Scientists from the St. Petersburg Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences (SPb FRC RAS) have developed a unique method for diagnosing hazardous soil pollutants and restoring contaminated land using aquatic organisms and microorganisms

Based on two decades of field experiments and observations, researchers from SPb FRC RAS have created an innovative environmental assessment method that not only measures the concentration of harmful chemical compounds but also comprehensively evaluates the condition of living organisms in the soil — plants, invertebrates, and microbiota.

At the core of the methodology is an integrated biological indicator — the Soil Health Index, which combines chemical analysis, biotesting, and biodiversity assessment. This approach makes it possible to determine how critical the contamination is for the ecosystem and to predict the soil’s ability to self-purify and recover.

A key element of the method is the use of aquatic organisms and microorganisms as bioindicators of environmental health. The viability of test organisms upon contact with soil samples is evaluated, along with the rate of organic matter decomposition, enzymatic activity, and the diversity of soil microbiota.

Practical testing was conducted at experimental sites in the Leningrad Region, where long-term observations (8–20 years) assessed the response of different soil types to contamination with heavy metals, petroleum products, and anti-icing agents.

The method is already being applied in St. Petersburg’s urban park management to assess soil conditions in the Summer Garden and can be used for monitoring urban, forest, and agricultural lands, developing measures to improve environmental quality, and preventing land degradation.

Source: Saint Petersburg Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences (SPb FRC RAS)