Ecological and geochemical assessment of coal industry enterprises of Donbas and the environment in their impact zones
Keywords:
Donbas, biosphere, mine, technogenic anomaly, landscape, environmentAbstract
Background. The coal industry of Donbas has long been one of the main sources of technogenic pressure on the environment of the region. Intensive coal mining and beneficiation, accumulation of mining waste, drainage and discharge of mine waters, as well as gas and dust emissions have led to the formation of persistent technogenic geochemical anomalies in soils, surface and groundwater, and the near-surface atmosphere. The environmental situation has significantly worsened since 2014 due to military activities and the mass closure of coal mines, mainly by the "wet conservation" method, which has generated additional ecological risks. The aim of this study is to assess the role of coal industry enterprises in the technogenic transformation of Donbas landscapes and chemical pollution of environmental components, as well as to identify zones of combustible gas migration within coal-bearing massifs.
Methods. The study is based on an integrated environmental and geochemical approach using spectral, atomic absorption and mass spectrometric analytical methods. A comparative assessment was carried out between background natural landscapes (the "Kamyani Mohyly" and "Khomutovskyi Steppe" nature reserves and the Velykyi Anadol artificial forest massif) and areas exposed to intense technogenic impact. Soil contamination levels were evaluated using concentration coefficients and the total pollution index (Zc). Gas-bearing properties of coal-bearing massifs were investigated through sampling and analysis of subsoil gases using chromatographic techniques and factor analysis.
Results. It was established that coal, solid mining waste, mine waters and gas-dust emissions from coal enterprises form specific technogenic geochemical associations with elevated concentrations of mercury, arsenic, germanium, molybdenum and other elements. The most environmentally hazardous were wastes from coal beneficiation plants. Mine waters of Donbas are characterized by high mineralization and exceedances of maximum permissible concentrations for several chemical elements. Zones of intensive migration of methane and hydrogen were identified; these zones pose a significant risk to population safety but at the same time may represent potential targets for alternative energy resources.
Conclusions. Coal industry enterprises are a key factor in the environmental and geochemical transformation of the Donbas region. The obtained results highlight the necessity of systematic environmental monitoring and the development of a comprehensive environmental and geochemical rehabilitation program for Donbas in the post-war period, with special attention to deoccupied territories and areas of closed coal mines.
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