Soils contamination degree assessment of heavy metals in Nizhnevartovsk (Western Siberia, Russia)

Soil is one of the environment basic elements. It has not only the accumulating ability but also is a natural buffer, controls the chemical elements transfer into the atmosphere, hydrosphere and living matter. Urban soils are significantly different from natural soils. Urban soils are characterized by degradation of the air and water regime, vital activity disruption of soil organisms. There is a direct dependence of the urban population health state on the preservation degree of natural (ecological) properties of urban soils. Every year the anthropogenic load on the environment increases. One of the main environmental pollutants is heavy metals. The purpose of this study is to soils contamination degree determines of heavy metals in Nizhnevartovsk (Western Siberia, Russia). In the soil sampling in 2017/18, the pH value and the concentration of mobile forms of copper, iron, zinc, nickel, chromium, lead and manganese were determined. The main sources of pollution in the urban environment are motor transport and enterprises of the fuel and energy complex. The main pollutants found in elevated concentrations are zinc, copper, nickel, lead and manganese. In 2018, there was a change in the concentration of mobile forms of zinc, copper, nickel and lead. High concentrations of manganese were detected. The environmental situation in Nizhnevartovsk is generally assessed as moderately hazardous by indicators of soil chemical contamination.