Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Soil Pollution in Urbanized Centers of Baikal Region

  • DEGRADATION, REHABILITATION, AND CONSERVATION OF SOILS
  • Published:
Eurasian Soil Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A comparative assessment of soil pollution in urbanized centers of the Baikal region is given. It is based on statistical information, cartographic materials, and data of soil and geochemical surveys performed by the authors in 2012–2019. Soil samples characterize the central cities of Irkutsk oblast, the Republic of Buryatia, and Mongolia (Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude, Ulaanbaatar, etc.), as well as adjacent areas. It is shown that soils of Irkutsk are the most polluted (the total pollution index Zc = 4–63) because of the huge anthropogenic load and relatively high sorption capacity of soils. The main sources of pollution include petrochemical and metallurgical enterprises, thermal power plant, boiler facilities, and vehicles. Increased contents of toxic substances exceeding the background level typical of soils located along the predominant wind direction and along the Angara River valley. The lowest degree of soil contamination (Zc = 2–23) is in Ulaanbaatar despite the large anthropogenic load because of the greatest population and emissions of the thermal power plants, transport enterprises, repair workshops, and vehicles. This is related to the coarse soil texture and low sorption capacity, so that the pollutants migrate to the surface water bodies and groundwater. Soils of Ulan-Ude are characterized by the moderate to low contamination (Zc = 5–24). Contaminated soils are mainly localized near thermal power plants, boiler facilities, industrial enterprises, roads, and railways.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. Agrochemical Analysis of Soils (Nauka, Moscow, 1975) [in Russian].

  2. E. V. Arinushkina, Manual for the Chemical Analysis of Soils (Moscow State Univ., Moscow, 1970) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  3. S. Yu. Artamonova, “SR-XRF analysis and assessment in urban ecology studies: the case of Novosibirsk,” J. Surf. Invest.: X-Ray, Synchrotron Neutron Tech. 5, 1085–1090 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Atlas of Development of Irkutsk City, Scale 1 : 150 000 (Sochava Institute of Geography, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Irkutsk, 2011) [in Russian]. https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=22605944.

  5. I. A. Belozertseva and A. A. Sorokovoi, “Soil-ecological zonation of the Baikal region,” Geodez. Kartogr., No. 10, 54–64 (2018). https://doi.org/10.22389/0016-7126-2018-940-10-54-64

  6. I. A. Belozertseva, A. A. Sorokovoy, A. N. Beshentsev, Z. Z. Pakhakhinova, O. Batkhishig, and T. Oyuunchimeg, “Degradation and pollution of soils,” in Ecological Atlas of the Baikal Lake Basin: A Map, Scale 1 : 5 000 000 (Sochava Institute of Geography, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Irkutsk, 2015), pp. 96–98. https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=23952047.

  7. I. A. Belozertseva, L. L. Ubugunov, N. B. Badmaev, V. L. Ubugunov, D. Dorzhgotov, O. Batkhishig, V. I. Ubugunova, A. B. Gyninova, L. D. Balsanova, B. N. Gonchikov, Ts. D. Ts. Tsybikdorzhiev, and A. A. Sorokovoy, Soils of the Baikal Lake Basin: A Map, Scale 1 : 2 500 000 (Sochava Institute of Geography, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Irkutsk, 2015) [in Russian]. https://elibrary.ru/download/elibrary_24268326_12597939.jpg.

  8. E. E. Valova and Yu. B. Tsybenov, “Heavy metals in soil and vegetation cover of Ulan-Ude,” Vestn. Buryat. Gos. Univ., No. 4, 200–203 (2011).

  9. Yu. N. Vodyanitskii, Heavy Metals and Metalloids in Soils (Dokuchaev Soil Science Inst., Moscow, 2008) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  10. G. A. Vorob’eva, Soils of Irkutsk Oblast: Classification, Nomenclature, and Correlation (Irkutsk State Univ., Irkutsk, 2009) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  11. G. A. Vorob’eva and I. A. Belozertseva, “Soils: a map,” in Atlas of Development of Irkutsk City, Scale 1 : 150 000 (Sochava Institute of Geography, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Irkutsk, 2011), pp. 44–45. https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=22605944.

  12. I. B. Vorobyeva, I. S. Lomonosov, A. V. Gapon, and A. T. Arsent’eva, “Technogenic pollution of snow and soil,” in Geoecological Characteristic of Siberian Cities (Sochava Institute of Geography, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Irkutsk, 1990), pp. 61–71.

  13. “Russian Population Census 2010, Population of urban settlements of Russian Federation,” Demoscope Weekly, Nos. 917–918, (2021). http://www.demoscope.ru/ weekly/ssp/rus10_reg2.php. Cited February 15, 2021.

  14. M. A. Glazovskaya, Geochemistry of Natural and Technogenic Landscapes: Landscape-Geochemical Processes (Moscow State Univ., Moscow, 2007) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  15. The State Report “On State and Protection of Environment in the Republic of Buryatia in 2018” (Ministry of Nature of Buriyatya Republic, Ulan-Ude, 2019) [in Russian].

  16. V. I. Grebenshchikova, E. E. Lustenberg, N. A. Kitaev, and I. S. Lomonosov, Geochemistry of the Environment in the Cis-Baikal Region. Baikal Geoecological Polygon (Geo, Novosibirsk, 2008) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  17. N. D. Davydova and T. I. Znamenskaya, “The geological problems of Siberia associated with the development of nonferrous metallurgy,” Geogr. Nat. Resour. 37, 313–318 (2016).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. A Report “On the State and Protection of Environment in Irkutsk Oblast in 2018” (Megaprint, Irkutsk, 2019) [in Russian].

  19. L. V. Zhornyak, Candidate’s Dissertation in Geology-Mineralogy (Tomsk, 2009).

  20. S. V. Kudryashov, Candidate’s Dissertation in Biology (Moscow, 2010).

  21. N. S. Kasimov, D. V. Vlasov, N. E. Kosheleva, and E. M. Nikiforova, Geochemistry of Eastern Part of Moscow (APR, Moscow, 2016) [in Russian].

  22. N. S. Kasimov, N. E. Kosheleva, O. I. Sorokina, S. N. Bazha, P. D. Gunin, and S. Enkh-Amgalan, “Ecological-geochemical state of soils in Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia),” Eurasian Soil Sci. 44, 709–721 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. P. V. Koval’, V. I. Grebenshchikova, N. A. Kitaev, and I. S. Lomonosov, “Geochemistry of the environment in Cis-Baikal region,” Geol. Geofiz., No. 4, 571–577 (2000).

  24. I. D. Korlyakov, N. S. Kasimov, and N. E. Kosheleva, “Heavy metals and metalloids in the soil cover of Ulan-Ude,” Vestn. Perm. Nats. Issled. Politekh. Univ., Prikl. Ekol., Urbanistika, No. 3, 120–137 (2019).

  25. N. E. Kosheleva, N. S. Kasimov, S. N. Bazha, P. D. Gunin, D. L. Golovanov, I. A. Yamnova, and S. Enkhamgalan, “Soil pollution with heavy metals in industrial cities of Mongolia,” Vestn. Mosk. Univ., Ser. 5: Geogr., No. 3, 20–27 (2010).

  26. E. V. Maksyutova, N. V. Kichigina, N. N. Voropai, A. S. Balybina, and O. P. Osipova, “Tendencies of hydroclimatic changes on the Baikal natural territory,” Geogr. Nat. Resour. 33, 304–311 (2012).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. National Atlas of Mongolia (Institute of Geography and Geoecology, Mongolian Academy of Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, 2009) [in Russian].

  28. E. G. Nechaeva, I. A. Belozertseva, E. V. Naprasnikova, I. B. Vorobyeva, S. S. Dubynina, N. D. Davydova, and N. V. Vlasova, Monitoring and Forecasting of Matter-Dynamic State of Geosystems in Siberian Regions (Nauka, Novosibirsk, 2011) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  29. Federal State Statistics Service official website. http://www.gks.ru.

  30. B. Oyuungerel and O. Munkhdulam, “Present status of specially protected natural territories of Mongolia,” Geogr. Nat. Resour. 32, 190–194 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. A. I. Perel’man and N. S. Kasimov, Geochemistry of a Landscape (Moscow State Univ., Moscow, 1999) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  32. B. A. Revich, Yu. E. Saet, and R. S. Smirnova, Guidance for Assessment of Pollution Degree of Atmospheric Air in Settlements by Metals According to Their Content in Snow Cover and Soil (Institute of Mineralogy, Geochemistry and Crystal Chemistry of Rare Elements, Moscow, 1990) [in Russian]. https://files.stroyinf.ru/Data2/1/4293736/4293736062.pdf.

  33. Yu. E. Saet, B. A. Revich, E. P. Yanin, R. S. Smirnova, I. L. Basharkevich, T. L. Onishchenko, L. N. Pavlova, N. Ya. Trefilova, A. I. Achkasov, and S. Sh. Sarkisyan, Geochemistry of the Environment (Nedra, Moscow, 1990) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  34. O. I. Sorokina, Candidate’s Dissertation in Geography (Moscow, 2013).

  35. Yu. P. Tandelov, Fluorine in the Soil-Plant System, Ed. by V. G. Mineev (Krasnoyarsk, 2012) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  36. Theory and Practice of Chemical Analysis of Soils, Ed. by L. A. Vorob’eva (GEOS, Moscow, 2006) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  37. E. N. Troshina, Candidate’s Dissertation in Biology (Omsk, 2009).

  38. V. L. Ubugunov and V. K. Kashin, Heavy Metals in Garden Soils and Plants of Ulan-Ude City (Institute of General and Experimental Biology, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ulan-Ude, 2004) [in Russian].

  39. L. L. Ubugunov, I. A. Belozertseva, V. I. Ubugunova, and A. A. Sorokovoy, “Ecological zonation of soils in the Lake Baikal basin,” Contemp. Probl. Ecol. 12, 524–533 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1995425519060106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Ecological Atlas of Baikal Region (Sochava Institute of Geography, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Irkutsk, 2017) [in Russian]. http://atlas.isc.irk.ru.

  41. I. A. Belozertseva, I. B. Vorobeva, N. V. Vlasova, O. V. Gagarinova, M. S. Yanchuk, and D. N. Lopatina, “Ecological status of the atmosphere and snow cover of the water area of Lake Baikal and its surrounding territories and its influence on the lake pollution,” IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci. 190, 012024 (2018).

  42. Atlas “Ecosystems of Mongolia,” Ed. by E. A. Vostokova and P. D. Gunin (Moscow, 2005) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  43. D. Dorjsuren, PhD Thesis (Institute of Geography and Geoecology, Mongolian Academy of Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, 2020).

  44. Ecosystems of Mongolia. Atlas, Ed. by P. D. Gunin, M. Saandar, (KMK, Moscow, 2019) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  45. Information and research institute of meteorology, hydrology and environment. http://irimhe.namem.gov.mn/. Cited February 15, 2021.

  46. Meteorological and Environmental Research Agency. http://www.namem.gov.mn/pages/51 Cited February 15, 2021.

  47. G. Odontuya, A. Tsiiregzen, G. Boldbaatar, O. Khureldavaa, D. Ouyntsetseg, B. Urnaa, and B. Amarsanaa, “Hydrochemical study of water supply of Ulaanbaatar city,” Prir. Vnutr. Azii, No. 2 (7), 92–100 (2018).

    Google Scholar 

  48. Statistics Department of Ulaanbaatar. http://ubstat.mn. Cited January 20, 2021.

Download references

Funding

This study was performed within the framework of state assignment (registration nos. АААА-А21-121012190055-7 and АААА-А19-119080700040-8) and supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, projects nos. 19-55-44020Mong_t and18-45-030039.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sochava Institute of Geography, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 664033, Irkutsk, Russia

    I. A. Belozertseva, I. B. Vorobyeva, A. A. Sorokovoi & D. N. Lopatina

Authors
  1. I. A. Belozertseva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. I. B. Vorobyeva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. A. Sorokovoi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. D. N. Lopatina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to I. A. Belozertseva.

Ethics declarations

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Translated by I. Bel’chenko

Supplementary Information

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Belozertseva, I.A., Vorobyeva, I.B., Sorokovoi, A.A. et al. Soil Pollution in Urbanized Centers of Baikal Region. Eurasian Soil Sc. 55, 102–114 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229322010033

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229322010033

Keywords:

Search

Navigation