The present study was carried out to describe the characteristic features of potentially toxic metals (PTMs) in the soil of industrial city, Kolchugino–Vladimir Region–Russia. The mass fractions in mg/kg of Cu, Pb, Zn, and Cd were measured by atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS). Multivariate statistical analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), were performed. The obtained results of the potentially toxic elements were mapped using ArcGIS. A total of four pollution indices were calculated to identify the areas with significant pollution associations. The data analysis showed that locations 14 (urban area) and 16 (non-ferrous metallurgy plant) contribute significantly to pollution. Maximum likelihood method was used to classify the land-use and land-cover (LULC). The analysis shows that locations 14 and 16 are belonging to the industrial area on LULC. Great attention should be paid to the control and regulation of waste disposal into the environment, which in turn, has an adversely impact on human health. By using the data, it could help to identify areas where waste control measures need to be implemented, such as increasing recycling or introducing more waste control legislation. It could also help to identify areas where waste control efforts have been successful. Data can be used by government, policymakers, and stakeholders for future planning and R&D activities.

This research aims to evaluate the dynamics of soil loss through soil erosion by water in agricultural lands in steppe areas using a modification of the RUSLE2 model from the 1980s to the 2010s. The calculation was performed using a raster model of data that included a model of the slope angle, slope length, soil erodibility, rainfall and snowmelt erosivity factors, types of land use, and cover management factor. All data were taken from open sources. The average soil erosion in the territory studied amounted to 1.48 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ in the 1980s and 1.72 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ in the 2010s. The discrepancy with other studies was 12% for the level of the 1980s and 2–7% for the level of the 2010s. The main factor leading to an increase in soil loss was soil erodibility due to the loss of soil organic matter, which affected about 52% of the studied lands. The increase in the amount of soil loss occurred against a background of compensating processes: reduction in precipitation and climate change (getting drier), as well as the overgrowth of agricultural lands with natural steppe vegetation. Modified model RUSLE2 has shown good results correlated with other studies for the research area.

На землях КБНИИСХ изучена временная динамика (1980-1989-1997-2002-2007-2012-2015 гг.) физико-химических свойств наиболее распространенных в пределах северного склона Джинальского хребта горных черноземов. Установлено, что по состоянию на 2015 г. почвы подвержены воздействию двух видов деградационных процессов, различающихся по степени развития и пространственному охвату территории. На всей исследуемой территории преобладают процессы сильной дегумификации почв и локально отмечены проявления средней степени дегумификации. Ущерб от сильной дегумификации исследуемых почв выражается значительным снижением (коэффициент -0.70) уровня их плодородия. Величина ущерба для определения стоимости земель, представленных сильнодегумифицированными почвами, достигает 18%. Большинство рассматриваемых почв подвержены агроистощению в слабой и средней степени. Величина коэффициента уровня плодородия для среднеобедненных почв сельскохозяйственных угодий принимается равной 0.90, а ущерб для определения стоимости земельного участка для них составляет 5%. Для слабообедненных почв уменьшение плодородия незначительно (коэффициент уровня плодородия -0.95) и ущерб для определения стоимости земельного участка можно не учитывать. Рассчитан общий ущерб в стоимостном выражении от деградации земель (30.9 тыс. руб./га), включающий в себя потерю плодородия почвы и потерю в стоимости земли в связи с деградационными процессами, а также смету восстановления почв и доведения их до эталонного состояния.

Introduction. Creating a comfortable urban environment includes the absence of a threat to the environment and population health. By accumulating pollutants, soil in urban ecosystems protects adjacent environments from pollution, but if the pollution reaches high level the soil itself becomes a source of danger. Material and methods. In this work the assessment of the risk for public health associated with urban soils pollution for the cities Kolchugino, Vladimir Region and Dubna, Moscow Region, whose soils significantly different of heavy metal (HM) level pollution was executed in accordance with R 2.1.10.1920–04. Risk calculations were carried out on the base of the actual data of heavy metals concentrations in the soil, and also the data of predicted levels soil pollution (after 50 and 100 years). Results. Carcinogenic risk for the health of adult population in the cities Kolchugino and Dubna with peroral intake of heavy metals both now and if the level pollution will be changed as a result of the atmospheric emission pollutants during the calculated period (50, 100 years were characterized as a minimum (De minimis) risk. Risk for population health with inhalation of heavy metals was characterized as an average level on the 25% of Dubna territories. The total carcinogenic risk for the health of adult population in the course of heavy metals soil pollution on the whole territory in the city Kolchugino and in 47% of cases in the city Dubna were characterized above an acceptable level. If the current level of aerogenic pollutants is maintained, the area of cities with an unacceptable level of risk will be increase. Limitations. The paper assesses the carcinogenic risk as the probability of developing the most socially significant adverse effect of the environmental impact on health. Conclusion. It is necessary to carry out measures for the remediation of soils in the city Kolchugino Vladimir Region and reduce the flow of pollutants into the soils of the cities Kolchugino and Dubna.