The aim of the present study was to evaluate the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) levels in urban topsoils (0–10 cm) affected by Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant and oil refinery (Antipinsky Refinery) in comparison with residential area topsoils of Tyumen city. Anthropogenically transformed soils (Urbic Technosols) and artificial loamy soils enriched with organic matter with high pH values are widely represented in the residential area and industrial areas. The 12 priority PAHs in soils were analyzed by HPLC method with fluorescence detection. Urban topsoils of residential area have been contaminated mainly by benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, and benzo[g,h,i]perylene whereas enhanced concentrations of fluorene, phenanthrene, benzo[a]anthracene, and benzo[k]fluoranthene were observed in topsoil of industrial areas. The total amount of PAHs in the background soil was 113.5 μg kg⁻¹. The PAH group composition in all studied soils was expressed mainly by high-molecular polyarenes. The maximum accumulation was found for phenanthrene, pyrene, and fluoranthene. The total amount of PAHs in urban soils exceeded the background level up to three times (341.0 μg kg⁻¹). In the residential area, the total PAH content was twice higher than in the industrial areas of CHP-2 plant and the Antipinsky Refinery (482.7, 275.0, and 273.3 μg kg⁻¹, respectively). The PAH content improvement connected with the soil properties, and it was also affected by long-term and intensive anthropogenic impact. It was found that the level of soil pollution in the residential area is typified as hazardous, in the impact area as moderately hazardous, and in the CHP-2 plant impact area, as permissible.

Buried soils within aeolian deposits are considered an important tool for diagnosing, determining the age, and estimating the intensity of aeolian processes at the transition from the Pleistocene to the Holocene in the Northern Hemisphere. Late Pleistocene aeolian coversands and ancient inland dunes are widely distributed in the periglacial zone of Western Siberia. In contrast to the territories of Central and Eastern Europe, the paleosol archive of the aeolian sands and dunes of Western Siberia has not yet been studied. This paper presents the first findings of late Pleistocene paleosols within the ancient inland dunes in the southeast of Western Siberia (Ob–Tomsk interfluve, Tomsk region). The soils and their stratigraphic position were studied in the outcrop of the quarry, located in the junction zone of the second Tom river terraces and the ancient valley. Two types of paleosols were identified. The first one is confined to the central part of a small dune and is represented by a slightly developed Albic Arenosol with fragmentary humus horizon Ahb and a well-pronounced Eb. It can probably be considered as an analogue of the European Usselo soil. The second paleosol was found at the bottom of the interdune depression. It is represented by a brown Bwb horizon and probably corresponds to a Brunic Arenosol (Dystric). The second paleosol is characterized by a higher content of clay fraction and organic carbon, the presence of weak signs of illuviation, and richer and more diverse mineral composition. This soil is apparently an analogue of the European Finow soil. Radiocarbon dating of the charcoals found in the paleosols suggests that the first dates from the Younger Dryas (ca. 12,036 cal. yr. BP), and the second one from the Allerød (ca. 13,355 cal. yr. BP). The study results propose that the natural environment in the periglacial zone of the south of Western Siberia was generally similar to those in Central and Eastern Europe, and the activation of aeolian processes, which led to the formation of a dune relief, occurred at about the same time.

Electrical power generation by burning fossil fuels leads to the formation of a significant amount of industrial waste that is often stored at ash disposal sites, which leads to a negative impact on the environment. Therefore, studies devoted to soil formation within such areas are rather sufficient for planning their reclamation. The proposed paper presents the results of a study of soil development at the inactive self-grown ash disposal area of Tyumen combined heat and power (CHP-1) plant (Western Siberia, Russia), formed due to the combustion of peat from the local Tarman deposit. Four soil pits representing different areas of ash dumps with grassy and woody vegetation were selected for detailed studies. The laboratory analyses included chemical, mineralogical and microscopic studies. The obtained results showed that the studied soils are characterised by a poorly developed humus horizon and strong stratification of the ash parent material and can be classified as Spolic Technosols. The studied technogenic soils are characterised by neutral and alkaline pH values, high LOI values, diversity of pedogenic carbonates and strong heterogeneity of the profile, due to the alteration of layers composed of fly and bottom ash material. These peculiarities of soils are related to properties of peat ashes, technology of peat consumption, and the intensity of weathering under cold continental climate conditions. The main indicators of pedogenic processes are the formation of humus horizons, the decrease in alkalinity in the upper part of the profile, disturbance of the primary stratification of the parent material, and the formation of pedogenic carbonates. It is possible to suppose further evolution of studied soils towards Andosol-like soils.