Studies of the Dispersed Composition of Atmospheric Aerosol and Its Relationship with Small Gas Impurities in the Near-Water Layer of Lake Baikal Based on the Results of Ship Measurements in the Summer of 2020

The atmosphere over Lake Baikal covers a vast area (31,500 square meters) and has more significant differences in the composition and variability of gaseous and aerosol components in atmospheric air than in coastal continental areas and is still a poorly studied object. In recent years, the anthropogenic impact on the ecosystem of Lake Baikal has been increasing due to the development of industry in the region, the expansion of tourist infrastructure and recreational areas of the coastal zone of the lake. In addition, one of the significant sources of atmospheric pollution in the Baikal region is the emissions of smoke aerosol and trace gases from forest fires, the number of which is increasing in the region. This article presents the results of experimental studies of the dispersed composition of aerosols and gas impurities, such as ozone, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides during route ship measurements in the water area of Lake Baikal in the summer of 2020.

Fatty Acid Changes in Nearshore Phytoplankton under Anthropogenic Impact as a Biodiversity Risk Factor for the World’s Deepest Lake Baikal

In this study, we present results on fatty acid analysis of phytoplankton of Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest lake, which differs from other lakes by its oceanic features. Since we used a large-mesh net, the net sample phytoplankton were primarily represented by the large elongated diatom Synedra acus. subsp. radians (Kützing) Skabichevskij. The similar algae composition of net samples of spring season phytoplankton collected at different sites of the lake allows us to compare results of the fatty acid analysis of these samples. The phytoplankton diversity of the sedimentation samples was contrary represented by 32 algae species. There are clear changes in the fatty acid composition of net phytoplankton exposed to anthropogenic impacts of varying intensity. The content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in phytoplankton collected from central stations (pelagic stations at a distance of ~10–30 km from the shoreline) without anthropogenic impact was higher by up to 15% than phytoplankton collected from nearshore stations (littoral stations at a distance of ~0.01–0.05 km from the shoreline) and offshore stations (pelagic stations at a distance of ~3 km from the shoreline). The interlaboratory precision of fatty acid determination of phytoplankton is estimated as ≤10%. We found high content of the lipid peroxidation marker (80–340 μg g−1 of dry weight) in phytoplankton from nearshore and offshore stations with intensive anthropogenic impact. In phytoplankton from central stations, we did not find any lipid peroxidation. Determination of unsaturated fatty acids, coupled with analysis of fatty acid peroxidation products, can be used to evaluate the level of anthropogenic impact in terms of ecological health and biodiversity conservation.

Contemporary Biological Methods of Mine Reclamation in the Kemerovo Region – Kuzbass

Introduction. Coal mining is the main source of anthropogenic impact on the landscapes of the Kemerovo Region – Kuzbass. The current mine reclamation rate lags far behind the annual increase in disturbed lands. A reclamation fund can be a perfect solution to this relevant issue. The present research objective was to analyze and structure the available data on the anthropogenic impact of coal mining in Kuzbass. The article reviews new effic ient methods of reclamation and resoiling. Study objects and methods. The study featured ten years of research publications that were registered in the PubMed database of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (USA), Elsevier (Scopus, ScienceDirect), the Web of Science, and the Russian Electronic Library (eLibrary.ru). Results and discussion. The research revealed the following Kuzbass districts that experience the greatest mining impact: Novokuznetsk, Prokopyevsk, Kemerovo, Belovo, and Leninsk-Kuznetskiy. The authors also identified the most common pollutants associated with coal mining. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) appeared to be the most dangerous pollutants: as waste coal burns, these substances cover considerable distances with the wind. Biodegradation seems to be the optimal solution because PAHs are known to be carcinogenic, and most mine tips are located near settlements. The article also features mine reclamation laws and introduces a list of plants with a high absorption capacity recommended for biological reclamation, as well as microorganisms and their consortia used for bioremediation. Conclusion. The authors identified the most promising methods of mine reclamation in the Kemerovo region, i.e. bioremediation with pollutant-binding microbial consortia and plants.

On the Tasks of Forensic Ecology

The article analyses the concept of “a forensic examination’s task” as one of the fundamental terms of forensic expertology. The author demonstrates that it is a part of a broader concept of “the subject of forensic examination”. She also reviews the classification of tasks of forensic examination.Next, the article addresses the tasks of forensic ecological examination, which by their nature, as a rule, are diagnostic. The author presents their definition as a set of actions common to this kind of forensic analysis, formed by an expert based on the questions posed to him. These actions are implemented by converting potential evidentiary information about the negative anthropogenic impact on environmental objects contained in the case materials submitted for examination into up-to-date evidentiary information.

Supplemental Material: Anthropogenic impact on sediment transfer in the upper Missouri River catchment detected by detrital zircon analysis

Excel spreadsheets containing sample locations and full detrital zircon U-Pb isotopic ratios and age results. Text file containing detailed description of detrital zircon U-Pb results and three supplemental figures.

Supplemental Material: Anthropogenic impact on sediment transfer in the upper Missouri River catchment detected by detrital zircon analysis

Excel spreadsheets containing sample locations and full detrital zircon U-Pb isotopic ratios and age results. Text file containing detailed description of detrital zircon U-Pb results and three supplemental figures.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY OF RURAL AREAS VITEBSK REGION

The article presents a methodology for assessing the environmental sustainability of rural areas. The study was conducted in twenty-one administrative districts of the Vitebsk region. The indicators for the assessment were combined into two sets of indicators that characterize the ecological subsystem of rural areas: the anthropogenic impact on the environment and the degree of use of natural resources. As a result of the environmental sustainability assessment, rural areas were divided into three groups: sustainable development, approximate and unstable sustainable development. The practical significance of the study is to determine the trends and prospects of environmental development of rural areas of the Vitebsk region.

The current state of hydrochemical indicators of Lake Kenon– the cooling reservoir of the TPP

A characteristic is given of the current hydrochemical state of the water of Lake Kenon, which is used as a reservoir - a cooler for the Chita TPP. For over 50-years of operation of the station located on its shore, under the conditions of anthropogenic impact, there has been a sharp change in the chemical type of the lakeʼs water. Currently, the predominant anion is the sulfate ion. Above the MPC standard for water of water bodies of fishery significance are the content of magnesium and sulfates and the trace elements: fluorine, vanadium, strontium, molybdenum, copper, tungsten. The concentrations of boron, lithium, bromine are relatively increased, in some samples - iron, manganese, aluminum and barium.

Anthropogenic impact on the shores and the bottom of the Jebriyan bay in the Northwestern part of the Black Sea

The Jebriyan Bay is located in the northern part of the Kiliya Danube Delta, at a junction of the delta cone and the indigenous coast. This is a zone of very high anthropogenic impact on the Danube Biosphere Reserve. The two opposite shores of this bay are fundamentally different. Along the northern shore, the Northwest coastal sand sediment flows discharge from the Cape of the Great Fontanne to the Jebriyan Bay. That is why the northern coast of the bay is made up of sandy forms of coastal topography (marine accumulative terrace and spit). The southern coast is deltaic; composed of a mixture of muddy, siltstone and sandy sediments. The area of the bay is limited to isobaths –11 m and is about 80 km2. The bottom of the bay has a gentle relief, made up of smooth outlines, with an average depth of 6.2 m. The shape of the transverse profile of the underwater slope is mostly convex. The natural system of the bay was affected by fishing, recreation, shipping and industrial sand production on coastal accumulative landforms. Coastal fishing uses a system of fixed bottom seines and small motorized floating equipment. Recreational facilities are designed to serve about 350 thousand people during the warm period each year. The impact of shipping was expressed in the construction and operation of the seaport of Ust-Dunaysk, together with suitable canal and the technical canal between the sea and the branch of the delta breakthrough the system of the large Ochakov branch. The ladle port had an area of about 1.5 km2, a maximal depth of 16 m, and an average depth of 13.7 m. The trough was connected to the Ochakov branch of the Danube Delta by a technical canal with a depth of 4 m. Vessels could enter the harbor of Ust-Danube through an access navigation channel with a depth of 11–12 m and a bottom width of 125 m. The port was used for the transshipment of large containers, general forest cargo from ocean vessels (displacement of 60–100 thousand tons) on regular sea lines from the countries of Southeast Asia to the Black Sea, to the Danube and further to the countries of Central Europe and to the ports of the North and the Baltic Seas. But it was unfortunate that the port construction site did not last as expected. Between 1980–2010 the harbor and approach canal of Ust-Dunaysk were filled with Danube river sediments. The example of Jebriyan Bay has shown that when executing any type of sustainable nature management project, it is very important to take into account the natural milieu.

Anthropogenic factors of influence on the morbidity of the dental system of the children's population of Makhachkala

Relevance. The study of the relationship between the dental morbidity of children in the city of Makhachkala from the anthropogenic impact of a landfill.Materials and methods. The study was based on a survey of children aged 2 to 17 years in three kindergartens and two schools in the city of Makhachkala in the zone of ecological distress. A total of – 420 children were examined, including – 85 of the temporary bite period; – 110 of the replacement bite period and 225 of the permanent bite period. The criteria for the selection of children were the duration of residence in this neighborhood and the presence of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th health groups. The dental examination included an assessment of the condition of the oral cavity, hard tooth tissues and periodontal tissues using a set of dental instruments according to a generally accepted technique.Results. Studies on the relationship of poor-quality drinking water with a reduced content of fluoride and the prevalence of non-carious lesions of the hard tissues of the teeth revealed that in the city of Makhachkala, a high prevalence of molarincisive enamel hypoplasia was detected in 45.4% of the examined and a multiple form in 31.6%% of systemic hypoplasia, local hypoplasia was noted in 22.1%, segmental hypoplasia was observed in only 4 children from 335 examined. The prevalence of diseases of the oral mucosa is due to a decrease in immunity in an environmentally unfavorable city, due to the unbalanced composition of macro and microelements in drinking water, high content of sulfur oxides, carbon and dioxin-like compounds in the air. The prevalence and development of caries was noted in 75% of the examined children.Conclusions. The high morbidity rate of the children's population in Makhachkala is associated with the anthropogenic impact of solid household waste, poor-quality drinking water, air and indicates the need to develop modern waste disposal technologies and implement recommendations for the organization of preventive and medical-dental care for children from an early age.