Ecogeochemical studies of the postindustrial sites of Minsk

In the article the results of studying the sites of industrial enterprises, which have stopped their activities fully or partially in Minsk, are discussed. It is shown that in most cases the re-development of industrial sites with a change of their functional purpose is carried out after 10 years or more. Based on the results of preliminary investigation of a number of the former industrial sites, it was established that such sites continue to be sources of pollutants after the completion of enterprises activity. The enrichment of technogenic substrates carried out from industrial sites by surface runoff (sediments near storm collectors and in topographic lows) with heavy metals is shown. The average content of cadmium in sediments is 2,6 (maximum – 3,9), lead – 3,1 (14), copper – 2,5 (2,2), zinc – 1,7 (2,8), nickel – 3,3 (8,0), chromium – 3,4 (6,6) times higher than in soils. The established standards for lead were exceeded in 63 % of cases, for cadmium – in 77 %, for zinc and copper – in 100 % of cases. The maximum permissible concentration was exceeded 5 times for at least one indicator in almost half of the samples (44 %). The dependence of heavy metals accumulation on the specialization of previously carried out industrial activities is shown. The need for improvement of scientific and methodological approaches to studying of contaminated and potentially contaminated post-industrial areas in connection with their planned re-profiling for urban planning purposes is discussed.