Analysis of anthropogenic contamination of soils by petroleum products

Abstract

Abstract Contamination of soil by petroleum products is a major environmental issue in the subjects of the Russian Federation that occurs from human activities. The most recent example of such contamination is the oil spill in the north of the Krasnoyarsk region. The purpose of the research is to identify environmental impacts of anthropogenic contamination of soils in the Samara region by petroleum products. The paper provides an assessment of contamination of soils by petroleum products and an analysis of petroleum products content in background areas and long-term observation plots, which is the result of an impact contamination of soils. From 2014 to 2018, eight sources of impact pollution were surveyed. Of these, two – Chapaevsk (2014) and Novokuybyshevsk (2015) – resulted in moderately hazardous contamination of soils, one – Podbelsk (2017) – in moderate contamination of soils, three – Granniy (2015), Syzran and Tolyatti (2018) – in contamination exceeding increased background levels. Pollution of soils of long-term observation plots occurred only in 2014 (20 times above the background level). Analysis of soil samples taken from background areas revealed that the content of petroleum products in soil was 1.1-3.0 times above the background level. During the study period, the petroleum products content in soil changed from 7 to 1488 mg/kg. The area of remediated lands ranged from 1524.2 ha in 2015 to 735 ha in 2018. The total area value was 5650.9 ha.