The study aimed to assess the accumulation levels, spatial distribution, and sources of the potentially toxic elements (PTEs), such as Zn, As, Cd, Pb, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Sb, Mo, V, W, Sr, Mn, Bi, Sn, Fe, Cs, Be, and Ba, in urban soils, road dust and their PM10 fractions in Yalta, a seaside resort town of the Crimean Peninsula. The concentrations of the PTEs were measured in the urban topsoil (0–10 cm), road dust, and their fine particles, < 10 μm in diameter (PM10), using ICP-MS and ICP-AES methods. The soil and road dust samples were collected in 2018 in various functional zones of Yalta and on different types of roads. In total, 69 soil samples and 57 road-dust samples were taken. The PM10 fraction was isolated by sedimentation method according to Stokes' law. The urban soils and the road dust were contaminated by Pb, Sb, Zn, Sn, Cd, Cu, Bi, Mo, and Mn. The finer particles (PM10) separated from the urban soils and the road dust showed higher accumulation of the PTEs than the bulk samples. The contribution of the PM10 fraction to the total amount of the pollutants in the bulk soil and road-dust samples accounted for 50–80

Soil mapping of urban areas is required for solving many applied problems. However, its methodology is still under development. The lack of information about urban soils and the inconsistence of their classifications are the main difficulties, as well as the intricate soil cover patterns in cities and towns. The research was aimed to compile the soil map for the drainage basin of the small urban river Setun at a scale that could reflect its soil cover heterogeneity. Some new approaches to the differentiation of urban and semi-urban soils in accordance with recent ideas on their systematic and land use variants have been proposed. The concept of pedo-urbo-mosaics, which implements the soil cover pattern theory in relation to urbanized territory, has been used for delineating mapping units. The compilation methodology involved the use of open spatial data and GIS technologies. The subdivision of the basin into mapping units was performed using ©OpenStreetMap data and Yandex Maps Web mapping service. Spatial analysis in GIS allowed for mapping the territory with a moderate urbanization rate on a large scale, obtaining a more adequate and detailed spatial representation of the area than in the case of applying the traditional approach. The map, at a scale of 1:60,000 contains 16 natural/semi-natural soils and technogenic superficial formations, as well as 11 pedo-urbo-mosaics. The study may be of methodological interest as an experience in soil mapping of urbanized areas using GIS.

Environmental geochemical studies of urban territories involve heterogeneous information that can be most effectively processed within a unified database (DB). Since a significant portion of the accumulated data is georeferenced, geographic information technologies should be used at all stages of the researches. The purpose of this work is to consider the structure of the DB for information support of ecological and geochemical studies of different urban environments in Moscow within the framework of the Russian Science Foundation project No. 19-77-30004 "Integrated technology for environmental assessment of Moscow megacity based on chemical analysis of microparticle composition in the "atmosphere - snow - road dust - soil - surface water" system (Megacity)". The project aims to develop technologies for the chemical analysis of the urban environments impacted by the pollutants coming from vehicles, industry, and construction sites, as well as the assessment of the environmental state of the megacity. Various components of the environment are analyzed at several spatial scales: for the entire Moscow city, for administrative districts, for drainage basins of two urban rivers (Moskva and its tributary Setun). The composition of pollutant emissions is characterized using monitoring aerosol data at the Meteorological Observatory of Lomonosov Moscow State University. Microparticles PM10 and PM2.5 are analyzed for the content of elemental carbon, ionic and organic compounds, as well as potentially toxic elements, under different meteorological conditions and seasonal variations. The fallout of aerosols during winter is determined by the chemical analysis of dissolved and solid fractions of snow samples and its comparison with a natural background. Water migration of pollutants is assessed by analyzing river flows (water and suspended/bottom sediments) at reference stations in the Moskva River basin. The ecological state of road dust and soils that accumulate pollutants is estimated in geochemical surveying. Finally, source apportionment is quantified using statistical methods of multivariate analysis. The development of a DB with the integrated geographic information system (GIS) allows systematizing the spatial and non-spatial information accumulated in field works, chemical and analytical studies, and organizing effective data storage and processing along with providing geoinformation support for DB users. We created four DB subsystems designed for: (1) processing georeferenced data (GIS); (2) working with time series; (3) handling regulatory and reference information; (4) assessing pollution and environmental hazard with computational models. For Moscow megacity, GIS brings together two large blocks of information: spatial layers stored within the geodatabase and spreadsheets with the results of field studies and chemical analyses. The main functions of the GIS are geoprocessing, execution of non-spatial and spatial queries, data analysis (including exploratory spatial data analysis and modeling), visualization of the results. The report will present subsystems of the DB and the interrelationships between them. The use of the database in practice will be considered on the example of assessing the pollution of road dust with benzo(a)pyrene, accounting for anthropogenic and natural factors.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), in particular benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), are priority organic pollutants coming from various anthropogenic sources. The levels of accumulation and the spatial distribution of BaP in urban soils, road dust and their PM10 particles (with a diameter of less than 10 microns) were for the first time determined for various land use zones and roads of different size in the cities of Crimea—Alushta, Yalta and Sebastopol. The average content of BaP in soils and road dust in Alushta is 60 and 97 ng/g, in Yalta—139 and 64 ng/g, in Sebastopol—260 and 89 ng/g, respectively, which considerably exceeds the background level (1 ng/g). The BaP concentrations in PM10 particles of soils and dust are up to 11 and four times higher, respectively, than the total contents; they concentrate 35–70% of amount of the pollutant. The accumulation of BaP in soils and dust depends on the type of land use and size of roads. The exceedance of BaP standards in soils and road dust indicates a hazardous environmental situation in three cities of Crimea. The most dangerous are PM10 particles, which form anomalies with extreme levels of BaP contamination.

This paper examines effects caused by erosion products and seepage waters spreading from sulfuric coal dumps for more than 50 years on the chemical composition and properties of solid and liquid (soil solutions) phases of nearby sod–podzols in the south-taiga zone. The study was conducted at the Cherepetskoye brown coal field, Tula oblast, Russia. The physicochemical properties of these posttechnogenic soils have no parallel in natural south-taiga landscapes of the Russian Plain. The main geochemical processes in technogenically transformed sod–podzols are as follows: (1) acidification, including changes in the ionic composition of soil solutions and their transformation from hydrocarbonate–sulfate–calcium to sulfate–aluminum–calcium ones; and (2) replacement of Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions with Al3+ and H+ ions in the soil adsorption complex (SAC). The transformed soils feature a very low (less than 20%) base saturation degree, and their solutions are oversaturated with Fe3+ and Al3+ hydroxides. Changes in the soil solution composition intensify the podzol formation process causing ferruginization of the illuvial horizon due to the active Al–Fe–humus process; as a result, the studied soils gain features typical for middle- and north-taiga podzols.

The accumulation levels, spatial distribution, and sources of heavy metals and metalloids (HMMs) in urban soils, road dust, and their PM10 particles (diameter <10 µm) are for the first time assessed in different functional areas and on the roads of different types in Sebastopol, a large industrial and recreational city. The chemical analysis was done by ICP-MS and ICP-AES methods. The main pollutants of urban soils and road dust are Pb, Zn, Sb, Cd, Sn, Cu, and Mo. The results demonstrate an uneven spatial distribution of individual HMMs within the city resulting from terrigenous and anthropogenic sources. The concentrations of almost all HMMs in the PM10 particles of soils and dust are considerably higher as compared with the total contents, the share of Zn, Bi, and Cs exceeding 65

Long-term coal mining (more than 50 years) in the Moscow basin has a complex negative effect on soils. Because of underground mining at coal fields spoil heaps with a high content of iron sulfides, aluminosilicates and organic carbon of coal origin were formed. Oxidation of sulfides and acid hydrolysis of aluminosilicates in waste dumps results in the producing of toxic sulfuric acid, Al and Fe sulfates (Nordstrom and Alpers 1999). Acid mine drainage (AMD) entering from eroded spoil heaps, leads to physico-chemical and morphological changes in soil characteristics. On foreslopes around spoil heaps technogenically transformed soils are common. Our study aimed at evaluation of post-mining geochemical evolution of chemical composition and properties of solid and liquid soil phases. We examined two key sites within abandoned coal mine fields in the central part of the Moscow basin. Predominant natural soils are Greyic Phaeozems and Haplic Chernozems (WRB 2014) (Grey forest and Leached Chernozems in Russian classification). Soil samples and displaced soil solutions (by ethanol) were analysed for acid-base properties, content and composition of readily soluble salts, content of Fe2+ and Fe3+, H+ and Al3+, composition of exchangeable cations, heavy metals (HM) and organic carbon) by standard methods. The composition of clay minerals in soils were determined by X-ray diffractometry. The saturation degree of soil solutions by gypsum, iron and aluminum hydroxides was estimated. Properties of technogenic soils differ significantly from natural soils. We observed the transformation of the composition of soil solutions. Key geochemical processes at mine sites in contaminated soils were: (1) acidification and Fe-Al-SO4 salinization of entire soil profile along with the increment in H+ and Al3+ ions content; (2) cation exchange, leading to displacement of Cа2+ and Mg2+ ions by Al3+, H+ and, probably, by Fe2+ and Fe3+ in soil cation-exchange complex (CEC); (3) alteration of radial differentiation of organic carbon and carbonates in soils; (4) clay mineral transformations. Topsoil features a high content of technogenic organic carbon (reaches 12%) due to the inflow of coal material particles from the dump. Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions predominate (for 70 to 90%) in CEC of natural soils. Exchangeable Al3+ accounts for more than 75% of the acidity formation in transformed soils. The share of exchangeable Ca2+ and Mg2+ in CEC of contaminated soils depletes on 22-38%. Extracted soil solutions from polluted soils are heavily oversaturated by Al hydroxides. Even though the activity of Ca2+ and SO42- ions in some samples reaches the gypsum saturation level, gypsum neoformations are not distinguished morphologically. The content of Co, Сu, Ni and Zn in displaced solutions of transformed soils in tens or even hundreds times exceeds the background values. The clay minerals of natural soils are represented by kaolinite, illite, vermiculite and mixed-layer minerals. The sharp increase in smectite fraction (up to 75-80%) and slightly in chlorite fraction was revealed in transformed soils. Post-technogenic soils have no analogues in natural forest-steppe landscapes of the Russian Plain.

Waste rocks material and acid mine drainage (AMD) in sulfur coal mining areas of Moscow brown coal basin lead to significant transformation of landscape components (soils, surface, and groundwaters). Most of the abandoned sulfide-bearing spoil heaps have not been reclaimed and toxic products of their weathering cause the risk of long-term soil contamination. In this article, we report original data on some physico-chemical properties and elemental composition of liquid and solid soil phases, waste dumps and AMD from twо abandoned spoil heaps of the Moscow basin and adjacent territories (the Tula region, Central Russia). Soil samples were collected from each genetic horizon of soil depth profile at sites affected by waste dumps and mine subsidence, as well as at natural sites. Waste material was sampled from the different parts of the spoil heaps. Sampling of AMD was performed in technogenic reservoirs near waste dumps. In displaced liquid phases (by ethanol) from soils and waste dump material, natural superficial waters and AMD pH-value, electrical conductivity (EC), the content and composition of readily soluble salts (by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)), as well as titratable acidity (H+and Al3+) and, water-soluble Fe (using UV/Vis spectrophotometry) were measured. In bulk soil samples organic carbon (Corg), exchangeable cations (Cа2+, Mg2+, H+, Al3+ in KCl-extracts) and hydrolytic acidity (in CH3COONa-extracts) were determined. The obtained data can be used to understand the behavior of сhemical elements in soil profiles polluted by coal mining; the negative impact of mine wastes on soil salinity; when identifying pollution levels of potentially hazardous elements in soils affected by coal mining and for complex remediation of spoil heaps in Moscow brown coal basin.

Long-term coal mining in the Moscow basin has a complex negative impact on soils of natural ecosystems. Due to underground mining operations at coal deposits in the Moscow basin spoil heaps with a high content of iron sulfides and aluminosilicates were formed. Active oxidation of sulfides in waste dumps results in the producing of toxic sulfuric acid and iron sulfates (Nordstrom and Alpers 1999). Acid mine drainage (AMD) of sulfuric acid, Al and Fe sulfates as well as pyritized material, entering from eroded spoil heaps, results in physico-chemical and morphological changes in soil properties. On foreslopes around spoil heaps technogenically transformed soils are common. Our study aimed at evaluation of post-mining geochemical transformation of soil properties, which is adjacent to spoil heaps. We observed two key sites within abandoned coal mines in the western part of Moscow basin (the Tula region, Russia). Prevailing natural soils are Umbric Albeluvisols and Umbric Podzols (sod-podzolic soils and sod-podzols in Russian classification). Soils with transformed water regime are formed in mine subsidence. Soil samples and displaced soil solutions (by ethanol) were analysed for acid-base properties, content and composition of readily soluble salts, content of Fe2+ and Fe3+, H+ and Al3+, composition of exchangeable cations, total content of S, Al, Fe, heavy metals (HM) and organic carbon). Properties of newly formed soils differ significantly from natural soils. We identified the transformation of the composition of soil solutions. The basic geochemical processes in contaminated soils are as follows: the acidification and changes in the composition of ions in soil solutions from bicarbonate-sulfate-calcium to sulfate-iron-aluminum-calcium; cation exchange, leading to the replacement of Cа2+ and Mg2+ ions by Al3+ and H+ ions, and, probably, by Fe2+ and Fe3+ in soil ion-exchange complex. Transformed soils were characterized by a very low degree of base saturation (less than 20%). Estimation of the saturation degree of liquid phases of transformed soils with poorly soluble compounds revealed a high oversaturation of soil solutions with Fe3+ and Al3+ hydroxides. The total content of HM in transformed soil profiles were lower than background values due to the removal of soil reserves of elements in highly acidic conditions (pH<4.5). Among the morphological features of transformed forest soils intensification of podzolization process (acid hydrolysis of fine clay fractions of aluminosilicates) as well as; ferrugination (segregation of ferric iron, mainly in amorphous or poorly crystallized forms) and carbon enrichment of coal origin can be noted. Due to AMD impact that had destroyed fine clay minerals, numerous clarified areas were formed, composed of quartz and feldspar. Semi-hydromorphic soils with signs of gleying and peat accumulation were formed in subsidence areas.

In mining areas of the Moscow brown coal basin, soils are impacted by acid mine drainage (AMD), solid sulfide-bearing mine wastes and carbonaceous particles. Spoil heaps of overburden rocks and subsidence areas over the mined space are formed at abandoned mine fields. Most of the spoil heaps have not been remediated and erode intensively due to physical and chemical properties of waste rocks. AMD of sulfuric acid, Al and Fe sulfates as well as pyritized material, entering from the eroded spoil heaps, results in morphological changes in soil properties. Other environmental concern is the formation of subsidence areas over the mined space due to the dewatering of abandoned сoal mines. It results in alteration of the soil water regime. On deluvial and proluvial dump tailings around spoil heaps technogenically transformed soils are common. The aim of the study was to examine the post-mining evolution of natural soils under the impact of supply of tecnhogenic material from the spoil heaps and changes of the terrain in abandoned sulfur coal mining areas. We investigated two key sites within abandoned coal mine fields in the central part of the Moscow basin (the Tula region, Russia). Prevailing natural soils are Greyic Phaeozems and Haplic Chernozems (WRB 2014) (Grey forest and Leached Chernozems in Russian classification). Soil samples and soil solutions were analysed for (acid-base properties, content and composition of readily soluble salts, content of Fe2+ and Fe3+, H+ and Al3+, carbonates, composition of exchangeable cations, particle size content, total content of S, Al, Fe and organic carbon). Soil solutions were displaced by ethanol (Ishcherekov-Komarova method, Russia) (Snakin et al. 2001). The level of saturation of soil solutions by gypsum, iron and aluminum hydroxides was evaluated. Properties of newly formed soils differ significantly from natural soils. We identified the transformation of the composition of soil solutions. Key geochemical processes at mine sites in soils were: (1) acidification and Fe-Al-SO4 salinization of soil profile along with the increment in H+ and Al3+ ions content; (2) cation exchange, leading to displacement of Cа2+ and Mg2+ ions by Al3+, H+, Fe2+ and, perhaps, by Fe3+ in soil ion-exchange complex; (3) alteration of radial differentiation of organic carbon and carbonates in soils; (4) mineral transformations. Semi-hydromorphic soils with signs of gleying and peat accumulation were formed in subsidence areas. In Greyic Phaeozems the intensification of podzolization process could be noted. In Haplic Chernozems gypsum neoformations (neogypsans) were observed. Post-technogenic soils have no analogues in natural forest-steppe landscapes of the Russian Plain.

The pathways and behavior of rare earth elements (REEs) in the soil environment have been receiving greater significance due to their wide use in technological applications, agriculture, and medicine over the last two decades and insufficient information on their health effect and participation in soil and geochemical processes. In this paper, we report original data on rare earth elements in various particle size fractions separated from the topsoil horizons of two small erosional landforms located in an uncontaminated area of the central part of European Russia (the Middle Protva basin, the Kaluga region). Soil samples were collected from the top 10 cm along several soil transects. Soils were sampled at the landforms sides, bottoms, detrital fans and catchment areas considered as sources of solid matter. The sampling scheme used makes it possible to assess the REEs distribution from catchments to bottoms of the erosional landforms, as well as along their thalwegs. The collected bulk samples (n = 22) were physically fractionated and the concentrations of Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu were determined in five particle size fractions (1000-250, 250-50, 50-10, 10-1 and <1 mu m, n = 100) by ICP-MS using Elan-6100 spectrometer (Perkin Elmer Inc., USA). The data obtained also include the concentrations of Fe and Mn (ICP-AES), as well as the information on the total content of organic carbon (TOC), pH and particle size distribution of the bulk samples. The obtained dataset can be used for various purposes: it is suitable as a baseline for the assessment of pollution levels, exploring natural and anthropogenic anomalies, for revealing the association of REEs with specific particle size fractions and detecting the effect of parent material and lateral translocations of soil material and soil particles on the REEs levels. (C) 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc.

The content of heavy metals and Al in the aerosol matter over the Sea of Azov has been studied. According to the special test the vast majority of samples were attributed to the type of marine aerosol. The ranges of contents were determined as following: Fe (200 – 2000 ng/m3), Al (20 – 200 ng/m3), Zn (10 – 280 ng/m3), Cu (2 – 23 ng/m3), Ni (1 – 16 ng/m3), Pb (3 -30 ng/m3), Cd (0.4 –2.8 ng/m3); Mn (3 – 23 ng/m3), Cr (1 – 15 ng/m3). The spatial distribution of HMs in the marine aerosol of the Sea of Azov depends on the influence of the river-sea geochemical barrier zone in the Taganrog Bay and the anthropogenic impact of the coastal industrial cities. HM concentrations decrease from the northern coast of the bay and the mouth of the Don River towards the open sea. The maximum HM content in marine aerosol observed in the mouth area of the Don River. It may be associated with the HM accumulation at the river-sea geochemical barrier, and also with the anthropogenic impact of the cities of Rostov-on-Don, Azov and Taganrog. Anthropogenic impact of the city of Mariupol cause the maximum values of Fe, Cr, and Cd in marine aerosol matter of the western part of the Taganrog Bay.

In sulfur coal mining areas, soils are impacted by acid mine drainage and solid-phase mine wastes containing sulfides and carbonaceous particles. Formation of new landforms leads to alteration of soil hydrological regime. The aim of the study was to examine the evolution of morphological and chemical properties of chernozems under the impact of supply of technogenic material from the spoil heaps and changes of the terrain in abandoned sulfur coal mining areas.

Long-term disposal of coal combustion residues (CCR) in the environment could change the geochemistry of soils and surface waters of adjacent territories. Aiming to evaluate the environmental impact of CCR we investigated soils and surface waters (12 and 18 sampling points, respectively) in the vicinity of the aged settling pond of the Cherepetskaya Thermal Power Plant in the Tula Region (Russia). The research reports and discusses changes in the composition of readily soluble salts in sod-podzolic soils (Retisols) as well as the content of carbonates and the distribution of potentially hazardous elements (Ni, Cr, V, Sr, Pb, Zn) in soil profiles. The mineralization of surface waters was also measured. For performing analyses, methods of HPLC, XRF, ICP-AES, and ICP-MS were used. The research revealed that the introduction of technogenic material into soils had 1.5-3 times increased the content of readily soluble salts compared to natural Retisols and changed the composition of ions. Carbonates in amounts of up to 1.9% were determined in all Retisols with introduced CCR which is never observed in natural acid soils. Differentiation in the content of V, Cr, Ni, Zn, Sr, Pb in soil profiles corresponded to leaching patterns of these elements from the CCR stated by the other researchers. Their concentrations in soils generally did not exceed the standards stated in the Russian Federation. Natural waters and waters with technogenic impact had the well-defined differentiation in the ratio of sodium and potassium in total cations. The study showed that the area of the environmental footprint of the settling pond with CCR differed in soils and surface waters. Changes in the geochemistry of surface waters were noticeable at greater distances and probably reflected the transformation of the geochemistry of groundwater. Changes in the geochemistry of soils were very local and were observed at a distance of fewer than 200 m from the settling pond.

Ecologo-geochemical investigations are conducted within the framework of ecological monitoring of ecosystems experiencing the effects from rocket and space activity, on territories used for landing of detachable portions of carrier rockets. Results from soil-geochemical and geobotanical investigations in areas of Northwestern Altai where the second rocket stages fell back to Earth are presented. The data obtained serve as a basis for assessing the effects of rocket and space activity on the region’s ecosystems.