GEOECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE CONTEMPORARY LEAD CONTENT IN THE SOIL COVER OF THE URBANIZED TERRITORIES OF THE LOWER VOLGA REGION

Abstract

The relevance of the work lies in the study of the process of pollution of the soil cover of an urbanized area with heavy metals. The aim of the work was to study the modern process of soil pollution in the city of Astrakhan with lead. The main task of the work was to determine the degree of exceeding the hygienic standards of the maximum permissible concentration of lead in soil samples. The work involved the methods of geographical and ecological research. The collection of soil samples was carried out, followed by determination in a certified laboratory of the concentration of a substance in each of the soil samples. In the course of the work, the indicators of exceeding the maximum permissible concentration of lead in the soil of Astrakhan were determined and the presumptive sources of pollution were identified. Under the conditions of the urban environment, under the influence of anthropogenic and technogenic processes, a significant change in the composition of the soil cover occurs. One of the processes that significantly affect the soil cover of the city is the process of soil pollution with heavy metals. The term heavy metals, as a rule, means metals (lead, zinc, chromium, mercury and others) that are found in various components of the natural environment and systems of anthropogenic and technogenic origin. Heavy metals are bio-chemically active and highly toxic. These substances are characterized by the ability to accumulate in the body of living beings and have a negative effect on them. The concentration of heavy metals in the soil of an urbanized area poses a significant danger to the urban population. The process of pollution of the soil cover of the city with heavy metals is associated with a large number of technogenic sources, which include energy and industrial facilities, systems for providing the city's infrastructure, zones of construction activities and storage of materials or waste. Lead «Plumbum - Pb» is one of the main pollutants of urban soil with highly toxic properties and belonging to the group of heavy metals. The article describes the results of a study of the current lead content in the soil of the city of Astrakhan conducted in 2020.