Comparative assessment of the ecological state of Timiryazevsky district forest park zones in Moscow

The article presents the results of a comparative environmental assessment of the quality of the environment in the central and outlying zones of two forest parks, contrasting in area, types and magnitude of anthropogenic load, - the Experimental Forest Station and the Dubki Culture and Recreation Park, located in the Timiryazevsky district of Moscow. The quality of the environment in the undisturbed forest biocenosis in the center of the Experimental Forest Station corresponded to the quality of the environment in the rural areas of the Moscow Region, while the environmental situation in the outlying zones of both forest parks bordering various urban infrastructure facilities deviated to varying degrees from the conditional norm. The worst indicators of the environmental quality and forest stand conditions were noted in the recreational zones located at the III-IV stage of digression, as well as in the zones bordering the roads, within which the degree of fluctuating asymmetry of birch leaves was suspended and the cellulolytic activity of the soil was 1.5-2.5 times lower than the background. The combination of recreational and transport loads reduced the quality of the environment in the Dubki park to a critical level. Keywords: CITY FOREST, BORDERLAND, ANTHROPOGENIC LOAD, POLLUTION, RECREATION, DEGRADATION, FLUCTUATING ASYMMETRY, CELLULOLYTIC ACTIVITY, APPLICATION METHOD, AIRBORNE POLLUTION, SNOW COVER

Analysis of environmental hazards in the system «children's playground – urbanized area»

The article presents the results of the study of environmental pollution by methods of biological indication. The objects of research are children's playgrounds which are influenced by the negative anthropogenic factors. A child's body is more vulnerable to anthropogenic stresses. Car exhaust gases can have a negative impact on the respiratory, cardiovascular, nervous and other systems. Excessive noise pollution not only affects your hearing, but also other organs and systems. In addition, noise can increase stress hormone levels. The aim of the study is to identify the main adverse factors affecting playgrounds in large cities. Despite there are the sanitary standards for the placement of playgrounds in large cities, it was found that about 50 % of all playgrounds were located in violation of environmental safety standards. As part of the work, an inventory of children's playgrounds and sports grounds in the cities of Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro was carried out. The author carried out experimental research on some playgrounds using biological indication methods. The method of lichen indication revealed that four out of ten playgrounds in Kharkiv have a high level of air pollution, and two out of ten in Kyiv and Dnipro. This is confirmed by the biotesting method. It was found that one of the methods of solving the problem of excessive anthropogenic load on the objects of study is planting greenery. It is experimentally established that green plantations are able to reduce the level of noise pollution by 4–6 dB and absorb pollutants. In addition to reducing the anthropogenic load, the greening of playgrounds has an impact on improving the microclimate of the urban environment, and developing the visual qualities of urbanised landscapes

SPACIAL AND ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS OF LAND RESOURCES IN NORTH-EAST PART OF ZOLOCHIV DISTRICT UTC OF LVIV REGION

The article presents an ecological and geographical analysis of the current state of land resources. The structure of land resources in UTC (United Territorial Community) is dominated by lands of agricultural and forestry use. They occupy the largest areas - 67072.3 hectares, 40004.8 hectares and their share in the structure of the land fund is 57.8%, 34.4%, respectively. The structure of agricultural lands of the district is dominated by agricultural lands, namely arable land. Its area is 67072.3 hectares (97.3%) The largest area of agricultural land is concentrated within the central part of the district. The largest area in the structure of agricultural land is occupied by arable land - 2500 - 3570.8 hectares. In the eastern and south-eastern parts of the district the share of arable land in the structure of agricultural lands is the highest (more than 70%). The share of pastures and hayfields in the structure of agricultural lands is 18.2% and 16.8%, respectively. The smallest share in the structure of lands of perennial plantations (1.6%). The largest areas of hayfields and pastures in the northern and northeastern part of the district, which is due to the natural features of the territory. Peculiarities of forestry use of land resources on UTC area are analyzed. Lands covered with forest vegetation there are unevenly distributed and are mainly subordinated to Brody Forestry. The largest areas of forestry land in the northern and southern parts of the district. Forests in the northern part are located within Male Polissya. Here in the area there is the highest forest cover (45 - 67%). Forest cover in the southern part of the district is 45 - 67%. The structure of lands occupied by forest vegetation is dominated by forest areas (96.0%), including covered with forest crops (71.0%) On the basis of the defined indicators the analysis of ecological stability of lands in UTC is carried out, also the anthropogenic loading on agricultural lands of the area is defined. This figure depends on the area of land of different species. Using the method of Shyshchenko P. H. (1982) we have determined the anthropogenic load on the agricultural lands of the district. This figure depends on the area of the land of different species. Within the district there are spatial differences in this indicator. The greatest anthropogenic load on agricultural land is in the central part of the district. Here the anthropogenic load is more than 6.6 (strongly converted). In the north-western part of the district this indicator is the lowest: 5.2-5.3. On the territory of other village councils agricultural lands are moderately transformed (6.1 - 6.5) The results of the study of the ecological condition of the land resources of the district are presented. The level of plowing, agricultural development of the district is analyzed. The central and southern part of the district is characterized by an unbalanced structure of land use, as there is a fairly high rate of plowing of agricultural land. The share of arable land here is more than 70% of the total area of agricultural land. The average value of this indicator is around 57.7%. The highest agricultural development is in the central part of the district (except for Brody town territorial community), and in the southern part (more than 60%). The maximum indicators of agricultural development are - 86.8-91%. The ecological condition of the land resources of the district was assessed and five groups with different levels of this indicator were identified. The ecological condition of land resources varies from optimal to catastrophic, depending on the ratio of arable land (R) and the share of ecological and stabilizing lands (ESL). Optimal and satisfactory ecological condition of land resources in the region on the area of 40.6%, critical - 25.7%, crisis - 20.4%, catastrophic - 13.3% Land resources are one of the most important resources of the district. In modern conditions, productive agricultural lands should be involved in intensive agricultural cultivation, and the rest should remain in a natural state, which will ensure ecological sustainability and balanced nature management. Key words: land resources, agricultural lands, agricultural development, ecological condition, ecological stability.

POPULATION AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF RECREATIONAL AND TOURIST POTENTIAL

The article defines the directions that it is recommended to assess the role of the population in the formation of recreation and tourism activities (RTA). It is proved the need to investigate the role of the population in the RTA in two main directions: 1) as a subject of recreational and tourist systems in its relation to their media (objects); 2) combined - as a subject and component of the object of recreational and tourist systems. The population forms the flows of recreation and tourists, developing relevant structures and mechanisms for their recreational and tourist service, organizes directions and fields of economic and non-economic activities that ensure the recreational needs of the population, creates a specialized recreation infrastructure, develops and implements a variety of functional and territorial organization of recreation and tourism, forms at the national and international level of territorial division of labor. In order to evaluate the recreational potential of a separate plot or object usually consider not the entire nomenclature of conditions and resources, but only a characteristic or typical combination. Each territory, each object of recreation and tourism has its own set (complex) of resource characteristics. And this circumstance greatly facilitates the procedure for a comprehensive assessment of recreational potential due to elimination (allocation) of a characteristic complex of terms and resources of RTA. A similar situation arises for a functional assessment of recreational potential. The valuation of conditions and resources are not developed for a general list of species and forms of RTA, but for those that are distributed in this area in this locality. It is determined that among the numerous characteristics and indicators of recreational potential, the concept of recreational and tourist attractiveness is one of the objective indicators of resource potential. Estimation of recreational potential for quantitative indicators of recreation and tourists and their numerical and spatial distributions creates an objective basis for all other characteristics and indicators of RTD. Another important characteristic of the recreational potential, which forms the population as a factor of RTA is a recreation capacity of territories and objects of RTA. The concept of "recreational capacity" is related to "recreational attractiveness". Attractiveness characterizes recreational territories and objects for their attraction, according to real flows of recreation and tourists. Recreational capacity is intended to set the upper limits of such attractiveness. Attractiveness represents the actual use of a recreational resource, and the capacity indicates its critical level of recreation, which does not lead to degradation of this resource. In recreational geography, tourism and planning of territories, this direction is well known and extremely designed. The indicators of recreational capacities for certain types and recreation forms and recreations - beach baths, short-term rest in green zones, anthropogenic load of resort zones and areas of the natural reserve fund, maximum population density in various functional zones of the big city, etc. At the same time, the zonal principles of assessing the recreational capacity of objects and areas of recreation and tourism have not yet been developed, and this actual problem is waiting for its researchers. The population forms a so-called anthropogenic load on the territory, and its economic activity is man-made load. Anthropogenic-technogenic load is considered as a factor of recreational and tourist activities, in turn, indicators of anthropogenic-technogenic load are the original characteristics of "anti-resource" of recreation potential. The article has proven that in the context of the study of the prerequisites for the development of recreation and tourist activities of the region also need to analyze both the quality of life of the population, in addition to the assessment of this indicator have a high contrast and diversity in the country. Key words: population, recreational and tourist potential, attractiveness of recreational territories, anthropogenic-technogenic load, quality of life of the population.

Accumulation of heavy metals in the soil – plant system in areas with the developed mining industry

Introduction. The proximity of mining enterprises to settlements contributes to the pollution of the soil cover with heavy metals. Crops grown in garden plots accumulate chemical elements and are an intermediate link in the “soil - plant - human” chain. Purpose of the work. Assessment of the level of anthropogenic load on the territory adjacent to the mining enterprise, based on the study of the translocation of metals in the soil - plant system. Materials and methods. For the purpose of hygienic assessment of the chemical composition of the soil and vegetable products grown on it, the content of 7 microelements was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. With the help of the coefficient of concentration of a chemical substance (Kc) and the total indicator of pollution (Zc), the level of chemical contamination of soils was determined. Using the total coefficient of anthropogenic load (Ka.n. = ∑Ci/PDUi), the territory was ranked according to the contamination of vegetables with toxic elements. The rate of accumulation of metals by vegetable crops was assessed by the coefficient of biological absorption (Ax) and the index of biochemical activity of the species (BAS). Results. The soil cover in the district is contaminated with a complex of metals, the content of gross forms of which exceeds the MPC by up to 1.9 times, mobile - up to 4.6 times. At a distance of up to 5 km around the mining enterprise, the maximum indicators of the total soil pollution (Zc = 44-65) have been established. Lead and zinc are elements of “biological accumulation” for all types of studied vegetable products grown in the zone of influence of the mining enterprise; cadmium is additionally concentrated in beets and carrots, and nickel in carrots. In vegetable samples, exceeding the permissible levels of cadmium and lead was noted. The most significant accumulation of heavy metals was found in the southern, southeastern, northern and northwestern directions from emissions. Conclusion. To eliminate the toxic effects of heavy metals in vegetables produced in the zone of influence of mining enterprises, it is recommended to include additional monitoring of nickel and zinc content in the social and hygienic monitoring system.

Influence of Anthropogenic Load in River Basins on River Water Status: A Case Study in Lithuania

Twenty-four rivers in different parts of Lithuania were selected for the study. The aim of the research was to evaluate the impact of anthropogenic load on the ecological status of rivers. Anthropogenic loads were assessed according to the pollution sources in individual river catchment basins. The total nitrogen (TN) values did not correspond to the “good” and “very good” ecological status classes in 51% of the tested water bodies; 19% had a “bad” to “moderate” BOD7, 50% had “bad” to “moderate” NH4-N, 37% had “bad” to “moderate” NO3-N, and 4% had “bad” to “moderate” PO4-P. The total phosphorus (TP) values did not correspond to the “good” and “very good” ecological status classes in 4% of the tested water bodies. The largest amounts of pollution in river basins were generated from the following sources: transit pollution, with 87,599 t/year of total nitrogen and 5020 t/year of total phosphorus; agricultural pollution, with 56,031 t/year of total nitrogen and 2474 t/year of total phosphorus. The highest total nitrogen load in river basins per year, on average, was from transit pollution, accounting for 53.89%, and agricultural pollution, accounting for 34.47%. The highest total phosphorus load was also from transit pollution, totaling 58.78%, and agricultural pollution, totaling 28.97%. Multiple regression analysis showed the agricultural activity had the biggest negative influence on the ecological status of rivers according to all studied indicators.

Estimation of Heavy Metal Concentrations in the Water of Urban Lakes in the Russian Arctic (Murmansk)

This article presents the results of the analysis and estimation of the seasonal variation of heavy metals in the water of urban lakes and the assessment of their environmental state based on the chemical data. The research covered seven lakes in Murmansk, subject to various levels of anthropogenic load. Field studies were conducted in 2019–2020. Water samples were taken both in summer and in winter/spring seasons. The most polluted lake was Lake Ledovoe, where the highest concentrations of V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, W, and Mn were found. Lake Yuzhnoe, which is characterized by the lowest concentrations of studied heavy metals, was the least subject to anthropogenic load. In total, V, Ni, Zn, Fe, and Mn were above the background levels in the lakes of Murmansk. The analysis of the seasonal variation showed that the highest concentrations of heavy metals were found in winter/spring season and reached their maximum during the period of melt water intake from the catchment area. The research showed the impact of the urban environment on the chemical composition of the Murmansk lakes.

The composition of phytoplankton as an indicator of the ecological state of the middle course of the Ural River and its tributaries

The article presents the results of the analysis of the systematic structure of the algae flora of the studied reservoirs of the Orenburg region. The revealed richness of flora includes 104 species and varieties belonging to 7 divisions, 12 classes, 23 orders, 32 families, 58 genera. The dominant divisions are Chlorophyta, Bacillariophyta and Cyanophyta. The total number of microalgae at the study points was dependent on the anthropogenic load on the reservoir. Certain indices of saprobity of reservoirs indicate the presence of dissolved organic matter in the bulk of the studied reservoirs and pollution of natural waters. Keywords: NATURAL RESERVOIRS, WATER QUALITY, ALGOFLORA, URAL RIVER, SAPROBITY

EFFICIENCY OF COMBINATIONS OF ORAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS IN CHILDREN AT DIFFERENT LEVEL OF ANTHROPOGENIC LOAD

Prevention of dental caries in children occupies one of the first places in pediatric dentistry. Indeed, during the period of tertiary mineralization of the enamel, it is necessary to pay special attention to the mineralization of the enamel of the teeth. The most urgent issue is the prevention of dental caries at this time. Correctly selected basic and additional oral hygiene products have a preventive effect. Dental caries has a multifactorial etiology. It can be a genetic factor, eating of carbohydrate foods and sugars in large amounts , poor oral hygiene,ecology and others. It has been proven that the technogenic load of the environment negatively affects the dental health of children. The children are most sensitive to environmental influences. The purpose of this work was to determine the most effective preventive action of the selected combinations of oral hygiene products for children of primary school age who were born and live in areas under different anthropogenic loads. Methodology. Various combinations of basic and additional oral hygiene products for primary school children, containing fluorine and amorphous nanohydroxyapatite, have been proposed. Studied: enamel caries resistance, oral fluid pH, oral fluid microcrystallization, tooth electrical conductivity, etc. According to the results of the study, the most effective combinations of oral hygiene products were selected for dental caries prevention of the primary school children who were born and live at different levels of anthropogenic load. The children and their parents were trained in the correct methodology for oral care and proper nutrition.