Potash fertilizer production is one of the most important economic activities. Historically, potash mining has had a significant impact on the environment, often with catastrophic consequences. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the results of studies on the environmental impact of potash mining using the example of the Verkhnekamskoe potash deposit. The deposit is located in the central part of the Solikamsk depression in the Pre-Ural foredeep (Perm Krai, Russia). All the main features and problems of underground mining of water-soluble ores and potassium fertilizer production are considered using the example of one of the world’s largest potash deposits. This paper looks into the specifics of the material composition of waste, its disposal, underground mining issues associated with the solubility of salts, and the risks of groundwater inflow into the mine workings, which causes flooding of mines. The results of all surveys show that potash mining affects the atmosphere, surface water, groundwater, soil, and vegetation. The most effective measure to reduce the adverse environmental impact of potash mining at the Verkhnekamskoe Deposit is hydraulic backfilling of mine chambers, which protects the underground mines from flooding, minimizes ground subsidence, and reduces the area of potash waste.

The Kosva Bay is permanently affected by acid mine drainage (AMD) from Kizel Coal Basin in the Perm Krai of Russia. This discharge is released in the middle part of the Kosva River from the abandoned mines. This study investigates the current trace element (TE) concentrations for Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni, Cr, Cd, As, and Hg and the mineral composition, major oxides, grain size of sediments, and acute toxicity using two test organisms within the site of AMD downstream from the Kosva River and up to the Kosva Bay of Kama Reservoir. The objectives of this study were to analyze the quality of sediment and level pollution of Kosva Bay using pollution and ecotoxicological indices. The environmental indices, namely the contamination factor (CF), the geoaccumulation index (I_geo), and the potential ecological risk factor ($E_r^i),$ indicate contamination by Cr and Pb in sediments at the site of AMD, with the highest values for Cr, Cu, and As in the Kosva Bay sediments downstream of abandoned coal mines. The results of I_geo and CF average values in bay of sediments showed different degrees of contamination, from moderate contamination to considerable contamination, respectively. According to the potential ecological risk index (RI) values, the Kosva Bay sediments exhibited low to moderate risk, and As and Cd have the highest contribution rate. According to LAWA and the Polish geochemical classification of sediments, sediments of the bay correspond to the highest levels (IV–III classes) for Cr, Ni, and Hg. Based on the SQG_C, Hg, Cd, Cr, and Ni are the most probable for resulting in adverse effects on aquatic organisms in this study. The results of this study indicate that complex pollution and ecotoxicological indices must be supported by ecotoxicologal tests. High precipitation totals, low evaporation rates, and flow regulation stream by the Shirokovsky Reservoir located upstream from abandoned coal mines provide significant fluctuations in streamflow, which is probably the most important factor controlling the distribution and mobility of TE in the studied sediments.

Over a long period of time, a huge amount of technogenic bottom sediments has been accumulating in the Kosva Bay with significant concentrations of amorphous iron and aluminium hydroxides, which, in turn, are active sorbents of pollutants. This study examines the distribution of trace elements...

Актуальность. Интенсивное антропогенное воздействие на окружающую среду, особенно в пределах промышленных территорий, способствует деградации почвенного профиля и аккумуляции технофильных химических элементов в почвенном покрове. Увеличение загрязнения городских почв тяжелыми металлами в связи с интенсивной промышленной нагрузкой является серьезной экологической проблемой. Несмотря на повышенный интерес к экологическому состоянию почв промышленных территорий, существующая в настоящее время в Российской Федерации система нормирования недостаточно разработана и не позволяет дать точную характеристику загрязнения. Цель: определение уровня загрязнения тяжелыми металлами почв в пределах промышленной зоны урбанизированной территории; сравнение отечественных и зарубежных методов оценки загрязненности почв и обоснование необходимости актуализации нормативно-технической документации. Методы. Содержание тяжелых металлов в почвах определено масс-спектральным методом на базе сектора наноминералогии «Центра коллективного пользования Пермского государственного национального исследовательского университета». Результаты и выводы. Рассмотрены отечественные и зарубежные методы оценки экологического состояния почв. Проведена оценка уровня загрязнения почв тяжелыми металлами и металлоидами в пределах промышленных территорий крупных химических предприятий Пермского края с использованием отечественных и зарубежных нормативов качества почв, суммарных показателей загрязнения и индекса потенциального экологического риска. Показана необходимость учета функционального назначения территорий при оценке загрязнения с помощью индивидуальных показателей. Получены аналогичные результаты оценки степени загрязнения почв при использовании отечественных, не регламентированных нормативно-технической документацией, и зарубежных суммарных показателей. Сделан вывод о необходимости актуализации нормативных требований Российской Федерации с учетом отечественного и зарубежного опыта оценки загрязненности почв.

The current study considered the distribution of trace elements in snow cover taking into account the functional zoning of the territory of Berezniki-Solikamsk industrial hub, Perm Region, Russia. The concentrations of 22 trace elements were determined in the dissolved phase of snowmelt using...

Link for citation: Ushakova E.S., Belkin P.A., Drobinina E.V. Sewage sludge formation characteristics and environmental status of the industrial wastewater channel. Bulletin of the Tomsk Polytechnic University. Geo Аssets Engineering, 2023, vol. 334, no. 6, рр.75-91. In Rus. The relevance of the research is determined by the need to obtain baseline data for the safe handling of sewage sludge produced resulting the sedimentation of the suspended solids from wastewater of industrial channel. The main aim of the research is to characterize the chemistry of wastewater and sewage sludge in an industrial channel, and to determine the environmental status and possible options for handling sewage sludge. The object of the study is the industrial channel or sewage transport channel of the city Berezniki (Perm Krai, Russia). This channel is an artificial waterway with a total length of 8,9 km. It was formed in the middle of the last century with the aim of protecting the industrial area of the city Berezniki from waterlogging and the organization of unified urban industrial canalization. At present, the channel accepts industrial wastewater from a number of plants, as well as wastewater from the city treatment facilities and storm water runoff. A treatment plant operates at the mouth of the channel, after which the treated water enters the Kama reservoir. The research methods included determination of major ions and trace element of wastewater and sewage sludge of industrial channel using capillary electrophoresis together with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Additionally, microbiological and radiological parameters of the sewage sludge were determined using the methods established by the environmental legislation of the Russian Federation. In this study the contamination degree of wastewater and sewage sludge was assessed using quality guidelines, geochemical and environmental indices. To understand environmental status and geochemical assessment of sewage sludge of the industrial channel the major ions and trace element contamination of the samples were assessed based on potential ecological risk index, geoaccumulation index, sediment quality coefficient. Results. The sewage sludge samples are characterized by a moderate content of toxic elements, are safe in terms of radiation and show no signs of bacterial contamination. However, the contamination degree of sewage sludge increases significantly to the lower part of the industrial channel. Sewage sludge in the lower part of the industrial channel (in before treatment plant) is significantly enriched in all studied trace elements in comparison with the upper continental crust. It was found that the degree of contamination by Igeo in the industrial channel ranged from heavily contaminated to extremely contaminated. The highest values of the index of geoaccumulation (Igeo>1000) were found in the lower part of the industrial channel. The values of the index of potential ecological risk in the industrial channel changed from low to moderate. The average value of the sludge quality factor shown highly contamination of sludge in the downstream, while in the middle stream the sewage sludge belongs to uncontaminated. A comparative analysis of international standards for acceptable limits of heavy metals in sewage sludge for agricultural use was carried out. The possible uses of sewage sludge accumulated in the industrial channel in the city of Berezniki were assessed. The presence of extremely high concentrations of chlorides and trace elements in sewage sludge limits its recycling. This determines the need to further search for environmentally disposal and recycling routes for the accumulated sewage sludge. The most promising trend of recycling the accumulated sludge from the Berezniki industrial channel may be the development of technologies for the production of construction materials. Ссылка для цитирования: Ушакова Е.С., Белкин П.А., Дробинина Е.В. Особенности осадкообразования и экологический статус промышленного канала сточных вод // Известия Томского политехнического университета. Инжиниринг георесурсов. – 2023. – Т. 334. – № 6. – С.75-91. Актуальность исследования определяется необходимостью получения исходных данных для безопасного обращения с осадками, формирующимися в результате отстаивания сточных вод различного генезиса в крупном промышленном центре Западного Урала. Цель настоящей работы заключается в характеристике химизма сточных вод промышленного канала и формируемых ими осадков, а также в определении экологического статуса и возможных вариантов обращения с осадками сточных вод. Объектом исследования является промышленный канал, или канал транспорта сточных вод, г. Березники (Пермский край, Россия). Канал представляет собой искусственный водоток общей протяженностью 8,9 км. Он сформирован в середине прошлого века с целью защиты промышленной зоны г. Березники от подтопления и организации единой городской промышленной канализации. На современном этапе канал принимает в себя...