Biotesting of the environment of industrial and urban areas using palynological methods is a new direction of environmental research. Conifers are highly sensitive to environmental pollution, producing large quantities of sterile pollen under environmental stress. For screening the palynotoxicity of industrial emissions, in this study was using the biotest for a male gametophyte sterility. For the first time in Murmansk biotesting of the environment was conducted using pollen of Siberian spruce (Piceae obovata). Five sample plots were laid in the vicinity of the city's boiler houses, waste incineration plant, and shipyard. The control site was located 30 km northeast of the city. In June thirty spruce microstrobiles were collected from each plot and fixed in ethyl alcohol. Cytological study of the pollen was performed using light microscopy and acetocarmine staining. The number of colored (fertile) and uncolored (sterile) pollen grains was counted on microphotographs, the sterility index and palynotoxic effect (PE) were calculated, and the PE indicators were ranked according to the E10-90 classification. Biotesting for male gametophyte sterility showed that in the impact zone of industrial enterprises in the city of Murmansk, P. obovata produces predominantly sterile pollen, especially under the influence of emissions of Thermal Power Plants (67,2–75,6 %) using fuel oil and coal. The studies revealed high indices of pollen sterility (2.2–2.5) and palynotoxic effect (PE) (51.3–64.8%) of emissions from Murmansk's energy sector. Ranking of PE indices according to the E10-90 classification indicates a highly toxic (sublethal) impact (EC50-90) of Murmansk boiler houses emissions on the male gametophyte of P. obovatа and the presence of mutagens in the environment that cause genetic damage. Based on the results, emissions from the waste incineration and ship repair plants (EC10-50) are moderately toxic (effective) for the male generative sphere of P. obovatа. To improve the environmental situation in Murmansk and ensure environmental safety of the population, it is necessary to apply new innovative technologies in the energy sector and convect the Thermal Power Plants to natural gas.
Vasilevskaya et al. (Sun,) studied this question.