Ecological and hygienic assessment of the consequences of the pollution with persistent organic compounds of an industrial town (by the example of Usol’e-Sibirskoe): I. Atmospheric air, snow, and soil

Air Monitoring of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Organochlorine Pesticides in Eastern Siberia: Levels, Temporal Trends, and Risk Assessment

“…The differences in seasonal distribution of lower chlorinated PCBs between urban and suburban stations may have been the result of distinct PCB sources at urban and suburban stations. The homological composition of PCB in PUF collected in warm periods (group 2), with the maximum in subgroup 2b at the suburban station, became more similar to the homological composition in the technical mixture of PCB (Sovol, analogous Arochlor 1254), but was not close to the less chlorinated PCB mixture-trichlorodiphenyl (TCD)-used in the former USSR [115] (Figure S5g), confirming the conclusion made in a previous study [48] regarding Sovol as a primary PCB source in the region [103]. The difference from the composition of Sovol is higher proportions of triCB and tetraCB and a lower proportion of hexaCB in the total PCB concentrations in air, which can be explained by the higher volatility of less chlorinated congeners, compared to more chlorinated ones [104].…”

“…At present, HCB is becoming one of dominant compounds among the OCPs and selected pesticides in environmental media including air [102]. The large chemical enterprise named Usol'ekhimprom, located in Usol'e-Sibiskoe area, is the only known significant industrial source of PCBs and PCDFs, as well as HCB, in the southern part of Irkutsk Region [48,49,103], which stopped operations in the middle of 2000s. The industrial area of Usol'ekhimprom remained without recultivation until the early 2020s, and it could remain a source of continued HCB atmospheric emission from its contaminated surfaces for a long time.…”

“…On the basis of long-term observations of δ 18 O and δD in precipitation on Irkutsk and Lake Baikal stations, Kostrova et al [43] found that moisture transport from the west predominates throughout the year. Taking into account the local geographical features of Irkutsk, located in the valley of the Angara River, resulting in the predominance of northwest winds [44], as well as the location of the main source of POP emissions in Usol'e-Sibirskoe lying northwest from Irkutsk [48,103], we chose the frequency of observations of westnorthwest (W-NW) winds for investigation of the possible influence of atmospheric transport from long-term POP sources. In addition, in groups from the first to 2a and 2b at the suburban station, we observed decreasing proportions of diCB (6.5, 0.7, and 0.1, respectively), triCB (15, 11, and 3.5, respectively), and tetraCB (39, 36, and 26.5, respectively).…”

“…The variation of HCH and DDT concentrations in air was in line with temperature fluctuations at both stations. PCB levels in air at the urban station more strongly depended on temperature fluctuations than those at the suburban station, likely related to the evaporation of PCB from soil and other surfaces more polluted with PCB in urban areas [33,103].…”

Ecological and Economical Violations as a Threat for Sustainable Development and National Environmental Safety (on Example of Kemerovo Region)

“…The total emission of polluting substances in the atmosphere made more than 1.5 million tons p.a., and dumping of polluting substances with waste waters made more than 0.5 million tons p.a. It was due to the fact of the location of more than 1,500 enterprises in its territory including: 30 enterprises of ferrous and nonferrous metallurgy; 127 enterprises of coal mining and coal treatment; 19 heat supply facilities; 14 enterprises of chemistry; 88 enterprises of mechanical engineering and metal working; 194 enterprises of building industry; 300 enterprises of the railway, motor transport and road maintenance [4][5][6].…”