Assessing Urban Soils in the Norilsk Industrial Region Based on Heavy Metal and Petroleum Product Pollution Indices

Vladimir Myazin, Vyacheslav Vasenev, Maria Korneykova (), Natalia Karmanovskaya and Yulia Sotnikova
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Vladimir Myazin: Agrarian and Technological Institute, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 117198 Moscow, Russia
Vyacheslav Vasenev: Soil Geography and Landscape Group, Wageningen University, 6707 Wageningen, The Netherlands
Maria Korneykova: Agrarian and Technological Institute, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 117198 Moscow, Russia
Natalia Karmanovskaya: Ecological and Educational Center “Noosphere”, Fedorovsky Polar State University, 663310 Norilsk, Russia
Yulia Sotnikova: Agrarian and Technological Institute, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 117198 Moscow, Russia

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-20

Abstract: The soil condition of Norilsk, a large industrial city located in the Arctic zone of Russia, was assessed for the first time using pollution indices calculated based on the gross content of Pb, Zn, Co, Cd, Cu, Ni, Cr, Mn, As, and petroleum products. The Nemerov Pollution Index (NPI) classifies all Norilsk soil samples as polluted. According to the PLI index, 86% of the soil samples were characterized as polluted, and according to the total pollution index (Zc), 56% of the soil samples were classified as moderately hazardous and hazardous polluted. All soil samples had a medium, high, or very high environmental risk. The high level of soil pollution in Norilsk and the crucial role of nonferrous metallurgy as the primary source of these metals are confirmed. Pollutant content in the soil varied in different districts of Norilsk, with Mn and petroleum products being significant. The maximum heavy metal pollution occurred in the soils of the enterprise protection zones and in the soil of the industrial zones. Airborne pollutants from industrial enterprises are the main cause of heavy metal soil pollution in the Norilsk agglomeration. The contribution of other sources of pollution, typical for various functional areas of the city (e.g., motor transport and waste), is not expressed. Simultaneously, the hydrocarbon content is determined by the location of areas near roads, which is typical for districts with a high population and intensive traffic. Using the example of the Central District of Norilsk, the landscaping of the territory was shown to play a role in reducing the total content of heavy metals. Based on the physicochemical properties of Norilsk’s urban soils, the following key measures are proposed to improve soil quality: increasing organic matter content; ensuring a neutral pH and a high cation exchange capacity; and reducing soil density, which will reduce the toxic load on plants and negative impact on human health.

Keywords: Arctic zone; urban soils; pollution indices; functional zones; heavy metals; oil products (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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