Urban geochemical changes and pollution with potentially harmful elements in seven Russian cities

This paper presents results of an analysis of potentially harmful elements (PHEs, Pb, Zn and Cu) and conservative element (CE, Fe) concentrations in urban surface deposited sediment (USDS). The study was conducted in seven large Russian cities located in different geographic and climatic zones, and in territories with different geology and anthropogenic pressures: Chelyabinsk, Magnitogorsk, Nizhniy Novgorod, Nizhniy Tagil, Rostov-on-Don, Tyumen, and Ufa. The initial geochemical baseline relationships between PHEs and CE concentrations in the USDS were reconstructed for each city applying an approach based on linear weighted fitting of PHE as a function of CE with lower weights assigned to more polluted samples. The reconstructed average initial baseline Pb, Cu, and Zn concentrations varied between 17–52, 25–196, and 91–413 mg kg−1, respectively. Several new criteria for assessing the degree of geochemical transformation and pollution of the urban environment, such as the percentage of polluted samples, average pollutant concentration in polluted samples, and weighting degree index δ, were suggested and compared with common criteria, such as the PHE concentration and the geo-accumulation index. The environmental rank of a city significantly differed depending on whether the criterion for ranking was total PHE pollution or changes in comparison with the initial geochemical baseline. © 2020, The Author(s).Russian Science Foundation, RSF: 18-77-10024The study was supported by Russian Science Foundation (grant No. 18-77-10024)

FIRST DETRITAL ZIRCON GEOCHRONOLOGY DATA FOR CLASTIC ROCKS OF THE EAST SAKHALIN ACCRETIONARY TERRANE

First detrital zircon geochronology data and results of geochemical studies for clastic rocks of the Rymnik and Nabil zones of the East Sakhalin accretionary terrane, located within the region of the East Sakhalin Mountains, are presented. The studies have been carried out at the Center for Collective Use of Far Eastern Geological Institute of the Far East Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Vladivostok. The established geochemical features suggest that the source of the clastic material of the zones was felsic rocks of the deeply eroded continental island arc or arcs. Although the geochemical characteristics are similar, there are sharp differences between the detrital zircons’ age distribution patterns of rocks of these zones. In the sandstone of the Nabil zone, 75 % of the zircon grains are of the middle Cretaceous age (94–108 Ma) with a peak of 96 Ma, 15 % are the middle Permian-Early Jurassic, and 10 % are the Precambrian (mainly Paleoproterozoic). The sandstone of the Rymnik zone has a more complex (polymodal) pattern of the detrital zircon age distribution, with a significant contribution of the Precambrian grains (37 %). Most of the grains belong to the Early Jurassic (peak 196 Ma) and the Early Cretaceous (peak 137 Ma), with 47 % of the Mesozoic grains. The likely provenances of the clastic material were the Middle Cretaceous volcanic arcs of the Asian eastern margin older complexes of the continent

MODELING SEDIMENT PRODUCTION IN URBAN ENVIRONMENTS: CASE OF RUSSIAN CITIES

The aim of this study is to provide a tool to assess sediment production in an urban area. The urban environment is affected by a variety of anthropogenic and natural factors that, in particular, lead to the sediment production. The storage of sediments in the urban landscape negatively affects the quality of the urban environment. The model was developed on the basis of landscape studies conducted in residential areas of six Russian cities. The model takes into account (1) the influence of precipitation, spring snowmelt, and vehicles, (2) the influence of erosion factors for two seasons: warm (t>5°C) and cold (t<5°C), and (3) the presence of disturbed surfaces. The application of the developed model to Ekaterinburg city conditions returned sediment production equal to 1.2 kg/m2/y. A comparison of seasonal values shows that sediment production in cold season is 2.5 times higher than in the warm season. In the absence of the disturbed surfaces, sediment production decreases to 0.44 kg/m2/y. Modeling showed a correlation between sediment production in Russian cities and duration of the cold season. The efficiency of various urban area maintenance practices and cleaning measures were evaluated in terms of sediment production and storage. The developed model presented in this paper is based on research in Russian cities, but can be applied to assess the formation of sediment and measures to reduce the value of its accumulation in the urban environment in different regions of the world. © 2023, Russian Geographical Society. All rights reserved

Assessment of Effective Doses Due to Inhalation of Natural Radioactivity in the Dust of Urban Environment

The inhalation exposure to dust in the urban environment for adult and child is very important due to health issues. The radionuclides Ra-226 and Th-232 were measured in the samples of urban surface deposited sediments. The average concentrations of Ra-226 and Th-232 in dust are 20.8 and 15.3 Bq kg-1, respectively. The effective dose is estimated depending on the daily activity and air dust concentration for the adult and child. The results show that the total effective dose received during 70 years by adult without outdoor activity is 0.74 μSv under exposure to air dust concentration 1×10-4 g/m3, which is typical for the city of Ekaterinburg. Critical scenario of exposure of an adult person to radioactive material in particulate matter in the air including such daily activities as training, bicycle driving and work in urban environment results in the total effective dose 17.8 μSv during 70 years at air dust concentration equal to the diurnal Maximum Permissible Limit (1.5×10-4 g/m3). Also, the critical children group can be exposed to radionuclides by inhalation through daily outdoor games, sport activity, training, bicycle etc (8 hours daily during vacation, 4 hours daily during school time, 2000 hours per year from 7 years to 17 years). The total effective dose for critical children group is 2.9 μSv. Thus, the effective doses due to inhalation of natural radioactivity in the dust in city of Ekaterinburg are relatively low in comparison ICRP reference level. © 2020 American Institute of Physics Inc.. All rights reserved

Adiabatic population transfer via multiple intermediate states

This paper discusses a generalization of stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP) in which the single intermediate state is replaced by $N$ intermediate states. Each of these states is connected to the initial state \state{i} with a coupling proportional to the pump pulse and to the final state \state{f} with a coupling proportional to the Stokes pulse, thus forming a parallel multi-$\Lambda$ system. It is shown that the dark (trapped) state exists only when the ratio between each pump coupling and the respective Stokes coupling is the same for all intermediate states. We derive the conditions for existence of a more general adiabatic-transfer state which includes transient contributions from the intermediate states but still transfers the population from state \state{i} to state \state{f} in the adiabatic limit. We present various numerical examples for success and failure of multi-$\Lambda$ STIRAP which illustrate the analytic predictions. Our results suggest that in the general case of arbitrary couplings, it is most appropriate to tune the pump and Stokes lasers either just below or just above all intermediate states.Comment: 14 pages, two-column revtex style, 10 figure

Радон, курение и вирус папилломы человека как факторы риска рака легкого в эпидемиологическом исследовании экологического типа

The aim of the study: to analyze the risk of lung cancer caused by exposure to indoor radon using an environmental study, taking into account recent data on the possible effect of Human Papillomavirus, based on lung cancer mortality and radon exposure in the Russian regions.Materials and methods: in the analysis, linear dependencies of lung cancer against influencing factors were used. The average radon concentration for the regions of Russia was earlier reconstructed on the basis of the annual reports of the form 4-DOZ. Information on morbidity and mortality from malignant neoplasms in Russia was obtained from annual reports issued by the Р. Hertsen Moscow Oncology Research Institute. As a surrogate of the level of infection with Human Papillomavirus, the incidence of cervix cancer was used. The smoking prevalence was estimated applying data on the incidence of tongue cancer.Results: taking into account smoking and infection with Human Papillomavirus, it is possible to obtain estimates of lung cancer excess relative risk when induced by radon in dwellings consistent with the results of case-control studies.Conclusion: the analysis of regionally aggregated data on deaths from lung cancer in Russia, the average level of indoor radon concentrations and significant risk factors for lung cancer confirms the linear threshold-free concept of radiation-induced carcinogenesis.Цель исследования: проанализировать риск развития рака легких, вызванный воздействием радона в помещениях, с использованием экологического исследования, с учетом недавних данных о возможном влиянии вируса папилломы человека, на основе данных о смертности от рака легкого и облучении радоном в регионах России.Материалы и методы: при анализе использовались линейные зависимости рака легкого от влияющих факторов. Средние объемные активности радона для областей России ранее были восстановлены на основе ежегодных отчетов формы № 4-ДОЗ. Информация о заболеваемости и смертности от злокачественных образований в России получена из ежегодных отчетов, выпускаемых Московским научно-исследовательским институтом им. П.А. Герцена. В качестве суррогата уровня инфицирования вирусом папилломы человека использовалась заболеваемость раком шейки матки. Распространенность курения была оценена по данным о заболеваемости раком языка.Результаты: учет курения и инфицирования вирусом папилломы человека позволяет получить оценки дополнительного относительного риска рака легкого при облуче-нии радоном в жилищах, согласующиеся с результатами исследований по типу случай – контроль.Заключение: анализ агрегированных по территориальному признаку данных о смертности от рака легкого в России, среднего уровня объемной активности радона в жилищах и значимых факторов риска рака легкого подтверждает линейную беспороговую концепцию радиационно-индуцированного канцерогенеза

Анализ эффективности мероприятий по снижению доз облучения населения от техногенных и природных источников на примере села Муслюмово, река Теча

The aim of the study was to analyze the effectiveness of measures on reduction of population radiation exposure at the radioactively contaminated territories by comparing radiation doses due to natural and technogenic sources. Materials and methods: the effective doses of radiation exposure due to the Techa River contamination in Muslyumovo were calculated using the data on radionuclide intakes and coefficients recommended by ICRP. Exposure to radon was estimated based on the results of radon surveys of Muslyumovo in 1992 and New Muslyumovo in 2015. Results: the total effective dose due to the Techa River contamination accumulated over the period 1950–2000 was 144 mSv. Annual effective doses due to radon in Muslyumovo and New Muslyumovo were 9,2 and 5,1 mSv respectively. The total effective dose received due to the natural and technogenic radiation was about 0,7 Sv (a contribution of radon is 77%). The total averted dose by the year 2015 due to resettlement in 2007 is 38 mSv. The dose reduction  appeared mostly due to lower radon exposure. Conclusion: the maximum reduction of population exposure could be achieved by means of timely evacuation to uncontaminated territory together with the indoor radon prevention measures.Цель исследования: провести анализ эффективности мероприятий по снижению доз облучения населения, проживающего на территориях, подвергшихся аварийному радиоактивному загрязнению, на основе расчета и сравнения полученных и предотвращенных доз облучения за счет  техногенных и природных источников. Материалы и методы: эффективные дозы за счет радиоактивного загрязнения реки Теча в селе Муслюмово рассчитаны с использованием данных о поступлении радионуклидов в организм и коэффициентов, рекомендованных МКРЗ. Облучение радоном оценивалось по результатам радоновых обследований в 1992 г. в Муслюмово и в 2015 г. в Новом Муслюмово. Результаты: суммарная эффективная доза, обусловленная загрязнением реки Теча, накопленная за 1950–2000 гг.,  составила 144 мЗв. Годовые эффективные дозы облучения от радона в Муслюмово и Новом Муслюмово составляют 9,2 и 5,1 мЗв соответственно. Общая эффективная доза, накопленная к 2000 г. от двух источников, составила 0,7 Зв (вклад радона – 77%). Предотвращенная к 2015 г. в результате переселения в 2007 г. доза составляет 38 мЗв. Снижение в основном достигнуто за счет меньшей объемной активности радона в зданиях. Заключение: максимальное сокращение дозы облучения населения с. Муслюмово могло быть осуществлено в случае своевременного переселения на незагрязненную территорию и применения превентивных радонозащитных мероприятий