Assessment of soil contamination in areas affected by rocket-artillery strikes

Rashkevich Nina

National University of Civil Protection of Ukraine

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5124-6068

Melezhyk Roman

National University of Civil Protection of Ukraine

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6425-4147

Alina Perehin

National University of Civil Protection of Ukraine

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2062-5537

Krasnov Viacheslav

National University of Civil Protection of Ukraine

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8445-6843

DOI: https://doi.org/10.52363/2524-0226-2025-42-19

Keywords: electrical conductivity, conductometry, explosion, soil aqueous extract, contamination, spatial–depth analysis, monitoring

Аnnotation

The article examines methodological approaches to assessing soil contamination in areas affected by rocket and artillery systems based on electrical conductivity indicators. The relevance of the study is driven by the need for rapid assessment of territorial conditions after explosive impacts, when traditional chemical analysis methods are too time-consuming or resource-intensive. The electrical conductivity of the aqueous extract is proposed as an indicator of the total content of dissolved ions, including metals and products of explosive reactions, which makes it possible to evaluate the potential toxicity of the soil and local environmental risks. To collect experimental data, soil samples were taken using a spatial–depth grid covering various distances from the explosion epicenter and different soil layers, ensuring the representativeness of the assessment of technogenic impact. Electrical conductivity measurements provided a basis for the mathematical description of the spatial–depth distribution of ionic load and enabled the proposal of an exponential attenuation model of the concentration effect. The model makes it possible to predict changes in contamination levels at intermediate points, assess the scale of explosion impacts, and trace the spread of soluble components within the soil profile, taking into account hydrogeological and terrain conditions. The results form a foundation for rapid assessment of technogenic load, operational zoning of territories, planning of civil protection measures, and forecasting long-term changes in soil conditions. The proposed approach combines experimental measurements and mathematical modeling to develop an adaptive monitoring system. Index-based data generalization ensures the comparison of contamination levels between sites, the identification of priority restoration zones, and the support of decision-making pro-cesses in post-conflict regions, as well as facilitating prompt responses to potential environmental emergencies.

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