Detection of Volatile Organic Compounds in Upland peat by Means of Proton-transfer-reaction Mass Spectrometry

This research represents the results of the detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the sphagnum moss and peat from two upland bogs located in Germany. Proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS), used for the research, is a high-sensitive method, which permit to detect low concentrations of VOCs in ambient air. Along with natural VOCs of peat plants (generally sphagnum moss), the results of the study showed the presence of anthropogenic VOCs emissions like butanol, toluene, and benzene. This fact testifies about the capability of peat moss to accumulate these compounds. Possible sources of these VOCs in the peat samples can be agricultural machines and the traffic of the nearest roads

Impact of environmental factors on the demographic characteristics in Tomsk Oblast (Russia, 1980-2015)

The research represents the analysis of essential demographic indexes in Tomsk Oblast (Russia): birth-rate, death-rate, natural increase (1980-2015), migration increase (19972014), and child mortality (1990-2015). Environmental factors were determined as influencing the health and as a consequence, having the impact on the demographic characteristics of the studied region

biogeochemistry of sphagnum moss and epiphytic lichens in oil and gas exploration areas of Tomsk Region

Taking into account the lack of information about the atmospheric pollution by various chemical elements in territories of oil and gas exploration, including Tomsk region, the authors have implemented the method of atmosphere motoring using sphagnum moss and epiphytic lichens. The aim of the research is to estimate the environment state in oil exploration territories of Tomsk region using biomonitors (epiphytic lichens and sphagnum moss). The plant ash was analyzed by INAA method for the quantitative determination of 28 chemical elements. As a result of the study, lichens concentrate more Sc, Br, Ce, Sn Eu, Tb, La, Lu, Th, U than moss, and moss concentrates more Rb, Ag, Cs, Ba, Au than lichens. Contents of Na, Ca, Cr, Fe, Co, Zn, As, Sr, Sb, Yb, Hf, Ta in the studied samples are approximately at the same level. In comparison with the mean values for West Siberia and other regions of the world, the studied territory has higher concentrations of Cr, Fe, Zn, Sb, Sc, Sr, Yb, Hf, U. This can be caused both by the influence of local sources of atmospheric pollution at oil deposits, and geochemical, geographical, and climatic peculiarities of the studied territor