Integrated assessment of geoecological risk of soil contamination in the impact zone of the Aikhal Mining and Processing Plant (Yakutia, Russia)

In recent years, soil pollution with potentially toxic elements has become an important issue causing widespread concern because it is a significant factor threatening the environment. The mining industry is one of the main sources of negative impact. Moreover, the soil is the main geochemical absorber of various pollutants. In the present study, using ecological-geochemical and toxicological pollution indices, such as the Nemerov index (INI), pollution load index (PLI), total pollution index (Zc), potential ecological risk index (RI), the levels of chemical pollution of soils of the industrial site of the Aikhal Mining and Processing Division with potentially toxic elements (Pb, Ni, Mn, Cd, Co, Cr, Zn, Cu, As) are identified. As a result of calculations of these indices, the elements that make the main contribution to the pollution of the studied soils are identified. The pollutant elements for INI are As, Ni and Cu; for PLI — As, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cr, Co, Mn; for Zc — As, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cr; for RI — Ni. Nickel is the main environmental risk factor for soils at the Aikhal Mining and Processing Division's industrial site. Using spatial distribution maps, localized areas with high geoecological stress are identified near the processing plants.