ОЦІНКА ЯКОСТІ ПИТНИХ ВОД З РІЗНИХ ДЖЕРЕЛ ВОДОПОСТАЧАННЯ

Purpose. Monitor different sources of water supply in a particular region of Ukraine. Methodogy. To monitor the drinking water of the selected settlement of Cherkasy region, water from the water supply network (10 samples), water from the pump room (1 sample) and water from wells (26 samples) were selected and analyzed for 20 main chemical indicators in accordance with the requirements of DSanPiN 2.2.4-171-10 and DSTU 7525: 2014. Findings. It was found that tap water has a slight excess of iron and turbidity in 5 samples. The water does not contain aluminum, ammonium ions, nitrates, nitrites, residual amounts of free and bound chlorine and chlorination by-products. The sample of water from the pump room has a slight excess of silicon and salts of general hardness – calcium and magnesium ions. Water from the pump room in chemical composition (pH, dry matter, alkalinity, chlorides, sulfates, sodium) and the content of microcomponents is very similar to tap water, it has a slightly higher "color" and "turbidity", but the content of petroleum products and iron does not exceed drinking standards. water – 0.1 mg / dm3 and 0.2 mg / dm3, respectively. In this case, well water is the most unsuitable for drinking purposes. It was found that the largest excess of normalized values in these waters was observed when determining the dry residue (up to 4 standards), hardness (up to 5 standards), nitrate concentration (up to 9 standards).Originality. Monitoring of drinking water in the selected settlement of Cherkasy region and the analysis of the suitability of tap water, pump room water and well water for drinking needs.Practical value. The peculiarities of the chemical composition of drinking water supply facilities of this settlement have been established, in particular, much attention is paid to the determination of microelements and persistent organic toxicants at the level of their maximum permissible concentrations. The analysis of the obtained results testifies that the quality of tap water and pump room meets the current hygienic standards in terms of organoleptic parameters, general mineralization, hardness, alkalinity, content of organic components, and water in almost all wells does not meet.

Rare Alkali Metals in the Waters of Lithium-containing Deposits in Eastern Transbaikalia

The results of hydrogeochemical studies on the content of rare alkaline elements in man-made waters of mining facilities at Zavitinskoye, Orlovskoye, and Etykinskoye rare metal deposits of Eastern Transbaikalia are presented. Concentrations of these elements are determined both by the content in the ores and rocks of deposits and by their water-migration properties. It was found that the acidic sub-basement waters of the Orlovskoye and the quarry waters of the Zavitinskoye deposits contain abnormally high concentrations of lithium, up to 3.74 and 3.88 mg / L, respectively. The high content of lithium (Li) in the waters of these deposits was determined relative to the average values for the waters of the hypergenesis zone, as well as the standards of maximum permissible concentrations (MPC) of chemicals for water bodies used for fisheries, drinking water, and other activities.

Changing parameters of waters chemical composition in the Lake Arakhley water column (Eastern Transbaikalia)

The need to preserve the quality of water resources under conditions of anthropogenic impact is one of the most urgent problems of our time. The purpose of this work was to study the features of the distribution of the parameters of the chemical composition of the waters of Lake Arakhley in a vertical section. The investigated waters are characterised by a constancy of mineralisation and chemical composition, both within the water area and in the vertical section. The waters are ultra-fresh (salinity less than 200 mg / L), neutral and slightly alkaline (average pH 7.9), HCO3 Mg-Ca chemical composition. The carbon dioxide content in the water column has a significant impact on the concentration of hydrogen ions, as evidenced by the inverse relationship between pH and CO2 content. The observed increase in the nitrogen form and CO2 contents in the bottom part of the lake is most likely related to the life processes of organisms and vegetation. The recorded excess concentrations of Mn, Cu, Ni, and Al over maximum permissible concentrations indicate the need for additional studies to identify their sources.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF WATERWATER IN THE SLAVSKY DISTRICT OF THE KALININGRAD REGION BY HYDROLOGICAL SEASONS

The aim of the work is to research the chemical composition of surface watercourses in the Slavsky district of the Kaliningrad region in the winter hydrological season, and to compare the results with the data previously obtained by the authors for the autumn hydrological season and partly for the summer hydrological season. Watercourses and monitoring points for research have been identified: r. Zlaya, r. Shluzovaya, r. Nemoninka and r. Osa. In the winter season, water samples were taken, hydrometric characteristics were measured, and primary hydrochemical indicators were determined. On the basis of the obtained hydrochemical data, integral indicators were calculated to assess the quality of water, using combined lists of maximum permissible concentrations of pollutants. When monitoring hydrochemical indicators, it was revealed that the studied watercourses are, to one degree or another, subject to pollution. The water quality class in them varies from "moderately polluted" to "extremely dirty". When comparing the seasons, a tendency was revealed to improve the quality of water, which is associated with the water content of rivers, as well as with the cycles of natural and anthropogenic activity. The work has theoretical and practical significance. The data can participate in the planning of rational use of natural resources and the selection of measures to improve the geoecological state of the river network of the Slavsky region. The research can serve as a supplement to the formation of the general geoecological picture of the Kaliningrad region.

Assessing state of water protection zones of Volga River within Ilyinka village area (Astrakhan region)

Anthropogenic pollution of water basins may become a serious threat for ecosystems and human health. Pollutants are transferred through food chains or directly when untreated water is used, released to soil through subsoil waters or during floods. The increased anthropogenic load on rivers’ hydrosystems, especially in their del-tas, is becoming rampant these days. The goal of the research is to study the coastal areas and to assess the state of vegetation. To achieve this goal, standard methods of biotesting and bioindication were applied in the territories of two water-protection zones – those of the Volga River and the Nozhovskiy erik (shallow channel in the Volga delta – translator’s note) near the Ilyinka village. The water quality in the Volga River, within the examined range, is stably characterized as “dirty” (4th class). The exceeded level of maximum permissible concentrations for petroleum products, heavy metals (mercury, zinc, molybdenum), sulfides and phenols is observed. The research has not revealed the impact of the quality of water on phytotoxicity of the soil and indices of abundance of the vegetation that grows in this territory. Toxicity of soils is weak in the area of the Nozhovskiy erik, it is very weak in the area of the Volga River: the germination capacity of the test object (watercress) ranges between 67 and 88%, morpho-metric indices of plants do not differ much from those in control groups. Within the summer period the monitoring sites were characterized by the maximum frequency-abundance indices of typical representatives of the local flora, which are camel thorn (Alhagi pseudalhagi) and greater burdock (Arctium lappa). Vegetation in these areas is abundant, its state is assessed as satisfactory.

A Survey of the Vitamin and Mineral Content in Milk from Yaks Raised at Different Altitudes

In this study, the content of vitamins and of toxic and beneficial (macro- and micro-) minerals in milk from yaks raised at different altitudes (3,215, 4,340, and 5,410 m) was investigated. For comparison, the components in cow’s milk were also measured. At higher altitudes, a significant ( P < 0.05 ) increase in vitamin A and vitamin E was observed in the yak’s milk, whereas the opposite was observed for vitamin B1 and vitamin B2. No significant statistical difference in vitamin C, Ca, P, Na, K, and Mg concentrations was observed in milk from yaks raised at different altitudes. The concentrations of Zn in milk from yaks raised at different altitudes showed no statistical difference, whereas the Mn and Fe concentrations in milk from yaks raised at 3,215 m were lower than those raised at higher altitudes. The concentrations of Pb and Cd in yak’s milk did not exceed the maximum permissible concentrations (Codex Alimentarius Commission), whereas their concentrations were higher in milk from yaks raised at 3,215 m than at higher altitudes. These findings indicated that the contents of vitamins and minerals in yak milk varied in different altitudes.

The effects of silt fields of Bortnytska aeration station on ecological state of land and water in the adjacent areas

The article highlights the results of research on assessing the ecological state of the land near the silt fields №1 and №3 of Bortnytska aeration station in the Zolochiv village community of Boryspil district in Kyiv region. The presence of previously recorded increased content of heavy metals in soils compared to the background content, both in terms of their gross content and the content of mobile forms was confirmed within the certain areas near the silt fields. For the elements-pollutants (Zn, Cu, Cr, Pb) at some points within the agricultural land, exceeding the values ​​of their gross content and the content of mobile forms (Zn, Cu) of the maximum permissible concentrations was recorded at 1.1-6.2 and 1.1 -2.6 times, respectively. The average values ​​of heavy metals content for floodplains (settlement) and agricultural land near silt fields indicate their prevailing values ​​for the latter in almost all elements, as well as exceeding the background values ​​and maximum permissible concentrations for the land where silt deposits were previously applied as fertilizers. Within the surveyed areas, soils are classified as unsalted, but the increased content of exchangeable magnesium may adversely affect soil fertility. Increased mineralization and content of ammonium and nitrates in groundwater are observed near silt fields, which is obviously related to the impact of silt water and can lead to deterioration of groundwater quality in the area of ​​their transit and discharge, in particular within the village Gnidyn. The area of ​​land with an extremely dangerous pollution rate in terms of total heavy metal is about 300 hectares, with a dangerous pollution rate is 260 hectares, and the estimated damage from crop failure may be 1.65 million UAH/year and 0.3 million UAH/year respectively. Within the areas adjacent to the silt fields, the condition of soils, water resources, cultivated products and the health of the population should be constantly monitored, especially when using the polluted land for agricultural use or housing.

Assessment of Distribution of Potentially Toxic Elements in Different Environmental Media Impacted by a Former Chlor-Alkali Plant

Former industrially contaminated sites are a burden from the past that still pose environmental risks. During the second half of the 20th century, the Pavlodar region in North Kazakhstan had been a part of Soviet Union’s industrial system that operated a chlor-alkali plant (CAP). The former CAP discharged approximately 135 t Hg into nearby Lake Balkyldak with total losses to water, soil, and air estimated around 1000 t. Pollution by potentially toxic elements (PTEs) due to former and currently active industrial enterprises is an under-investigated concern in the Pavlodar region. The present study aims to provide a much-needed update on the situation around the CAP area by evaluating the contamination by Hg and other selected PTEs (As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Zn) on the surrounding environment of the CAP and in the nearby urban zone. Soil, sediment, surface water, and groundwater samples have been collected in several sampling campaigns carried out in 2018 and 2019. Several samples had Hg concentrations exceeding maximum permissible concentrations (MPC), for soils and sediments (in mg/kg; range: 0.0006 to 24, average: 0.56) and for surface water and groundwater (in µg/L; range: 0.004 to 1340, average: 93). Critically high concentrations were mostly measured in the vicinity of Lake Balkyldak, where the majority of Hg had been discharged by the former CAP, indicating persisting Hg pollution in the studied zone. A comparison of the PTEs concentrations in soil and sediments showed less severe pollution but still some elevated values for As, Ba, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, and Se. The inter-elemental relationship between Hg and assessed PTEs was weak, indicating the presence of sources independent from Hg emitting sources. Further research on Hg contamination on the exact territory of the former CAP is needed, and a detailed human health risk characterization to identify potential unacceptable risks is strongly recommended.

Determination of the content of natural radionuclides in rock materials used in the buildings

The negative impact of natural inorganic building materials on people during their life cycle can be potentially significant, in case of presence of radionuclides, due to the very long period of negative radioactive impact. International experience shows that effective prevention of public health and reduction of exposure involves a wide range of actions, which has been achieved through the development and preparation of a strategy at the national level. The content of natural radionuclides in rock materials for construction purposes, taken from different buildings in Southern Bulgaria, has been determined. The obtained data are in norms under the Bulgarian legislation, but for some samples with values close to the maximum permissible concentrations.

PLANTS AND MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE CONCENTRATIONS OF HEAVY METALS IN SOIL

The tentative permissible concentrations and the maximum permissible concentration of heavy metals do not always give a complete adequate assessment of the effect on plants. Plant growth inhibition can be at concentrations below the maximum permissible concentrations and tentative permissible concentrations. We studied the effect of copper, zinc, cadmium, and lead concentrations on plants. The object of the research is the lawn grass, the Agrostis stolonifera used in urban greening. According to the data obtained, Agrostis stolonifera showed a low degree of resistance to copper, lower than the tentative permissible concentration and the maximum permissible concentration. Consequently, the tentative permissible concentration and the maximum permissible concentration do not fully reflect the real phytotoxicity of copper. Plants of Agrostis stolonifera demonstrated a relatively high sensitivity to zinc in comparison with the maximum permissible concentration and the tentative permissible concentration. The content of cadmium and lead corresponding to the tentative permissible concentrations did not have a significant effect on the plants.