Assessment of the risk of pollution of the ecosystem and agricultural products in the zone of military conflict
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15587/2706-5448.2025.341902Keywords:
heavy metals, soil, milk safety, ecosystem contamination, military influenceAbstract
The object of research is the content of toxic elements in soils, pasture grass and cows' milk in settlements located near the combat zone. However, there is virtually no data on the contamination of territories located near the epicenter of military events. This does not make it possible to assess all potential risks of ecosystem contamination caused by military actions. The samples were collected in the territory of the Mykolaivka village community (Ukraine), which is located within a 50-kilometer zone from the state border with Russia. It was found that with an increase in the intensity of drone attacks (by 40%) and missile attacks (by 25%), an increase in the content of toxic metals Cd, Pb, and Cu in the soil was observed. The concentration of Cd (17.63 ± 0.27 ppm) found in sample S5 is the most threatening, as it is 294 times higher than the WHO recommended permissible level. In the tested soil samples, the maximum permissible concentration of lead is observed to be exceeded by 0.2–1 ppm. In May 2025, its content in the soil sampled in the village of Ulyanivka increased by 2.89 ppm, in the village of Tovsta by 2.57 ppm. In the pasture grass sample G3, an excess of Cd (0.07 ± 0.04 ppm), Pb (1.59 ± 0.44 ppm), and Zn (15.45 ± 4.74 ppm) was recorded. Cd content in milk in May 2025 ranges from 0.012–0.016 ± 0.01 ppm, which is 5–6 times higher than the WHO recommended values. Exceedance of the permissible lead level was also recorded in all samples, with the highest proportion (< 0.23 ± 0.11 ppm) in sample M9. The findings highlight the harmful effects of military activities on ecosystems and the safety of agricultural products, even in regions near conflict zones where no active combat is taking place. To address this, ongoing monitoring of soil and vegetation contamination, along with regular assessments of milk quality in these areas, is strongly recommended.
Supporting Agency
- This research was funded by the National Research Foundation of Ukraine under research topic 0125U001049 “Studying the impact of military actions on the possibility of obtaining safe agricultural products”.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Maryna Samilyk, Tetiana Synenko, Natalia Bolgova, Bohdan Lukhanin, Nataliia Borozenets
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