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Health Risk of Heavy Metals Related to Consumption of Vegetables in Areas of Industrial Impact in the Republic of Kazakhstan—Case Study for Oskemen
Among various heavy metal sources the metallurgic industry is the most threatening because emitted metals presented are the chemical forms in which metals are found in soil are more bioavailable and thus very easily are introduced into the environment and spread in both soils and plants. In this study such a situation is presented and the potential negative effect of emitted metals on soil and vegetables is estimated. Therefore, the following indicators were used: bioconcentration factors calculated for the total amount of metals (BCF) as well as daily intake of metal (DIM) and health risk index (HRI). Analyzed soils and vegetables originated from allotment gardens located at different distances from local industrial plants. The greatest amounts of metals in investigated materials (soils and plants) were found for the industrial zone and the lowest for samples representing the suburban zone. Among the analyzed metals Zn showed the highest (223.94–2645.13 mg·kg−1 for soils and 9.14–49.28 mg·kg−1 for plants), and Cd the lowest levels (1.77–15.2 mg·kg−1 for soils and 0.05–0.46 mg·kg−1 for plants). Regardless of the metal, the lowest BCF values were calculated for plants from the industrial zone and the highest from the urban site. Generally, BCF values calculated for vegetables were low and comparable for carrots, tomatoes, and cabbage. BCF values obtained for beetroots were higher in comparison to other vegetables. Regardless of plants, DIM values for Cd and Pb were low and comparable. DIM values for Cu and Zn were higher, but simultaneously strongly differentiated depending on the analyzed vegetables. A similar tendency was found in the case of HRI. The highest values were recorded for Cu and Zn in tomatoes. Regardless of the individual metals, the calculated values for DIM and HRI indices increased in the following sequence: beetroot < cabbage < carrot < tomato. The Zn and Cu contents in the studied types of vegetables do not exceed the maximum permissible levels recommended by WHO/FAO. In contrast, Pb concentrations were higher than the imposed standards in all the analyzed vegetable samples. On the basis of obtained DIM and HRI indices, consumption of vegetables cultivated in industrial areas should be restricted due to health risks related to heavy metals contained in plants.
Effects of Grassland Ley Sward Diversity on Soil Potassium and Magnesium Forms in Two Contrasting Sites
Assessment of the Influence of Aluminum, Iron, and Manganese Forms on the Phytocenoses of Post-Mining Lands in the Lengerskoye Brown Coal Mine
Post-mining land in areas where mineral extraction has occurred may constitute a significant portion of the land used for various purposes. Such land serves as soil-forming parent material for developing anthropogenic soils, which sometimes exhibit unfavorable physicochemical properties. The toxicity of the waste generated during lignite mining is due to a number of factors, whose determination permits the identification of its origin for the subsequent design of technologies for the waste reclamation. The purpose of the study, in consistence with sustainable development, is to identify the causes of the toxicity of brown coal waste from the Lengerskoye deposit, in southern Kazakhstan. These studies have provided the results essential for planning remedial actions necessary to improve the well-being of the local population, in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. The studies were performed using single extraction; forms of Al, Fe, and Mn; soil texture; elemental analysis; phytocoenosis analysis; and diffractometric, IR spectroscopic, SEM, route reconnaissance, and comparative statistical methods. A decrease in the biodiversity of plant species was noted, with a gradual increase with distance from the waste storage sites. The most resistant plant species in the vicinity of the waste dump were Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers and Alhagi pseudalhagi (M. Bieb.) Desv. ex B. Keller & Shap., while Dodartia orientalis (L.) was the only plant species found at the edge of the waste dump. The high toxicity of lignite waste is determined by such factors as low pH values, about 3.0; high content of active forms of aluminum, iron, and manganese (344.0, 0.90, and 20 mg/kg); high electrical conductivity—2835 µS/cm; waste composition poor in nutrients; and climate aridity. It has been observed that a content of exchangeable aluminum above 100 mg/kg resulted in an almost complete lack of vegetation.
Short Term Impact of Andropogon gayanus Kunth. on Soil Fertility and Legume Crop Rotation in West Central Region of Koudougou, Burkina Faso
The low productivity of land in Burkina Faso is one of the major threats of the agricultural sector. This study aims to evaluate the short-term legume crop impact in a sequence with a short term Andropogon gayanus fallow rotation in order to propose means of degraded lands recovery and their sustainable management. To achieve this goal, a test was set up in Péyiri village in West-Central region of Burkina Faso. The test which is made up of a completely randomized block of three plots, was installed on two area of a transect taking into account the microtopography (1.35%) effects. The first area which is called geomorphological unit I (UGI) consisted of a block of three replications plots and this area was used for legume crop (MC) during five (05) years. The legume crop was followed in rotation with a short-term Andropogon gayanus fallow (MA) for three (03) years. Following the micro-slope (1.35%), the same test was repeated on the second area of the transect called geomorphological unit II (UGII). On each plot of each UG, three (03) replications soil samples were collected on 0-20 cm soil layer at the end of legume crop and at the end of Andropogon gayanus short-term fallow for the soil physico-chemical properties assessment. The results obtained revealed that the MA treatment increased the contents of N, C, Sech, CEC, V, pH, NH4+, P, K, Mg, Ca respectively by 33%, 51.72%, 20.55%, 16.43%, 3%, 7%, 192.71%, 18.61%, 98.68%, 1095.8% and 353% on UGI except NO3- compared to the MC treatment results which increased the content of NO3- by 5% compared to MA. The slope of 1.35% observed between UGI and UGII caused a deterioration of the organic status, physicochemical properties and major nutrients on the UGII. These results suggest that even for small slopes, soil conservation measures are still necessary. In conclusion, the study showed that on small family farms systems in Burkina Faso, legume crop rotation with Andropogon gayanus short-term fallow constitutes a means of agricultural lands sustainable management.
The occurrence of organic soils in the Middle Noteć River Valley, Poland – comparison of the current state with the divisions on the soil-agricultural map
Mapy glebowo-rolnicze tworzone od połowy lat 60. do 80. XX wieku stanowią bardzo cenne źródło danych o przydatności a także o przestrzennym zróżnicowaniu gleb użytkowanych rolniczo w Polsce. Jednak w wyniku intensywnego wykorzystania torfowisk niskich na przełomie lat 50. i 70. ubiegłego wieku głównie na cele rolnicze, mapy glebowo-rolnicze mogły stracić na aktualności na niektórych obszarach. Odwadnianie terenów torfowiskowych wpływa negatywnie na właściwości fizyczne, chemiczne i biologiczne gleb organicznych głównie ze względu na zmniejszenie wilgotności wierzchnich poziomów genetycznych, a także wzrostu natlenienia tych warstw gleby co przede wszystkim przyczynia się do zapoczątkowania procesu murszenia. W ekstremalnych przypadkach może nawet dojść do całkowitego zaniku gleb torfowiskowych. Badania w niniejszej pracy przeprowadzono na wybranych terenach rolniczo użytkowanych torfowiskach niskich, położonych w Dolinie Środkowej Noteci, która jest jednym z największych kompleksów torfowisk niskich w Polsce. Celem niniejszej pracy była weryfikacja aktualności występowania gleb organicznych na wybranym obszarze Doliny Środkowej Noteci na podstawie wykonanych profili glebowych, w porównaniu z mapą glebowo-rolniczą. Porównanie aktualnego stanu pokrywy glebowej z danymi zawartymi na mapach glebowo-rolniczych dla obszaru badań, wykazało istotne zmiany w typologii gleb występujących w obrębie analizowanych konturów, które są efektem użytkowania rolniczego (głównie użytków zielonych) w analizowanej części Doliny Środkowej Noteci w ostatnich 50–60 latach.
Magnetometry of Corded Ware Culture Barrows in Western Ukraine: The Multiproxy Analysis of Burial Mounds in Volytsia Cemetery as a Key to Identify the Chronological Affinity
ABSTRACT This study presents the results of a multiproxy geoarchaeological analysis of Corded Ware culture (CWC) barrows from the 3rd millennium bc in Volytsia, Western Ukraine. Combining magnetometry surveys, stratigraphic excavation, magnetic susceptibility testing and iron content analysis, the research aims to identify diagnostic features of CWC burial mounds and assess how soil processes affect their geophysical visibility. Magnetometry revealed that enhanced magnetic anomalies correlate with preserved anthropogenic mound structures, particularly in barrow 013, while others displayed less distinct signatures, possibly due to pedogenic degradation. Excavations uncovered diverse burial practices, including wooden coffins and cremations, but a lack of stone structures typical of Middle Bronze Age (MBA) Komarów culture mounds from the 2nd millennium bc . Magnetic susceptibility and total amount of iron profiles confirm that magnetically enhanced layers align with unaltered burial deposits, whereas leached upper horizons show diminished signals. The study demonstrates that fire‐related features made solely of wood do not produce the dipolar magnetic anomalies observed in daub‐rich wooden mortuary houses from the MBA. Consequently, distinguishing CWC from Komarów barrows solely through magnetometry remains challenging. The results highlight the need for integrated prospection strategies and contextual soil analysis when interpreting under‐mound architecture and chronology. These findings contribute to refining non‐invasive archaeological methodologies in forested loess landscapes with complex postdepositional histories.
Evaluation of Agricultural Value of Composts Prepared from Municipal Biowastes in Different Conditions of Composting Process
The increasing mass of organic waste as well as the assumptions of a circular economy enforce the rational management of this type of waste. One method of recycling is composting, which makes it possible to use waste efficiently as an organic fertilizer. This paper presents the results of a comparative study of six different composts in terms of their agricultural quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the bioavailable amounts of metals using single extractions with DTPA solution and to characterize various humic compounds. Particular attention was paid to the amounts of labile carbon (LC), hot water-extractable carbon (HWC), and the quantity and quality of humus substances (HS). Regardless of compost types, they were characterized by a small share of easily decomposable compounds such as fulvic acids (FAs), LC, and HWC, which may indicate the low susceptibility of compost humic substances to microbiological degradation in soil. In general, the bioavailable metal amounts found in the analyzed composts were low; therefore, the tested composts applied to the soil can be considered safe for the environment.
Geochemical, lithological and archaeological studies on an Early Bronze Age barrow destroyed by modern tillage in Petrove, central Ukraine
Ecological Engineering Using Biological Crusts: Effects on Soil Physicochemical Properties in West-Central Region of Burkina Faso
The land degradation in Burkina Faso is one of the major development challenges in the agricultural sector. Among the various existing means of soil recovery and improvement, the use of ecological engineering based on soils microorganisms also appears as a tool for sustainable land management. For this purpose, a trial was set up in Péyiri in the West-Center region of Burkina Faso and focused on studying the effects of induced biological crusts on the physicochemical properties of degraded soils. A split-plot design with three replications was set up on three types of soil environment with increasing degradation level, namely "Soil environment with a dense herbaceous layer and some shrubs" (Site 3), "Soil environment with a less dense herbaceous layer" (Site 2) and "Bare soil environment" (Site 1). On each replication plot, three samples core were taken from the 0-20cm layer along the diagonal and were subjected to physicochemical analysis. The organic status (Total C, N and C/N ratio), physical properties (particle size distribution, texture, moisture content), chemical indexes (Séch, CEC, pH, V, Conductivity) and major nutrients (NO3-, NH4+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Total P) were evaluated. The results obtained revealed that the treatment with the induced biocrust increased the rates of C, N, Séch, CEC, V, pH, NH4+, P and clay fraction, with much higher moisture. Taking into account the level of soil degradation, the balance on the site 1 presented the highest positive values in N, clay, pF4.5, Sech, CEC, pH, and P. On the site 2 and site 3, the results balance is sometimes positive or negative depending on the considered soil properties. Then the level of soil degradation influenced the biocrust efficiency, but in general the use of induced biocrust led to an improvement in the physicochemical properties of degraded soils especially on some major nutrients such as N and P. Soils in Burkina Faso like the others Sahelian countries are mostly deficient in these major nutrients. The induced biocrusts seem to be as a sustainable management tool for drylands agrosystems.
К вопросу о биорекультивации почв, загрязненных отходами бурого угля месторождения ленгерское на юге Kазахстана
On the 12th of June, 2024, under the aegis of the “Department of Environmental Engineering and Ecology” of the Faculty of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy of the Georgian Technical University, the international scientific conference titled “Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development” was held, which was dedicated to the 85th anniversary of the founder of the Chair of Environmental Protection and Engineering Ecology, doctor of chemical sciences, professor Dimitri Eristavi. The work of a conference included the following scientific directions: environmental protection and new technologies; socioeconomic aspects of environmental protection and ecological safety; assessment of ecological state of available environmental facilities; biodiversity and urban ecology; environmental chemistry and ecology; ecological aspects of power engineering – energy efficiency. 245 scientists, including 32 foreign scholars from England, Germany, Japan, Greece, Poland, Bulgaria, Qatar, Pakistan, Kazakhstan and Armenia expressed their will to participate in the proceeding of a conference. The goal of the conference was to get acquainted with scientific research works carried out in the area of “environmental protection and ecology”; “chemical and biological technologies”, “metallurgy and material science”; “chemistry and pharmacy”; “power engineering”, “mining geology”, “hydrometeorology”; to share experience, establish mutual cooperation, coordinate the current studies, and to outline the prospects of application of results necessary for country.