Tom River Research Articles

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) serum levels among a group of New Jersey volunteer firefighters and comparison with the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (2015-16)

BACKGROUND/AIM: High serum levels of some PFAS have been reported in paid firefighters (FFs), while most FFs are volunteers. PFAS are associated with health outcomes including modulated immune function, dyslipidemia, and some types of cancer. We described PFAS serum levels among New Jersey (NJ) volunteer FFs.METHODS: Within the NJ Firefighters Cancer Prevention Study (CAPS), we enrolled members from the Toms River Fire Department (TRFD). Participants completed a detailed survey and provided blood samples for PFAS measurement. We defined firefighting experience as the average number of fire calls responded to per firefighter years (paid or volunteer). Because participants (n=138) were majority white (91%) and male (94%). we compared geometric means and 95% CIs for the eight PFAS reported by NHANES among non-Hispanic white males. We also assessed associations between PFAS levels and firefighting experience controlling for age, race/ethnicity, sex, education, and primary occupation using linear regression.RESULTS: Average age was 46.6 (sd. 17.1). Serum levels of three PFAS were significantly elevated among participants compared with NHANES: perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDeA) and perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA) (34%, 51% and 51%, respectively). After adjusting for demographics and occupation, only the association between PFDoA serum level and years of firefighting experience remained significant (β=0.002 ng/mL; p=0.019).CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first study of PFAS levels in volunteer FFs. Consistent with the literature in paid FFs, we observed significantly elevated levels for some PFAS, compared with the general population. Further, we saw a strong exposure-response relationship with firefighting experience and increased serum level of PFDoA. There is growing concern over the potential health impact of PFAS among FFs, it is important that volunteer FFs be included in future evaluations of PFAS burden among FFs.

ПРОСТРАНСТВЕННАЯ МОДЕЛЬ ПРИРОДНО-ГРАДОСТРОИТЕЛЬНОЙ СИСТЕМЫ РАССЕЛЕНИЯ (НА ПРИМЕРЕ АЛТАЯ)

The article is devoted to environmentally oriented urban development for the purpose of resettlement. The study of natural urban resettlement system is a new scientific field, which gives much attention. The author proposes to consider one of the most interesting territories located in the southern part of Siberia and stretching south of the Trans-Siberian Railway in the direction of the Altai Mountains, between the Ob river (along the settlement axis "Novosibirsk - Barnaul - Biysk - Gorno-Altaysk") and Tom river (along the settlement axis "Kemerovo - Novokuznetsk"). As a result, the author identified certain morphotypes, in each of which a resettlement framework and a natural-ecological framework were identified. For one of the morphotypes, the one characteristic fragment – Katun (Chemal region) with characteristic problems was selected along. As a result, a 3D model of the natural-urban planning system of settlement was designed. The key element in the work is the methodology for the development of such 3D models, which allows making a connection between urban exploration and development, taking into account the saving of the ecological balance of unique natural landscapes.

The Islands in a Cultural Landscape of Lower Tom River Region in the XVII–XVIII centuries

The Islands in a Cultural Landscape of Lower Tom River Region in the XVII–XVIII centuries

INFLUENCE OF MORPHOMETRIC PARAMETERS OF RIVER BASINS ON TAXONOMIC RICHNESS OF FLORA (BY THE EXAMPLE OF THE TOM RIVER BASIN)

The article deals with methodological issues of studying the influence of morphometric parameters of model basins (size, nature of the river network, shape) of the Tom river on the taxonomic structure of flora. Taking into account significant differences in the morphometric of river basins, which determine the diversity of environmental conditions in the Tomi river basin, 22 model basins were identified. Morphometric of model basins is determined by 25 parameters characterizing the main sizes of basins (area, length, width, height, etc.), features of the river network (length and number of rivers, etc.), as well as various forms of river basins. The indicators of floristic wealth are accepted: the number of species, the number of genera and the number of model pool families. The author considers the conditionality of taxonomic diversity of flora by morphometric characteristics of basins for three levels-species, genus and family. Morphological parameters of model basins vary widely, which determines the diversity of plant habitats. However, the size, features of the river network and shape are not equivalent to the richness of the flora. Taxonomic richness at each level (species, genus and family) depends primarily on the morphometric of river basins. It is established that the altitude parameters are significant, especially the maximum height, the amplitude of the height or fall of the river, and the dependence is high (α = 0,05 df = 20). The nature of the river network and the shape of the basins for taxonomic richness are not essential. The most important morphometric features of basins by the number of taxa of different hierarchical ranks include the same set of parameters of the basin, primarily the height and their maximum values, the amplitude of fluctuations in the height or fall of the river. At the species level, the significance of other parameters is much lower. A similar relationship is obtained at the genus and family levels. This changes not only the proximity of the relationship with the change in taxonomic rank, but also the number of the most significant morphometric parameters. The article contains 10 Tables, 27 References.

The Identification of Pollutants in the Ob River Near Oil Production Areas

The composition of organic component of water and bottom sediments of Ob River in the area from the mouth of Tom River to the mouth of Irtysh river was studied by using GCMC. Oil and biogenic compounds were found. The maximum content of biogenic compounds was obtained in water near the Vasyugan River mouth, which is starting and flowing through the area of peat bogs propagation. The latitudinal waters of Ob River are enriched with typical oil compounds, such as hopanes, steranes, secohopanes, cheilanthanes, tetracyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polymethyl substituted naphthalene and phenanthrene. The bottom sediments near the inflow of Tom River are enriched with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. It was shown, that the occurrence of n-alkanes with dual nature cannot be an indicator of water bodies pollution with crude oil. In addition to this, the composition of aromatic hydrocarbons and cyclic isoprenoids may be used to differentiate the pollutant sources

Issues of Researching the Modern-Time Sites of the Tom River Basin

The present research deals with methodical and methodological issues of the study of post-Medieval archaeological sites. The paper focuses on the features of related field and research lab work. The author believes that archeology plays an accessory role in Modern-Time studies, which was a period of radical changes in the demographic and a political situation of Siberia. These conditions triggered the development of new socio-territorial groups, which became involved in the globalization process. Therefore, regional historical problems can be resolved only taking into account a broad historical background. The postMedieval archeology can significantly expand the range of sources for historians and ethnographers. However, the approach requires interdisciplinary interaction. Post-Medieval archeology can be successful only if it solves the tasks formulated by historians. The author proposes a comprehensive program for the accumulation and analysis of archaeological materials. The paper features the case of Modern-Time sites of the Tom River basin, namely the transformation of cultural complexes of the indigenous inhabitants of the Tom River basin in the XVII–XVIII centuries. This process was affected by various groups of Russian settlers and some Sayan-Altai ethnic groups. Therefore, the area of interest of archeology of the Modern Time is wider than "the Russian archeology" that developed in the recent years. As a result, post-Medieval archeology programs require a new methodical and methodological apparatus for scientific research and personnel training.

Images of camels on a mammoth tusk from West Siberia

This study introduces the engravings on a mammoth tusk from the lower reaches of the Tom River in West Siberia. The tusk was found in 1988 during construction works and was later transferred to the Tomsk State University, but it remained almost unknown to specialists until now. Radiocarbon dating by AMS reported the age of the tusk as 13,100–13,005 Сal BP (95% confidence level). The surface of the tusk is engraved with images of two-humped camels arranged in two pairs. In addition, arrows and wounds within the contours of the animals can be seen. The comparative analysis of the stylistic features of the camel figures shows that they correspond to the age of the tusk itself, making them, at present, the oldest camel images in Asia. The discovery of the engravings in this region is consistent with the theory of mobile population groups moving to western Siberia from the periglacial steppe to the south in the Late Upper Paleolithic.

Microplastics in fish gut, first records from the Tom River in West Siberia, Russia

This preliminary study investigated the abundance of microplastic particles in gastrointestinal tracts of the dace (Leuciscus leuciscus L.) from the Tom River, a large tributary of the Ob River in West Siberia. A total of 13 dace specimens of 2+ to 4+ years of age were studied. Microplastic particles extracted from fish guts were counted and classified by shapes and sizes. In average 204 ± 28.7 items of microplastics were detected for one dace specimen. Microplastic particles were categorized as fragments of irregular shape (70%), spheres (16%), films (7%) and fibers (7%), with size ranging from <0.15 to 2.00 mm. The vast majority of detected microplastic particles (almost 80%) were less than 0.15 mm by their largest dimension. These data provide the first evidence of microplastics in fish from the Ob River system.

Impact of agrocenoses on the populations of small mammals of recreational pine forests in the Tom River Valley

The paper is devoted to studying the influence of agricultural land on the formation of small mammal communities in the pine forests of the Tom River Valley. For the analysis, we took sites of natural and artificial pine forests of different areas experiencing various anthropogenic pressures. It was revealed that species composition, species richness and species diversity of small mammalian communities depend on a whole complex of factors. Thus, the population of right-bank forests is largely determined by the influence of mountain-taiga complexes of mammals in the adjacent territories. Cutting down taiga forests and using the vacant spaces for agricultural purposes lead to the introduction of species that prefer open biotopes to the initial community. A correlation was found between the size of the pine forest and its resistance to invasive species. The creation of artificial pine forests in the forest-steppe does not lead to the formation of typical forest communities of small mammals, due to their limited ability to resettle. Quite extensive, but to varying degrees isolated natural and artificial pine forests within the city and along the boundaries of the city are unique ecological “islands” that play a significant role in maintaining the diversity of the urban fauna ofmammals.

Anthropogenic Load on Water Bodies in the Upper Ob Basin in Different Water Content Periods: the Dynamics and the Forecast

The paper considers the problem of pollution of water bodies by waste waters from large industrial and municipal enterprises. An overview of methodical approaches to estimation of anthropogenic load on water bodies leading to changes in their water quality is carried out. The level of anthropogenic load on water bodies of the Upper Ob basin was estimated using such indicators as waste water dilution ratio and the pollutant load based on its conditional mass (reduced to MAC). The calculation was carried out for periods of different water content: average and low water content, as well as summer-autumn and winter low-water periods. It was revealed that the highest wastewater dilution ratio (over 1000 times) is characteristic of mountainous rivers of the Republic of Altai, Altai Kray and the north of Tomsk oblast. Rivers of industrially loaded regions show the lowest dilution ratio. These are the Chulym (Krasny Zavod gauging station), Inya, Tom (Novokuznetsk), Kondoma, as well as Aley and Kasmala rivers distinguished by insignificant flow volume. The assessment of the conditional pollutant load for the Tom river basin has shown that small and very small rivers, where wastewater is often discharged without treatment, are the most susceptible to pollution. It is found that during the summer-autumn and winter low water periods the anthropogenic load on water bodies increases tenfold. The forecast of anthropogenic load dynamics, made on the basis of materials of strategic documents of the socio-economic development of the regions up to 2035, showed a reduction in the dilution ratio of wastewater against a significant increase in the volume of water used, primarily for the needs of industry and, accordingly, the generated wastewater. The solution to this situation may be the abandonment of the current technologies of water resources use in favor of applying the best available technologies in this industry.

Features of migration and nesting of waterfowl in the zone of influence of the Siberian Chemical Combine (SCC)

The flyby of waterfowl (Anseriformes) in the south-taiga zone of the Tomsk Priobye is associated with the valleys of large rivers. In natural landscapes, the migration process is largely determined by the nature of spring and weather conditions of a particular year. However, there are many cases when birds in an anthropogenically-transformed habitat “receive certain advantages” in comparison with natural landscapes. The observations were carried out in 1995–2001 on the reservoirs of the Tom River floodplain and on the system of inter-river technogenic settling reservoirs (reservoirs-coolers of the Siberian NPP) in the sanitary protection zone of the SCC (SPZ) of the SCC and closed administrative-territorial unit («ZATO Seversk»). Changes in the timing and intensity of the spring flyby, nesting density and success of reproduction of ducks depending on various natural and anthropogenic factors are traced. The majority of the waterfowl spring flies in transit and does not often use the reservoirs of the Tom River floodplain for rest and feeding, but willingly lingers on the rich food warmer waters technogenic of the SPZ of the SCC. For the first time, significant differences were established in the species composition, abundance, biotopic distribution, and success of duck nesting in natural and man-made reservoirs: in years with early and late springs, in years with different water levels in reservoirs with regulated flow. For the first time, an assessment was made of the strict, “reserved” mode of functioning of the territory of the «ZATO Seversk», which determines the almost complete absence of disturbance factors on technogenic reservoirs during periods of flyby and nesting ducks.

Structure and dynamics of zooplankton in lakes of the Tom river floodplain

A study on zooplankton species composition, seasonal dynamic of numbers and biomass of three large floodplain’s lakes of the Tom River basin (near Tomsk, Western Siberia, Russia) during one year has been carried out. It has determined considerable transforming of qualitative and quantitative indicators of zooplankton communities during a year. The maximum qualitative indicators were registered in late spring and summer, the minimum ones – in winter. By the structure of zooplankton, the examined lakes water ecological status falls into class 1-2 of water quality (“moderately polluted” water). The most favourable conditions for zooplankton communities forming are in Boyarskoye and Shuchie lakes, the most unfavourable – in Kalmatskoe lake.

Формирование подстилки пойменных лесных биогеоценозов с участием Acer negundo L.

The article presents the results of the influence of box elder (Acer negundo L.) litterfall on the forest litter formation in floodplain forest communities. The research object was plant litter collected from different sites of phytogenic fields of A. negundo natural stands growing in the floodplain of the Tom River. Sampling was carried out according to the three types of crown density. The outer zone of scattered trees was chosen as a control sample. The vegetation cover was described, and the dominant plant species and their total projective cover were determined within the subcrown, near-front and outer zones of the tree phytogenic field. Just before the research analytical samples were isolated; they were dried to air-dry condition and weighed in order to determine the proportion of each plant fraction. Content of polyphenolic compounds and lignin was determined in the samples. The results’ analysis had shown that the crown density of Acer negundo L. population, as well as the content of mineral and organic compounds of plant litter, influences the formation of floodplain forest communities’ litter. The most intensive mineralization of litter in the soil, especially in the subcrown zone, is found under scattered trees in sparse woodland. Probably this is due to the increased content of nutrients and total absorbed bases, as well as a higher phytomass accumulation, and minimum content of polyphenols and lignin, in comparison with the forest litter of trees from the other studied groups. The research results can be used for the monitoring of natural ecosystems. For citation: Tsandekova O.L., Ufimtsev V.I. Formation of Floodplain Forest Biogeocenosis Litter with the Participation of Acer negundo L. Lesnoy Zhurnal [Forestry Journal], 2019, no. 3, pp. 73–81. DOI: 10.17238/issn0536-1036.2019.3.73Funding: The research was carried out within the framework of the state assignment of the Federal Research Center of Coal and Coal Chemistry of the Siberian Branch of the RAS (project no. 0352-2019-0015)

First Findings of Buried Late-Glacial Paleosols within the Dune Fields of the Tomsk Priobye Region (SE Western Siberia, Russia)

Buried soils within aeolian deposits are considered an important tool for diagnosing, determining the age, and estimating the intensity of aeolian processes at the transition from the Pleistocene to the Holocene in the Northern Hemisphere. Late Pleistocene aeolian coversands and ancient inland dunes are widely distributed in the periglacial zone of Western Siberia. In contrast to the territories of Central and Eastern Europe, the paleosol archive of the aeolian sands and dunes of Western Siberia has not yet been studied. This paper presents the first findings of late Pleistocene paleosols within the ancient inland dunes in the southeast of Western Siberia (Ob–Tomsk interfluve, Tomsk region). The soils and their stratigraphic position were studied in the outcrop of the quarry, located in the junction zone of the second Tom river terraces and the ancient valley. Two types of paleosols were identified. The first one is confined to the central part of a small dune and is represented by a slightly developed Albic Arenosol with fragmentary humus horizon Ahb and a well-pronounced Eb. It can probably be considered as an analogue of the European Usselo soil. The second paleosol was found at the bottom of the interdune depression. It is represented by a brown Bwb horizon and probably corresponds to a Brunic Arenosol (Dystric). The second paleosol is characterized by a higher content of clay fraction and organic carbon, the presence of weak signs of illuviation, and richer and more diverse mineral composition. This soil is apparently an analogue of the European Finow soil. Radiocarbon dating of the charcoals found in the paleosols suggests that the first dates from the Younger Dryas (ca. 12,036 cal. yr. BP), and the second one from the Allerød (ca. 13,355 cal. yr. BP). The study results propose that the natural environment in the periglacial zone of the south of Western Siberia was generally similar to those in Central and Eastern Europe, and the activation of aeolian processes, which led to the formation of a dune relief, occurred at about the same time.

Памятники Ирменской культуры Нижнего Притомья. историографический обзор

Памятники Ирменской культуры Нижнего Притомья. историографический обзор

Indian Deed to Area near Success Mill in Colliers Mill Wildlife Area – Jackson Township, New Jersey

The Ocean County Historical Society (OCHS) is pleased to share this document, dated July 12, 1734. It appears to record the sale of land now in Jackson Township’s 12,000-acre Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area, and has not been widely viewed since 1979. Additional research on this document (and a multitude of other Native American artifacts) is currently underway, as OCHS prepares a new Native American History exhibit for its Museum at 26 Hadley Avenue, Toms River, NJ 08753.

Investigation of the process of explosive loading of freshwater ice

The behaviour of freshwater ice under the action of detonation products has been studied. As objects of the study was chosen snow covered ice of medium thickness. The ice cover of 2018 and 2017 on the Tom River was considered in current research. The age of the ice was approximate 130 days, but the temperature of its formation was different. In the first case (2017), the ice formation temperature was 7.5 % lower than in the second case. The sizes of the lanes in the snow covered ice after detonation of 4 kg of emulsion explosive are obtained. It was established that in the second case the diameter of the lane was 15% smaller than in the first case. The ice edge of the lane in the snow-covered and bare ice was determined. The edge of the needle ice, which had a stepped shape, is presented. A qualitative and quantitative assessment of the destruction of ice under explosive loads is given. It was found that the temperature of ice formation influenced the process of its destruction under explosive loads.

A study of natural and anthropogenic changes of soils within the Tom river valley based on GIS, remote sensing and field observations

This article is devoted to the study of natural and anthropogenic changes in soils within the valley of the Tom River. The study is based on field observations, remote sensing data and GIS analysis. A geodatabase and a digital elevation model of the investigated area were created. Changes in floodplain soils as a result of erosion-accumulative activity of the river are considered. The process of boggy soils formation on terraces has been studied. Anthropogenic changes in soils in the vicinity of Tomsk are revealed. The key factors of the anthropogenic modification of soils in the study area are the increased from the middle of the XX century industrial and agricultural activity such as sand and gravel extraction from the riverbed, draining, melioration and arable lands. Also important factors of the anthropogenic modification of soils are transport construction and expansion of the urban and rural areas. Now almost all soils within the Tom River valley in the vicinity of Tomsk are exposed to anthropogenic modifications to various degree. The vector of the changes is directed towards considerable desiccation due to the lowering of the groundwater level, which occurred due to the overlapping of various anthropogenic factors.

PHENETIC ANALYSIS OF POPULUS NIGRA, P. LAURIFOLIA AND P. × JRTYSCHENSIS IN NATURAL HYBRIDIZATION ZONE

The wide spread of hybridization in the genus Populus, including spontaneous hybridization, caused by cultivars, requires studying the variability and inheritance of morphological traits by hybrids for initial tracking of these processes. The analysis of endogenous, intra- and inter-population variability was performed on 533 individual poplar trees in seven populations of P. nigra, seven populations of P. laurifolia and four populations of P. × jrtyschensis in the Tom river basin. On each specimen, 15 leaves from short mid-crown branches were collected to determine the shape of the leaf blade, the shape of its tip and base, as well as the branch morphotype. Some biometric indicators were proposed for geometric assessment of the leaf blade shapes of poplar species. The analysis showed that of all the traits examined only the leaf blade shape did not meet the criterion for “phene”, since it is usually represented by several forms in the crown of one and the same tree. In all the species studied, the level of their intra-population diversity was found to be much higher than the inter-population one. According to the increase of intra-population variability of qualitative traits, the taxa could be ranked as P. nigra < P. laurifolia < P. × jrtyschensis. The share of inter-population diversity differed among the species studied, accounting for 21.5% in P. laurifolia, 13.8% in P. nigra and 8.0% in P. × jrtyschensis. The P. laurifolia populations showed the greatest inter-population differentiation, most likely because of a disjunct distribution due to narrow specialization to the montane river environment. The lower differentiation in P. nigra is probably due to the facts that this species dominates the poplar stands of the Tom River basin; its populations are not fragmented and are linked by vast gene flow. In P. nigra, an increase in the diversity of qualitative characteristics and phenotypes was observed in populations confined to hybridization centers. Natural selection is most likely the factor governing the inter-population differentiation in P. × jrtyschensis, leading to the predominance of F1 hybrids in populations and hence to a sharp decrease in inter-population variability.

Landscape-Basin Approach in Water Supply Assessments of the Population and Economy of the Regions of Western Siberia

The landscape-basin approach based on the sequential operation algorithm developed for determining potential and actual water supply of Western Siberia territories is proposed to adjust the existing assessments of water availability. The technique for estimating the water availability at the regional and sub-regional level is presented. The assessment of potential water availability is carried out within the boundaries of landscape provinces, whereas actual water availability is assessed for separate river basins and water management sites. Future water consumption is estimated with due regard for the current peculiarities of water use in Western Siberia regions and trends in water use efficiency, including the intensity of water consumption for industrial and agricultural production as well as strategic plans for territorial development. Superposition of natural and administrative-territorial boundaries has been achieved through the use of GIS technologies. Assessment results on the potential water availability in 83 landscape provinces of Western Siberia from 12 federal subjects of Russia are presented. Future water consumption has been assessed for the Western Barabinsk landscape province of Omsk oblast where the city of Omsk and the Omskii municipal district are located. The actual water availability has been estimated for a water management site in the Tom river basin, Kemerovo oblast. The size of the Western Siberia population living in conditions of extremely low, very low and low potential water availability has been calculated. The assessment results are given in tabular form and as geoinformation-cartographic models.