeastern China

Heavy metal pollution in soil–crop systems has attracted great attention globally, caused by rapid urbanization and intensive industrialization. The research aims to investigate the environmental quality of the agricultural production area in Taizhou City, a typical economic region that is along the Yangtze River in the Southeast of China. A total of 370 sampling sites were chosen, with 370 soil, rice (Oryza sativa L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) samples collected, respectively, for measuring and analyzing the status, spatial distribution and pollution level of different heavy metals. The mean values of soil Cr, Pb, Cd, As and Hg were 66.78, 32.88, 0.23, 8.16 and 0.16 mg/kg, which were lower than the risk control standard values (RCV). However, the mean values of Pb, Cd and Hg were 1.25-, 1.77- and 2-fold larger than their soil background values (SBV) due to the intensive anthropogenic activities. The average content of Cd in rice exceeded its food safety limiting values (FCV) by 0.05 mg/kg, and the average contents of Pb in rice and wheat both exceeded the relevant FSV by 0.42 and 0.186 mg/kg, respectively. In addition, the maximum As and Cr contents in rice and wheat could be 0.13, 0.46 mg/kg and 0.63, 3.5 mg/kg larger than the relative FCVs in certain areas. Most of the high-value areas of soil and crop heavy metals were mainly located in Xinghua City, Taixing City and Jiangyan District, which had a similar distribution pattern with local industries or anthropogenic activities. The heavy metal pollution in soils and crops was found to be inconsistent, as 8.94% of the arable land possessed lightly metal pollution, while 3.18% of the area of rice and 4.0% of the area of wheat suffered severe pollution, with excessive accumulation of Cr, Pb and Cd. Based on the heavy metal pollution assessment of soil–crop systems, approximately 83% of the study area possessed medium or higher environmental quality, which was preferable for agricultural production. Our results implied that the spatial distribution and pollution level of the heavy metals in soil–crop systems were significantly influenced by industrial activities, followed by agricultural sources, transportation emissions and so on. Therefore, continuous monitoring and source control of heavy metals, especially for Cr, Pb and Cd, should be conducted to ensure the regional environmental quality and food security.

Environmental assessment of soil and vegetation state in the vicinity of a mining and processing plant of the basis of Earth remote-sensing data

Spatial and temporal variability of the vegetation index were investigated in the vicinity of the anthropogenic source of heavy metals. The analysis of the special points of the theoretical equation of the dependence of the concentration of photosynthetically active biomass on the resulting concentration of pollutants in the soil revealed the maximum permissible concentration of heavy metals in the soil. The results of its determination in the northern forest-steppe under the current level of anthropogenic pressure, according to MODIS materials, amounted to 12,3, according to Sentinel-2 - 12,5 mg/kg, respectively. A method for generalizing the macrokinetic patterns of the response of the living organisms to anthropogenic impact is proposed. The results of the environmental risk assessment showed that the probability of exceeding the threshold concentration is 74%. Based on the five-level quality scale and the indicator of soil state, the quality of soils and vegetation cover was ranked. The areas of the same resistance of soils and vegetation to the action of pollutants in the plant impact zone were mapped. Territories near the plant mostly correspond to the I and II categories of soil quality. The natural protection zone of the enterprise is allocated, and background territories are def ned.

Environmental Assessment of Soil and Vegetation in the Vicinity of a Mining and Processing Plant on the Basis of Earth Remote-Sensing Data

Environmental Assessment of Soil and Vegetation in the Vicinity of a Mining and Processing Plant on the Basis of Earth Remote-Sensing Data

Environmental assessment of the state of urban soils in Petrozavodsk, Russia

Urban ecosystems are exposed to heavy adverse technogenic pressure, which can be indicated by the condition of soils. This paper provides an environmental assessment of soils in urban settings with varying degrees of human impact for the case of Karelia’s largest city – Petrozavodsk. To this end, 96 soil samples were collected from the surface layer (0–10 cm) from sites in the city used for different purposes. The samples were tested for total heavy metal content as a key indicator of the detrimental effect of urbanization. Microbiological indices were also determined, including oligonitrophilic microorganism count, catalase and urease activity, rate of cellulose degradation. These parameters are commonly used in monitoring. It was found as a result that soils were the most severely affected in common use land, where pollutant concentrations were the highest. The main soil pollutants among those tested were manganese, zinc, copper, and lead. The numbers of microorganisms involved in nitrogen transformation and soil cellulolytic activity were higher than in the control. The soil microbial community’s response to human impact was manifest in an elevated activity of the studied enzymes. The resultant data can be used in urban soil monitoring, and in working out recommendations for environmental conservation.

Ecological evaluation of the urban soil in Perm

Introduction. Representations of the impact of anthropogenesis processes on the soil’s ecological state are the basis for improvement of the environmental pollution monitoring system to make correct architectural and planning decisions. Material and methods. During 2016-2018 an environmental assessment of pollution of 214 samples of urban soils was performed. The soil analysis was carried out according to a random sample as one test site per 1 km². The concentration of heavy metals was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. The analysis of organic compounds was carried out by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The total number of heterotrophic and gram-negative bacteria of the Enterobacteriaceae family was determined by direct seeding on selective media. Statistical data processing was carried out using software Statistica. Results. The level of chemical contamination with water-soluble forms of heavy metals of Perm soils was assessed. The concentration of heavy metals Cu, Pb, Zn, Fe, Cd, Ni, Mn in the control samples of sandy/loamy soils was 0.09/0.15; 0.08/0.22; 0.22/0.39; 5.57/16.14; 0.02/0.01; 0.06/0.13; 0.74/3.14 mg/l, respectively. The values of the total pollution index (Zc) above 16 were recorded at 4.7% of the soil samples, which corresponds to a moderate degree of pollution. It was shown that the soil type influenced Zc (KW-H (3; 214) = 30.73; p = 0.00001) and amounted to 6.24 ± 3.72 for loamy soils; for peat - 22.42 ± 12.32; for sand - 9.23 ± 5.70; for old urban soils - 8.37 ± 4.07. The median of the heterotroph bacteria content in the soils for I (Zc: 0-4) and IV (Zc ≤ 16) groups was revealed to correspond to the categories of «poor,» II (Zc: 4-8) and III (Zc: 8-16) groups - «inferior» soil. A correlation between the content of heterotrophs and the number of bacteria E. coli was not detected. According to Zc, for each soil group, no statistical differences in phthalate content were noted. Conclusion. Environmental assessment of soils should be comprehensive, as the types of anthropogenic chemical pollution, that have varying degrees of correlations between each other, affect quantitative changes in soil microbiota, which in the future may determine the ability to maintain homeostasis in this ecosystem.

Phytotesting and environmental assessment of soil in the greenhouse complex

Greening the urban environment is a necessary element for improving the quality of life of the population, which requires the use of significant amounts of seedlings of flower-ornamental plants. Soil condition in greenhouse complexes does not always meet the requirements, which causes low yield and quality of grown plants. Phytotesting and assessment of ecological quality of soil in greenhouse complex were carried out through research of oxidative enzymes activity. The control of the level of toxicity and chemical contamination of soil is necessary for the development of measures to reduce and prevent changes in the soil and biotic environment. The comprehensive study of soil has revealed factors affecting its quality and suitability for growing flower crops. Dynamic changes in biological indices are recorded during phytotest of soil, as well as during control of level of enzymatic activity of oxidative enzymes. An average and low level of phytotoxicity of the studied soil is established, as well as inhibition of activity of enzymes: catalase, ascorbatoxidase, peroxidase. The soil survey in the greenhouse complex showed that for rapid diagnosis of its condition it is possible to use both phytotest of samples, to carry out analysis of the level of activity of oxidative enzymes.

Fast and effective simultaneous determination of metals in soil samples by ultrasound-assisted extraction and flame atomic absorption spectrometry: assessment of trace elements contamination in agricultural and native forest soils from Paraná - Brazil

This study proposes a simple and effective method for determination of Al, Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn in soil samples, associating ultrasound-assisted extraction and flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Ultrasound-assisted extraction conditions were optimized using a central composite design. This method required small volumes of HCl, HNO3, and HF as an extraction solvent blend to ensure effective analyte extraction. Limits of detection and quantification were determined to assess the minimum accurate concentration of the studied elements that can be detected and quantified in a soil sample. Therefore, the ultrasound-assisted extractionwas concluded as a simple and straightforward pretreatment technique to determine Al, Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn concentrations in soil samples. Eight sites of agricultural and native forest areas of the city of Ponta Grossa and Guarapuava, State of Paraná, Brazil, were evaluated for metals, and compared with the reference values for trace elements provided by the Brazilian National Environment Council. Environmental assessment of soils from those eight sites was accomplished through Igeo, EF, CF, and PLI parameters, which aimed at the evaluation of agricultural sites in comparison with adjacent natural forest sites with no history of anthropogenic mobilization to determine the degree of the contribution of anthropogenic sources to metal concentrations. According to the Igeo, EF, and CF parameters, all sites were classified as unpolluted to moderately polluted and none or minor enrichment due to anthropogenic activities were noticed. PLI parameter evaluated the concentration of all studied metals in soils to stipulate an order of contamination, which was concluded as site 8 <site 4 <site 3 <site 7 <site 2 <site 6 <site 1 <site 5 for the sites under study.

Экологическая оценка почв Ленкоранской зоны

The Lankaran zone is considered to be one of the regions producing important agricultural products, at the same time it is one of the regions of constant anthropogenic influence on the soil cover and natural complexes in Azerbaijan. Favorable soil and climatic conditions of the Lankaran zone create the opportunity for growing a number of crops here, including a number of valuable plants of humid subtropics: tea, citrus (lemon, orange, kiwi, mandarin and feijoa). As a result of the research conducted for the Lankaran region, a new concept was put forward based on the existing generally accepted scheme of the environmental assessment of soils.

Environmental assessment of soil, groundwater, and surface water quality in the south of the Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

To understand the impact of the influence of treated wastewater, a study was undertaken in the downstream side of Wadi Hanifa in the southern part of Riyadh City in Saudi Arabia. Chemical elements from 17 groundwater samples, 9 surface water samples (treated wastewater), and 14 soil samples were analyzed. Water facies analyses showed that both groundwater and surface water belong to the SO4-Cl class. However, the groundwater is characterized by high salinity (average value of 3547 mg/l), which may be result of the greater rock-water interaction and limited rainfall recharge. The NO3 values are also high in the groundwater samples (average value of 40 mg/l) and are mainly attributed to the agricultural practices in the study area. The surface water samples (treated wastewater from the plant) shows an average salinity value of 1232 mg/l and is better suited for irrigation purposes. Heavy elements analyzed in the soil samples show high concentrations of all the elements except Mn and Ni as compared to their background concentration. Enrichment factor and index of geoaccumulation calculated from the soil samples indicate that they are severely enriched with respect to Cd and Se. The spatial distribution maps were prepared based on kriging interpolation technique to estimate the concentrations of the analyzed elements at unknown locations. The treated wastewater in the study area is better suited for agricultural and domestic activities as compared to groundwater.

Patent-information support for assessing the environmental status of the soil

Innovative (patent information research, elaboration of new methods and their implementation) and environmental management, the using of human-contaminated soils, soil protection against pollution and its prevention are the basic directions of the strategic management of soil resources. In conditions of intensive anthropogenic pressure the assessment of the ecological status of soils is an important factor, which reduces the risks of soil degradation and to propose ways to restore their productive and ecological functions on the further development of functional - ecological approach in soil science (Dobrovolsky, Nikitin, 1986, 1996). Therefore, urgent and important in theoretical and practical aspect is the elaboration of new technical decisions (methods) of soil quality assessment to create conditions to improve and to prevent the reduction of the level of productivity of soils and plants, the deterioration of their quality. The purpose of the investigations – the analysis of information sources existing patent information base of Ukraine and Russia on the issue of the environmental assessment of soils and perform patent research. Tasks perform patent research: the technical level of the object; analysis of scientific and technical activities leading developers; studying trends existing way to do that; techno-economic analysis of technical solutions/inventions that meet the objectives of the development; the study of the newness and novelty of the developed object and its constituent parts; investigated of the feasibility of its legal protection. It was considered the features of assessment of the soils environmental status in the investigation of the current patent-information database in Ukraine and Russia, components of which are developed new technical decisions. It was reviewed the providing patent information to assess the ecological status of both contaminated and uncontaminated soils. By analysis it was found that the patent-information support of Ukraine and Russia relative to existing methods of soils ecological status assessment is presented by the following ways: the ways of assessing of the soils research background concentrations, mobile, gross or water-soluble forms of trace elements and heavy metals; estimates based on bioassay and bioindication in combination with chemical analytical measurement indicators; comprehensive and expert evaluation of the properties of soils and its contamination; assessment of soil quality, considering the physical, physic-chemical and others properties; assessment of soil pollution using GIS technology, etc. The technical result of the developed methods is to improve the objectivity of assessment of changing soil quality and accuracy of the expert-analytical assessments of functional suitability of soils certain territory to growing different crops on a permanent or constant impact factor of pollution; for zoning for maximum efficiency use of different methods, methods of remediation of contaminated soils or soil improvers of different nature and micronutrients using to optimize the trace element status of soil and plants, soil quality; to evaluate the effectiveness of the testing results of the elaborated technical decisions in different soil-climatic zones.

Bioassay of soils on rice fields in Vietnam

The results of bioassays for the integrated environmental assessment of soils of rice fields in Vietnam which have a dangerous pesticide load are discussed. The results of the chemical-analytical analysis confirm the high informativity when three bioassays are used: on infusoria, daphnia, and plants (phytotest). We discuss the feasibility of using two soil extracts.

Site-specific natural background concentrations of metals in topsoil from the Trail region, British Columbia, Canada

The natural background level of elements in the surface soil of a given area is largely dependent on the geological setting of the region and the underlying soil parent material. Due to the heterogeneity of soil in various environments, it is essential to determine the site-specific natural background levels of elements to quantify the degree of influence of the anthropogenic source(s) within a given study area. This paper discusses the process involved in establishing the natural background level of trace metals and other elements in topsoil for the area surrounding the Teck Cominco zinc–lead smelter in Trail, British Columbia, Canada. The environmental assessment of soil in the Trail region is difficult due to the natural enrichment of metals in surficial material and topsoil as a result of the influence of mineralized bedrock in the region. Detailed examination of the study area based on the deposition data and previously collected soil data led to the selection of presumably the least anthropogenically influenced background sites in the study area, which also reflect the geological diversity of the region. The range of background was defined using the median plus or minus two median absolute deviations [median±(2 × MAD)], after the outliers were excluded. The outliers were identified using the Tukey boxplot concept and the cause of high metal concentrations in the outlier samples is attributed to their proximity to the historical mining sites in the region. The upper limit of the background range was estimated to be (in mg/kg): As, 11.0; Cd, 0.81; Cu, 38.1; Hg, 0.07; Pb, 27.7; Zn, 152. The resulting values are significantly more conservative estimates than would be obtained by other widely used methods (e.g. the mean plus or minus two standard deviations) due to the robust procedure, which prevents any interference by the extreme values in the collected soil background dataset. The upper background thresholds of metals estimated by the 95th percentile resulted in significantly different estimates, especially for As, Hg, Pb and Zn, from the previously reported values. This highlights the need for revision of the risk-based screening levels by environmental regulations in the study area.