2025 Ecosystem Transformation 8 (3), 35-63

Ecological and geochemical state of natural and anthropogenically transformed soils of residential areas in Rostov-on-Don

Salnik N.V., Tagiverdiev S.S. , Skripnikov P.N., Gorbov S.N., Bezuglova О.S.

This paper assesses heavy metal pollution in soils of residential areas in Rostov-on-Don. The objects of the study were soils of natural origin – migration-segregation thick medium-humus heavy loamy chernozems on loess-like loams and anthropogenically transformed soils – urbostratified chernozems and urban stratozems on buried migration-segregation chernozems on loess-like loams. Comparative analysis with the background analog showed a low level of chernozems contamination by heavy metals (Zc = 4.5–6.0). The greatest accumulation of pollutants was observed in bulk and anthropogenic transformed horizons. The maximum values of Kс were recorded in the urbic horizons for cobalt (Kс = 1.6–2.6), copper (Kс = 1.2–3.7), zinc (Kс = 1.6–6.7) and lead (Kс = 1.5–6.1). In general, there is a clear tendency towards decreasing levels of contamination of the underlying horizons by these elements, which indicates the barrier properties exhibited by urbanozems due to the increased density of urban horizons. The primary pollutants of anthropogenically transformed soils are zinc and arsenic. Their concentrations do not exceed two APC. According to sanitary and hygienic standards, this type of soil is considered to have an acceptable level of pollution (Zc ˂ 16). Under the impact of anthropogenic load, localized contaminations with copper in mobile form (16.6 MPC) as well as lead (5.3 APC) were recorded in the uppermost horizons. Despite an excess of APC for pollutants in transformed soils of residential areas, the presence of urban horizons characterized by increased density, and carbonate barriers in buried chernozems slows down the migration of metals deep into the profile, thereby mitigating the anthropogenic load on black soil.

N. V. Salnik
Southern Federal University
prospect Stachki 194/1, Rostov-on-Don, 344090 Russia


S. S. Tagiverdiev
Southern Federal University
prospect Stachki 194/1, Rostov-on-Don, 344090 Russia

2s-t@mail.ru

P. N. Skripnikov
Southern Federal University
prospect Stachki 194/1, Rostov-on-Don, 344090 Russia


S. N. Gorbov
Southern Federal University
prospect Stachki 194/1, Rostov-on-Don, 344090 Russia

Kadyrov Chechen State University
Aslanbek Sheripov St. 32, Grozny, Chechen Republic, 364034 Russia


O. S. Bezuglova
Southern Federal University
prospect Stachki 194/1, Rostov-on-Don, 344090 Russia

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