The model for establishing soil quality standards for the content of oil contaminants

The problems of environmental regulation of oil contaminants in soils are considered. A methodology for developing soil quality standards for the content of contaminants is presented. The analysis of the regulatory framework for environmental regulation of contaminants in soils has been carried out. It is shown that there is a lack of methodological documents for meeting the requirements regarding land reclamation. A model for setting soil quality standards in terms of the content of contaminants is proposed using the example of oil pollution. The justification for the establishment of soil quality standards is based on the ecological functions performed by the soil. Based on the grouping of soil horizons in the framework of ongoing scientific research, the values of quality standards are differentiated for soil horizons of the selected types and subtypes of soils by groups. The environmental standards of soil quality for the content of petroleum products are parameters set at the maximum permissible level of values obtained as a result of laboratory tests – absolute normative values, taking into account the natural background ones, which refers to the soil condition determined by the natural features of the territories and caused by natural environmental processes. To determine the soil quality standards for the content of pollutants, simulation modeling is proposed using various indicators of harmfulness, reflecting 1) the probability of migration of pollutants, for example, oil and products of its transformation from soil to adjacent media (components of the natural environment) into surface and groundwater (migratory aquatic hazard index); 2) the conditions of biota functioning (bioindicators), reflecting the ability of the soil to perform the ecological functions of soils. The indicators for assessing the ecological condition of oil-affected soils are soil characteristics that reflect the ability of the soil to perform ecological functions. Acceptable values of these indicators are established when studying the relationship “state – effect”, “dose – effect”, and assessing the intake of oil or petroleum product components into adjacent environments in quantities that cause toxic effects on biota. The threshold value for studying the relationship “state – impact”, “dose – effect” is the point of qualitative changes in the state of soils and adjacent environment on the graph.

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