Features of the Hydrocarbon Distribution in the Bottom Sediments of the Norwegian and Barents Seas

The results of the study of hydrocarbons (HCs): aliphatic (AHCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in bottom sediments (2019 and 2020, cruises 75 and 80 of the R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh) in the Norwegian-Barents Sea basin: Mohns Ridge, shelf Svalbard archipelago, Sturfiord, Medvezhinsky trench, central part of the Barents Sea, Novaya Zemlya shelf, Franz Victoria trough are presented. It has been established that the organo-geochemical background of the Holocene sediments was formed due to the flow of sedimentary material in the coastal regions of the Barents Sea on shipping routes. The anthropogenic input of HCs into bottom sediments leads to an increase in their content in the composition of Corg (in the sandy sediments of the Kaninsky Bank at an AHC concentration up to 64 μg/g, when its proportion in the composition of Corg reaches 11.7%). The endogenous influence on the of the Svalbard archipelago shelf in Sturfiord and in the Medvezhinsky Trench determines the specificity of local anomalies in the content and composition of HCs. This is reflected in the absence of a correlation between HCs and the grain size composition of sediments and Corg content, as well as a change in hydrocarbon molecular markers. At the same time, the sedimentary section is enriched in light alkanes and naphthalene’s that may be due to emission during point discharge of gas fluid from sedimentary rocks of the lower stratigraphic horizons and/or sipping migration.

Heavy Metal Concentrations in Roadside Soils on the Białystok-Budzisko Route in Northeastern Poland

Civilization development has contributed to environmental pollution. In recent years, the number of vehicles has increased significantly; according to the Central Statistical Office, the number of passenger cars in Poland in 2000 was nearly 10 million, while in 2020 it was slightly more than 25 million. The study aimed to determine the content and spatial distribution of trace elements (Fe, Mn, Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Zn and Cu) in the roadside topsoil along the trunk road Białystok–Budzisko on different types of land use (urban, rural, agricultural and forestal areas). Forty-five soil samples were collected from a 160 km road section, at intervals of approximately 4 km. Metal contents were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. The concentrations of metals in roadside soils occurred in the following order: Fe > Mn > Zn > Cr > Cu > Pb > Ni > Cd. The average contents of Cd, Zn, Cu, and Pb were higher than the geochemical background values of the Polish soils. Moreover, the values of the Igeo showed for Cd moderate to strong, while for Zn, Cu and Pb, moderate soil contamination. The study indicates that significant metal-binding factors in the studied roadside soils are Fe and Mn oxides. The crucial source of metals is road transport, depending on its intensity, which means amount, type, and speed of vehicles. Moreover, based on the analysis of the course of the factor values and their dynamics, it was observed that the areas where typical activities connected with the population take place (urban and agricultural areas) are additional sources of heavy metals. The results of this paper are relevant to the prevention and control of heavy metal pollution in roadside soils. The study can contribute to reducing the concentration of toxic elements in ecosystems due to vehicle emissions with appropriate land-use policies.

Concentration Levels and Features of the Distribution of Trace Elements in the Sapropel Deposits of Small Lakes (South of Western Siberia)

The processes of the migration and concentration of trace elements during sedimentation in small continental lakes in various landscape zones of the south of Western Siberia have been studied. We provide a quantitative assessment of the concentration levels and changes in the regional geochemical background of Cd, Hg, Sb, Zn, and Pb in sapropel deposits over the past 200 years. It was shown that complex natural processes determined by a combination of azonal factors play a fundamental role in the formation of the geochemical and mineral compositions of the bottom sediments of small lakes in various landscape zones in the south of Western Siberia. These consist of: the formation of sedimentary material in the lake catchment depending on the relief, geology, soil, and vegetation cover, as well as anthropogenic influences; the formation of authigenic organic and mineral matter as a result of biological, biochemical, and physicochemical processes; and the deposition of a complex mixture of allochthonous and autochthonous matter at the bottom of a lake, which flows under conditions of prolonged ice formation (anaerobic conditions).

Organic and Conventional Food—Selected Properties

This paper defines the concept of organic and conventional agriculture and presents the differences in the quality of produced food resulting from the farming system. The test materials were the same groups of food products from certified organic and conventional production. As a result, the dry matter content, water activity and the content of potassium, iron, copper, manganese and lead were compared. The obtained results showed that food from organic farming is characterized by higher dry matter content and lower water activity. Conventional products are characterized by higher content of the examined elements, which is due to, among others, geochemical background, the use of mineral fertilizers, and the development of industry and transport. Ecological management influences the increase in the quality of consumed food by limiting the migration of nutrients and other pollutants to the environment.

Changes in the content of heavy metals in soils due to the application of waste from the pulp and paper industry

This paper presents the results of a study of changes in the heavy metals content of soils of Karelia (podzolic loamy and peats high moor). Waste from wood processing, pulp and paper industry was added to the soils as organic additives using sodium lignosulfonate as an example. The results showed that no correlation with the additive dose was found in the series of total (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ti, Al, Ni, Co, Cr, Cd, Mo) and available forms of metals (Cu, Zn, Ti, Al, Ni, Co, Cr, Cd, Mo). Nevertheless, there is a positive correlation between the total and available forms of Pb and the available forms of Fe and Mn (r = 0.9), which can be explained by their initial content in the industrial plant material. It should be noted that the content of all forms of the studied metals did not exceed the requirements of sanitary-hygienic standards and geochemical background typical for soils in Karelia. Keywords: PODZOLIC LOAMY SOIL, PEATS HIGH MOOR SOIL, SODIUM LIGNOSULFONATE, HEAVY METALS