Abstract
In urbanized geotechnical systems (UGSs), the majority of problems related to the ecological hydrochemistry of Cd, Pb, Ni and other heavy metals are the result of emergent characteristics of a system as a whole as opposed to individual pollution sources. In petrochemical UGSs, pollution of the environment from compounds containing methylating or alkylating agents results in an increase in the mobility of Cd, Pb, Ni, Cr and As. This process is controlled by environmental and microclimatic factors rather than by pollution sources. Under conditions of predominant dust and element effects, geo-chemically paradoxical associations of Cd with Ni, Mn and Cr can be formed in the main life support media in mining and metallurgical UGSs. Uncontrolled processes of hydrochemical interactions take place in complex multifunctional UGSs, leading to a change in speciation of heavy metals, particularly cadmium. This report is part of a 5-year study of the geotechnical systems in the Urals.