This paper presents the result of studies of heavy metal pollution in soils and sediments caused by various anthropogenic sources to assess the environmental impact of human activities in the major industrial region of Azerbaijan, the Absheron peninsula. Soil and sediment samples were analyzed for As, Cd, Hg, Pb, Cr, Cu, and Zn using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and cold vapor atomic fluorescence (CVAF) methods. The results of analyses showed that the main concentrations of such toxic metals as Hg, Cd, and Pb were 0.1, 2.40, and 302 mg/kg in the soil samples, and 0.028, 2.7, and 29 mg/kg in the sediment samples, respectively. These values are several times higher than the standards established by the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers for the Absheron soils. The highest concentrations of metals were found in soils from the area of a highway and in the sediments of the largest natural lake of the peninsula, Boyuk, whose shores are subjected predominantly to oil industry's wastewater. The pollution index (PI), enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index (I geo ), and ecological risk factor (E i ) were calculated to assess the level and potential ecological risk of heavy metal pollution. Analysis of the calculated values of PI, EF, I geo , and E i indicate the contribution of anthropogenic sources to heavy metal accumulation in the soils and sediments of the study area.

The development of oil-gas, chemical and petrochemical industries is associated with the discharge of large amount of toxic substances into the environment. The present paper discusses the impact of anthropogenic discharges on surface water resources in case of four water basins in the Absheron industrial region - Boyuk-Shore, Hoja-Hasan, Bulbula and Girmizy lakes. Water samples collected from different parts of these lakes were analyzed for temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), salinity, electrical conductivity, petroleum compounds, phenols, heavy metals, biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), surface active agents (SAA), suspended particulates as well as nitrite, nitrate, ammonium and chloride contents. In addition, bottom sediments of the lakes were analyzed for petroleum compounds, heavy metals, nitrates and sulfates. The results show that long-term anthropogenic impact has led to the destruction of important water basins in the Absheron Peninsula.

Along with other oil-producing regions of the world, environmental pollution is characteristic also for the Absheron Peninsula of Azerbaijan, which has long been subject to the impact of various anthropogenic factors. A large amount of such toxic substances as heavy metals, hydrocarbons and surface-active agents, and so on were released into soil and water basins leading to the change of natural ecosystem throughout the region. A primary goal of this chapter was to study the level of heavy metal pollution in the Absheron industrial region, while evaluating the potential ecological risk posed by each toxic metal including Hg, Cd, As, Cr, Pb, Cu, Ni, and Zn. Analysis of the calculated values of pollution index (PI), enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index (I geo), and ecological risk factor (E i) indicates the contribution of anthropogenic sources to heavy metal accumulation in soils and sediments of the study area.

Degradation of organic pollutants in wastewater was investigated by photocatalysis method using anatase modification of titanium-dioxide (TiO 2) catalyst with different structures. Laboratory experiments were carried out with industrial wastewaters consisting of different contents of organic pollutants. Two types of TiO 2 catalyst: TiO 2 having a size near to nanoparticles (about 3-4 micron in size) and the nanostructured 15 nm sized TiO 2 were used to find optimum conditions of photocatalytic degradation and removal of organic compounds from wastewater. This paper discusses the effect of various parameters on the degradation rate including the catalyst concentration, process duration as well as the catalytic effectiveness of the TiO 2 particles' size. In addition, the effect of UV and visible light sources on the degradation process was studied. The process performed with nanostructured TiO 2 catalyst under visible light was very successfully allowing best degradation of organic compounds.

Рассмотрены результаты геоэкологических и геофизических исследований, проведенных в бассейне оз. Ходжагасан, расположенного в западной части г. Баку. Основной целью работы было исследование влияния антропогенных факторов на геоэкологические условия озера. Для оценки развития экзогенных геологических процессов в береговой зоне озера и их влияния на окружающую среду были проведены геофизические исследования, выполненные методом вертикального электрического зондирования. С 1990 по 2014 годы на репрезентативном участке озера изучена физико-химическая характеристика вод и донных отложений. В микроэлементном составе донных отложений определены концентрации металлов, включая такие токсичные элементы, как Cu, Zn, Cd, Sr, Ba, Pb, Cr и Ni. Было выявлено, что с середины XIX в. и особенно со второй половины XX в. высокий темп роста населения и урбанизации на территории Апшеронского полуострова (в Республике Азербайджан название Апшерон заменено на Абшерон) привел к интенсивному использованию природных ресурсов, а также к увеличению антропогенной нагрузки на окружающую среду. Наравне с другими компонентами природной среды, техногенезом активно нарушается естественный круговорот вещества и энергии в лимногенезе, так как озерные котловины занимают пониженную часть рельефа и часто здесь накапливаются промышленные, коммунально-бытовые, сельскохозяйственные и другие сбросы. Накопленные в озерной котловине загрязнители влияют на гидробиохимические условия, трансформируют количественные и качественные показатели водной среды и донных отложений. Факторы, влияющие на озерный ландшафт, различны в генетическом отношении, неравнозначны по степени и характеру воздействия, а также по продолжительности. Ключевые слова: антропогенные факторы; оз. Ходжагасан; геоэкология; сточные воды; донные отложения; вертикальное электрическое зондирование Как цитировать эту статью: Мамедов В.А. Исследование влияния антропогенных факторов на изменение геоэкологического состояния оз. Ходжагасан Азербайджана / В.А.Мамедов, А.М.Саламов, Х.Х.Халилова // Записки Горного института. 2019. Т. 239. С. 603-610.