Evaluation of environmental health of the Kolomenskoye Park under anthropogenic pressure from Moscow City

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the environmental state of the territory of the famous Russian landscape-architectural museum Kolomenskoye. This park reserve is located on the left bank of the Moscow River in very close proximity to a heavy industrial area of Moscow and a major highway. The museum’s territory is of a concern to the environmental state, and our data is a part of the monitoring program.

Materials and methods

Assessments of snow, snow run-off, and soils were carried out to describe the current state of the environment. Analyses of the pH, major cations, conductivity, heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Zn, Ni, Cu), and bioassay techniques were used to assess Kolomenskoye’s area.

Results and discussion

The content of acid forms of heavy metals (HM) in soils varied widely (Cu—1.3–21.6; Zn—2.7–30.2; Cd—0.07–3.48; Pb—2.21–15.64 mg kg⁻¹). High concentrations of Cd (3.48 mg kg⁻¹) were found at a distance from the highway, while the other parameters were at an accepted level. Meltwaters significantly increased the “leaching” of almost all soluble components, especially Na⁺ ions (1–70 mg l⁻¹) and Ca²⁺ (10–340 mg l⁻¹) ones. The total load of HM (the sum of HM: Pb, Cd, Zn, Ni) near the road (2 m from the fence to the park) was 470 mg kg⁻¹ and at the control plot (150 m from the fence)—it was 590 mg kg⁻¹, i.e., almost 20% more. The toxicity determined by different test objects was observed near the road.

Conclusions

The data indicate a real threat of the pollution, not only for the territories adjacent to the highway but also to the remote areas. The intensity of pollutions is associated with the distance from the road and migrations of heavy metals. Their intensive penetration into the territory is mainly connected with small dust fractions.