Vol 17, No 1 (2021)

The subject of research in this study is the carbonaceous shale exposed by the drill-holes within the Rylskaya rift structure of the Kursk block of the Voronezh crystalline massif. The analysis of the examined rock revealed a complex of rock-forming and accessory minerals, i.e. apatite, pyrite, pyrrhotite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, magnetite, rutile, garnets, zircon, staurolite, olivine, barite, moissanite, synchisite, bastnesite, which was for the first time described using the modern research methods. Therewith, moissanite, synchisite, and bastnesite were discovered in the shale of the Rylskaya structure for the first time. Several varieties of rutile, garnets, staurolites and zircons were for the first time identified by their physical characteristics and chemical composition. Fine-grained phlogopite and terrigenous K-feldspar were found in the main shale tissue. The discovered features of the shale’s mineral composition allow to define some of the aspects of the protolith nature and the sedimentation conditions of the studied rock. The wide range of accessory minerals, especially allogenic, that are characteristic of rocks of both acidic and basic-ultrabasic composition, as well as the presence of potassium feldspars in the rock tissue alongside with quartz, indicate the presence of rocks of various petrographic compositions with a low degree of weathering in the erosion areas.

The temporal variability of the hydrochemical characteristics of the Sal and West Manych rivers is considered. Attention is paid to the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors on the formation and transformation of the chemical composition of river waters. The materials of the study were the primary data of the state observation network of Rosgidromet (from the mode-reference data bank of the Hydrochemical Institute), and the results of previously published studies. The aim of the study was to analyze the transformation of the chemical composition and water quality of the Sal and West Manych rivers, taking into account the modern anthropogenic impact and climatic changes. During the study, a comparative analysis of two long-term periods (2001–2007 and 2011–2017) and a detailed survey of changes in the average annual concentrations of polluting components for 2010–2017 were carried out. For the Sal River, the most significant upward changes of concentrations in the chemical composition of water occurred in the content of iron compounds, sulfates, oil products and ammonium nitrogen. In the transformation of the chemical composition of water for the West Manych River, the largest increase occurred in the content of organic matter, ammonia nitrogen and oil products. In the period from 2010 to 2017, two general trends are most clearly observed: an increase in the content of iron compounds and a decrease in the concentration of copper in water. Multidirectional trends are observed for magnesium ions. The main reasons for the variability of the chemical composition of river waters are considered: the changes in water content and the influence of groundwater. It was revealed that during the study period the water quality in the Sal and West Manych rivers had not improved. The quality class remained at the level of class 4 (the degree of contamination is “dirty”). The category of critical indicators of water pollution for both rivers annually included sulfate ions, for which the highest frequency of exceeding the maximum permissible concentration with 100 % repeatability is noted. The research results can be used in planning environmental protection measures, as well as in improving the existing nature management.

Taking into account the soil and agroclimatic zoning, comparative characteristics of the distribution by depth of soil soaking in the Rostov Region by atmospheric precipitation and their influence on the depth of occurrence of carbonate new formations were studied. The objects of the study were all zonal soil types widespread in the Rostov Region: ordinary carbonate chernozems, southern chernozems, dark chestnut, chestnut and light chestnut soils. The analysis of the frequency of occurrence of the most common soaking depth was carried out within various zoning objects: agroclimatic regions, climatic subregions, and soil regions. Open sources of information were used to determine the average long-term soaking depth of the profile of the studied soils and to calculate the frequency of occurrence of the most common wetting depth over a 33-year period. Interpolation of soaking depths was carried out using the method of inverse distance weighting using the ArcMap 10.4.1 software. It was revealed that the hydrothermal conditions of soil formation determine the average long-term soaking depth, which decreases from the west to the east within the Rostov Region, correlating with the depths of the appearance of micellar forms of carbonates and the formation of the white-eye horizon. This indicator testifies to clear geographical patterns: the greatest depth of soaking is characteristic of the soils of the south-western part of the Rostov Region and belongs to the seaside regions of the Northern Azov Sea. The soils of the eastern territories of the region are characterized by a less soaking depth, and the further south they are formed, the lower is the indicator. The distribution of soaking depths, taking into account the soil zoning, gives a more detailed picture, which makes it possible to track the dynamics of carbonate migration processes depending on the moisture availability and soil conditions.

The health of the population of modern cities is the main factor of safety and sustainable development of the territory. This factor is affected by many conditions. At the same time, according to the World Health Organization, every year the role of social and environmental conditions in the formation of morbidity in different classes of diseases increases. The aim of the research is to assess the social and environmental conditions of Russian cities (in the context of Russian regions) and their specific contribution to the formation of morbidity of children and adults in various classes of diseases. The representative array of social and environmental data, as well as indicators of morbidity in children and adults for various classes of diseases is collected in the state system of social and hygienic monitoring. The results obtained in the course of long-term monitoring studies are summarized in the GIS environment “Environmental and socio-economic conditions of Russian cities”. Data analysis of the Federal information Fund of social-hygienic monitoring “Federal center of hygiene and epidemiology” of Rospotrebnadzor has allowed to establish that in some cities there is a significant excess of maximum permissible average daily concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene, nitrogen dioxide, dust, formaldehyde and other anthropogenic pollutants. Analysis of the specific weight of samples exceeding the hygienic standards of drinking water of the centralized drinking water supply system over the past 5 years showed that in most Russian cities this indicator is normal. At the same time, in a number of regions there are significant exceedances of MPC of iron, trichloroethylene, manganese, boron and other pollutants. The analysis of the most important social conditions showed a significant differentiation of the territory of the Russian Federation according to the factors that determine security for the population. The conducted correlation analysis showed the presence of medium and strong dependencies between socio-ecological factors and the incidence of the population for various classes of diseases.

Information on parasite infestation of herring Alosa immaculate, roach Rutilus rutilus, pike perch Sander lucioperca, carp Cyprinus carpio, silver carp Carassius gibelio, bream Abramis brama, Syrmangoby Ponticola syrman, sand-goby Neogobius fluviatilis, round-goby N. melanostomum is generalized on the basis of own and literature data. The spectrum of fish parasitic organisms in the delta of the Don River and the eastern part of the Taganrog Bay included representatives of 9 classes: 1 species each in Myxrosporea, Peritricha, Bivalvia, 3 species each in Myxosporidia and Cestoda, Monogenea – 10 species, Trematoda – 6 species, Nematoda – 4 species, and Crustacea – 5 species. In total, among representatives of the Azov ichthyofauna, 33 species taxa of parasites were found including unidentified ones, with freshwater forms dominating (81 %). The qualitative composition of the parasites of the examined fish was characterized by low species diversity, quantitative indicators – by wide variability. Potentially pathogenic species for fish health have been identified (Myxobolus sandrae, Dactylogyrus extensus, D. vastator, Diplozoon paradoxum, Gyrodactylus sprostonae, Ancyrocephalus paradoxus, Caryophyllaeus laticeps, Khawia sinensis, Diplostomum spathaceum, Unionidae gen. sp., Achtheres percarum). The analysis of the epizootological situation in the Don River delta and the eastern part of the Taganrog Bay was given, and the parasites that cause diseases of fish (Ligula intestinalis, Digramma interrupta), animals and humans (Apophallus donicus, Cryptocotyle concava, C. lingua, Hysterothylacium aduncum, Eustrongylides excisus) were identified.