Soil characteristics of an arctic city: mineralogical and chemical composition, pollution risks and toxicity assessment (novy urengoy, russia)
https://doi.org/10.24057/2071-9388-2026-4420
Abstract
Urbanization leads to multi-component environmental pollution, so it is especially important to conduct a comprehensive screening of transformations of vulnerable Arctic soils. An assessment of urban soil pollution in Novy Urengoy was conducted, providing a detailed geochemical characterization of the study areas. Electron microscopy confirmed the presence of both rock-forming mineral inclusions and heterogeneous solid particles of various origins: ore minerals (sphalerite, galena, cinnabar, cassiterite, argentite, atacamite), finely dispersed silver and gold particles, Cu-Ni-Zn and Fe-Cr-Ti-Mn alloys, titanium plates, and microplastics. The content of petroleum and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is predominantly low, except for several sites near transport infrastructure, where petroleum hydrocarbon content reaches 2200–2400 mg/ kg and the sum of 15 PAHs achieves 84 μg/kg. Natural factors remain the leading drivers of soil chemical composition. Local exceedances of Russian regulatory standards for Zn were detected in transport and residential areas. The Cd-Pb-ZnCu-Ni association indicates pollution derived from motor vehicle emissions. In urban areas, residential development acts as an additional source of Ca-Mn-Co-Sr-Zn compounds. Calculation of the mean effects range median quotient (MERMQ) for contaminated soils revealed low and moderate risk levels. Biotesting using Daphnia magna, Chlorella vulgaris, and Lepidium sativum demonstrated acute toxicity in soils contaminated with PAHs and petroleum hydrocarbons. The integrated landscape total pollution index (LTP), based on the Harrington desirability function, confirmed that motor vehicles are the primary source of urban pollution.
Keywords
pollution,
petroleum hydrocarbons,
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,
metals,
soil toxicity,
biotesting
Supporting agencies: The work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation grant No. 25-24-00162.
About the Authors
Marina G. Opekunova
Saint Petersburg State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
10th line of Vasilievsky Island, 31-33, Saint Petersburg, 199178
A. Yu. Opekunov
Saint Petersburg State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
10th line of Vasilievsky Island, 31-33, Saint Petersburg, 199178
Stepan Yu. Kukushkin
Saint Petersburg State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
10th line of Vasilievsky Island, 31-33, Saint Petersburg, 199178
Anna R. Nikulina
Saint Petersburg State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
10th line of Vasilievsky Island, 31-33, Saint Petersburg, 199178
Valeria Prokhorova
Saint Petersburg State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
10th line of Vasilievsky Island, 31-33, Saint Petersburg, 199178
Vlada V. Lemkina
Saint Petersburg State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
10th line of Vasilievsky Island, 31-33, Saint Petersburg, 199178
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For citations:
Opekunova M.G., Opekunov A.Yu., Kukushkin S.Yu., Nikulina A.R., Prokhorova V., Lemkina V.V. Soil characteristics of an arctic city: mineralogical and chemical composition, pollution risks and toxicity assessment (novy urengoy, russia). GEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITY. 2026;19(3):63-76. https://doi.org/10.24057/2071-9388-2026-4420
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