The aim of the study was to assess ecological, biogeochemical and sanitary-hygienic aspects of arable soils of the Altai region and spring wheat grain produced there. Location and time of the study. The representative study sites of arable land were located in various agroecological zones of the Altai region: Kulundinskaya (dry steppe on chestnut soils of the Kulunda lowland), Rubtsovskoye (arid steppe on chernozems of the southern Priobskoye plateau), Zarinskaya (deciduous forests and steppe meadows on leached chernozems of the Bie-Chumyshskaya elevated plain and podzolized chernozems and dark gray forest soils of the Salair Foothills), Piedmont (meadow steppe on the chernozems of the Prealtai Plain), Priobskaya (split steppe on ordinary chernozems of the Priobsky plateau), Aleiskaya (moderately arid steppe on ordinary chernozems of the Priobsky plateau), Biyskaya (forest steppe on leached and gray forest soils of the Bie-Chumysh Upland). The research was carried out in 2018. Methods. The content of trace elements in soils and wheat grain was determined by atomic emission and atomic absorption spectrometry according to PND F 14.1:2:4. 139; 140-98; НСАМ №450С; РД 52.24.479-95. Results. It was found that in the arable soils of the Altai region the elements, necessary for plants, animals, and humans, were contained in optimal quantities (average content of Mn 714, Zn 65, Cu 25.7, Co 12.3 mg/kg), maintaining the normal functioning of living organisms. Most toxic elements were found at the levels, comparable with average concentrations in soils of the world and with the data for uncontaminated soils in West Siberia, not exceeding the maximal permissible concentrations. The average concentrations of Cd, Pb, As and Hg in the studied soils were 0.089, 13.6, 5.0, 0.037 mg/kg, respectively. No biogeochemical province had been identified for any of the elements. The studied soils have a fairly high buffering capacity for heavy metals. The chemical elements’ content in the spring wheat grain, the main crop in the region, was close to the corresponding world data for grain. The amount of regulated substances (lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic) meets domestic standards and the requirements of the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union "On Grain Safety". Conclusions. The arable soils of the Altai region are not contaminated with heavy metals. Trace elements such as manganese, zinc, copper, cobalt are contained in soils in optimal quantities for living organisms. However, using the grain as monofeed can result in Co deficiency in animals. The content of chemical elements is soils resulted from the initial content of elements in soil-forming parent rocks. The degree of heavy metals’ buffering by the studied arable soils, depending of the metal, ranged from medium to high.

The content of the main ore and associated elements in the material of the tailings of the Altai mining and processing plant, in the snow cover and surface waters of the dumps, as well as in the water filtrates of the dump material was studied. It was detected that the concentration of Cu in the substrates of the dumps of the Altai mining and processing plant varies from 970 to 7350 mg/kg and exceeds the background values of the copper content in the soils of Northwestern Altai up to 1000 times, the Pb content varies. from 850 to 2800 mg/kg and exceeds the background value up to 500 times, Zn – up to 200 times (content from 350 to 12170 mg/kg), Cd – up to 100 times. It was recorded that the Pb content in pound surface water on of tailings dumps exceeds the MPC of hazardous substances 2.5 times and is 79 μg/l, Cu – 52 times (52.3 mg/l), Zn – 250 times (254 mg/l), Cd – 940 times (0.94 mg/l). It was identified that in liquid media – lysimetric, surface and snow waters of the Altai mining and processing plant tailings pond – the ratio of pollutant concentrations to background and standards norms (Russian and foreign) is higher for more labile and easily leachable elements – cadmium and zinc. In solid components (substrates, snow dust), the concentrations of copper and lead noticeably exceed the background, clarke and standard concentrations.

The concentration of macroand microelements (Cd, Cr, Cu, Co, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, V) in the surface waters of different Altai physical-geographical provinces are studied. The concentration of dissolved forms of metals in the water under study does not exceed the maximum allowable one. The chemical composition of Altai surface water is characterized in accordance with the peculiarities of river supply, soil properties and the anthropogenic factors. It is shown that the content of dissolved forms of metals depends directly on the total water mineralization. The most metals in Altai surface water are transported with suspended matter. As the water turbidity decreases, the specific concentration of metals in suspension grows.

The macroelement (HCO 3 − , SO 4 2− , Cl − , Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , Na + + K + , as well as NO 3 − , NO 2 − , and PO 4 3− ) and microelement (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Co, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, and V) composition of natural waters in different physiographical provinces of the Altai have been studied and characterized. It has been found that the concentrations of dissolved forms of metals in the waters of the examined rivers generally do not exceed the MAC wm , though in some cases, they exceed the world averages and depend on the features of water nourishment of rivers and the concentrations of mineral salts in water. A considerable portion of metals in Altai surface waters has been found to be transported as a component of suspension, though the specific concentration of metals in suspension decreases with increasing water turbidity. The effect of the structure and properties of the soil cover on the drainage basins of various physiographic provinces of the Altai on surface water chemistry is most distinct in the case of macrocomponents and typomorphic elements (Fe, Mn, Ca), as well as under anthropogenic impact on the watershed.

To properly evaluate the data received during the ecological monitoring of space-rocket activities, it is necessary to make allowance for the natural variability of the chemical properties of soils that are common for the territories used for landing separated parts of launch vehicles. This paper presents the results of the soil and geochemical studies in mountain and tundra landscapes in the Republic of Altai in the impact zone where the second stages of launch vehicles fall. Based on the obtained results and data from laboratory experimental investigations, the ecological soil buffer capacity in relation to rocket fuel is quantified for one of the monitored sites.

The paper presents the results of many years of studying the characteristics of the spatial distribution of fragments of separating parts of carrier rockets «Proton» in the Republic Altai. It is shown that the integrated area of placement of fragments separated parts of launch vehicles is four times larger than the calculated area of impact areas. Preset percentage and features of the spatial distribution of the fragments outside the settlement contours impact areas.

The soils, plants and natural waters in the zone of hypothetical influence of solid-propellant rocket engines destruction are investigated. This influence is local, just within two hundred meters. Infringement of landscape integrity and powerful acoustic effect occur mainly in the epicentre of explosion. Chemical contamination of the components of adjacent ecosystems is not revealed.

The abundances and migration characteristics of the main ore and accompanying metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Fe, and Hg) were investigated in the natural and technogenic landscapes of the North-Western Altai. Elevated metal concentrations (compared with the background and guideline values) were observed in the material of tailings of the Altai Mining and Processing Complex and Zmeinogorsk Gold Recovery Plant, as well as in the waters of anthropogenic lakes, snow cover, and vegetation. It was found that Zn and Cd are more actively transported into solutions than Pb and Cu during the oxidation dissolution of sulfides in waste heaps. The spatial migration of heavy metals was evaluated. Species-dependent features were determined in the accumulation of elements by plants in the phytocoenoses of anthropogenic ecosystems.

The paper presents the items on environmental monitoring (EM) of space-rocket activities in the impact zones destined for the separating parts of the second stages of vehicles, launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Implemented system of EM consists of two parts: the operational environmental monitoring and integrated research expeditions. The tasks of EM's blocks are discussed, as well as the indicators used to monitor the status of ecosystem components. The main results of environmental monitoring of one of the impact zones during the years 2011 and 2012 are given.

Water from R Ishim and drinking water from the North-Kazakhstan oblast' were tested for the presence of basic macroins (C032, HCO, Cl, S042, Ca2+, Mg+) and microelements (As, Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, Mo, Fe, Mn, Se) The increased level of total mineralization and iron content in drinking water as compared to the river one was revealed It was caused by secondary water pollution in water-pipe For human health the water from decentralized water supply sources has more unfavorable chemical water composition (i e increased content of chlorides, mtrates, sulfates, iron and arsemc) than the piped water