Rauf V. Galiulin

Review: Behavior of Persistent Organic Pollutants in the Air-Plant-Soil System

A conceptual model for transformation of environmentally widespread persistent organic pollutants (DDT, HCH, PCBs and benz(a)pyrene) in the air-plant-soil system was developed. Basedon this model, analyses and systematization were made in order to assess the empirical generalizations, models, and hypothesesfrom different literature sources related to studying the peculiarities of the above-mentioned phenomenon. They are illustrated by the examples of pollutant behavior on the agricultural areas of the former Soviet Union.

Organochlorinated compounds (PCBs and insecticides) in irrigated agrolandscapes of Russia and Uzbekistan

The spatial and temporal distribution of persistent chlororganic compounds in the form of insecticide residues—DDT, DDE, DDD, HCH and industrial pollutants—polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) has been monitored in various components of irrigated agrolandscapes (soil, water, bottom sediments) in the Moscow region, the Kuban lowplain of the Krasnodar region (Russia) and in the Samarkand oasis (Uzbekistan) for the period 1989–1990. The widespread occurence of PCB compounds requires action for their hygienic control and monitoring. The main chlororganic pollutant found were DDT residues and their content in soils and bottom sediments in all regions under study exceeded in many cases the existing baselines (100 µg/kg). Special attention has been given to the ratios between various metabolites and isomers of chlororganic insecticides as well as between various homologs of PCBs among which tetrachlorobiphenyls were predominant in soils, bottom sediments and surface waters.

Heavy Metal Pollution in the Territory of Chelyabinsk upon Coal Combustion

The pollution of the territory of Chelyabinsk by heavy metals (Cu, Co, Ni, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, Mo, and Hg) upon coal combustion is evaluated. The concentrations of Zn, Pb, Cd, and Hg in the soils of this territory and the concentrations of Cd and Hg in water were found higher than health standard values (approximate permissible concentrations and maximum permissible concentrations) by factors of 1.5–20, 6, and 2, respectively.

Reclamation of soil polluted by gas condensate using peat compost

An approach to the reclamation (the recovery of fertility) of soil polluted by gas condensate in the territory of a boosting compressor station using peat compost was developed. The efficiency of soil reclamation was evaluated by an analysis of catalase and dehydrogenase enzyme activities and by the sowing and cultivation of perennial grasses in the area.

Gas Industry Impacts on Natural Ecosystems

This paper is devoted to assessing the gas industry impacts on surrounding tundra ecosystems. The relevant loading of pollutants emitted by production activity of gas company “Gazprom Dobycha Yamburg LLC” is accounted using both the retrospective pollutant emission database and field monitoring results. Perennial analyses of emitted pollutant loading showed that priority atmospheric pollutants for the zone of influence of the production facilities of “Gazprom Dobycha Yamburg” LLC are oxides of nitrogen.

Climate Cycling and Modeling in Polar Areas

The paper shows that climate change (temperature fluctuations) on the Earth, caused by solar variations, is a cyclic natural process, which geochronologically accompanies periods of warming and cooling. At present another temperature decline is forecast. This is very important for gas production in the permafrost area of polar ecosystems since allows to support the firmness of grounds and sustainability of different construction basements, pipelines, roads and wells. The given cooling trend is bound to increase energy demand globally, as well as locally. It is suggestive that the International Energy Agency outlook projects increasing energy demand, with energy produced by oil, coal and especially natural gas, which will allow the latter to take the second place after oil in 2035. The conclusion is that such a climate dynamics is also important for the sustainable gas supply.

Biogeochemical Approaches for Managing Geoenvironmental Risk of Hydrocarbons Pollution in Disturbed Soils

The laboratory tests carried out in the conditions of in vitro experiment with new biological means of a soil cover remediation are considered as biogeochemical approaches for managing geoenvironmental risk of pollution by hydrocarbons—gas condensate and oil in various climatic zones, including tundra. For the assessing soil remediation efficiency the enzyme activity analysis are used and the relevant full degradation of hydrocarbons is calculated. Such approach allows us to obtain the correct information for realization of a soil remediation in situ in perspective. So, the comparative assessment of degradation of gas condensate and oil in a soil under application of new biological preparations (Bioros and Piksa) showed that degradation of gas condensate in soil, for example, under Bioros action was faster than degradation of oil. After introduction of Piksa to soil the process of oil degradation was much faster. The activity of catalase and dehydrogenase enzymes increased with enhanced quantity of biological preparations used for oil contaminated soil remediation.

Biogeochemical Technology for Disturbed Tundra Soils Recultivation by Peat and Potassium Humate Application

The biogeochemical technology of recultivation of disturbed tundra soils includes the joint application of local peat and its potassium humate from the Taz peninsula (the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug). At the same time the potassium humate is produced from humic acids of local peat by consecutive decalcifying, extraction, sedimentation and clarification. Efficiency of application of peat and potassium humate to the disturbed soils in doses depending from their granulometric composition is estimated on a basis of biomass of grown grass-cereals plants. The given technology is forwarded to increasing the efficiency of recultivation of the disturbed soils.

Biogeochemical Technology for Monitoring of Cleaning of Soil Polluted by Gas Condensate and Neutralization of Its Sludge by Means of Enzyme Activity Analysis

The biogeochemical technology for cleaning of soil polluted by gas condensate and neutralization of its sludge by means of enzyme (catalase and dehydrogenase) activity analysis is considered. This technology includes selection of various samples (the soil of background uncontaminated site, biological means, the soil of site polluted by gas condensate and its sludge, the soil of site polluted by gas condensate, but with addition of biological means and its sludge, also with addition of biological means) and enzyme activity analysis in these samples. In this case we can judge about beginning of the process of cleaning and biological neutralization of polluted samples on a basis of increasing the enzyme activity of samples concerning enzyme activity of samples without addition of biological means, and about ending the process of cleaning and neutralization of samples judge on alignment of enzyme activity of the samples with enzyme activity of soil samples from background uncontaminated site or itself biological means.

Biogeochemical Control of Peat-Based Recultivation Process of Disturbed Tundra Soils Varying in Granulometric Composition and Full Moisture Capacity

Biogeochemical control of recultivation (fertility restoration) of disturbed tundra soils with various granulometric composition and full moisture capacity includes an assessment of application efficiency of peat in mixture with the disturbed soil. The rational peat:soil ratio is chosen depending on granulometric composition and full moisture capacity of the disturbed soil, i.e. with increasing the physical clay (particles <0.01 mm) content in the soil and water saturation level the amount of peat in mixture is decreasing. At the same time, the dependence of a peat:soil ratio based on granulometric composition is recommended for the territories with the undulating or dissected relief and heterogeneous soil cover, and that based on full moisture capacity, for the territories with flat or weakly dissected relief and monotonous soil cover. Efficiency of using these mixtures of peat with the recultivated disturbed soil is estimated in the conditions of in vitro experiment by means of the dehydrogenase enzyme activity analysis. In both cases dehydrogenase activity of this mixture has to be exceeded the enzyme activity of the disturbed soil and accordingly this is resulted in recommending the selected mixture for in situ soil recultivation.