Method of ecological assessment of oil-contaminated soils
Olga Romaniuk, L. Z. Shevchyk, I. V. Oshchapovskyy, T. V. Zhak · Biosystems Diversity · 2016
A method for determination of the ecological condition of oil-contaminated soils was developed. This method is suitable for use in a wide range of oil concentrations in soil, ranging from 0–20% and provides a quantitative assessment of phytotoxicity – effective toxicity. The method involves the germination on the investigated soil (moisture 33.3%) in closed Petri dishes in the dark at +24ºС of seeds of test objects: Linum usitatissimum L., Helianthus annuus L., Fagopyrum vulgare St. We used for biotesting initial growth parameters of test objects during 5 days of growth, whenthe toxic effect of oil is quite evident, but other damaging factors do not become apparent. For each test object, an optimal oil concentration range is suggested. At low concentrations of oil in the soil 15.0% phytotoxicity is >4.0; the level of pollution – catastrophic. The method was tested on an industrial area – dumps of the Borislav Ozokerite Mine. Environmental maps of toxicity drawn up using different test objects: L. usitatissimum, H. annuus, F. vulgare were similar, which additionally confirms the correctness of the method. We recommend the application of the proposed method for identification of sites in a threatening, pre-crisis or crisis state, on which other physical-chemical studies can be further conducted.