Accumulation and Distribution of Heavy Metals in Soils and Medicinal Plants in the Impact Zone of Novocherkassk Power Station

Novocherkassk Power Station is one of the energy enterprises of the first hazard class, primarily operating on coal, the emissions of which exert a negative impact on the environment of Rostov oblast. The purpose of this study is to analyze the accumulation of Zn, Pb, Cu, Mn, Ni, Cr, and Cd in soils and various types of medicinal plants in its impact zone. The total content of Cr, Ni, and Cd in soils is to 1.4 times higher than the background and the approximately permissible concentrations. It is revealed that the maximal permissible concentration in soils is exceeded by four times for mobile forms of Cu and to two times for mobile Zn, Pb, Ni, and Cr. Heavy metals are mainly accumulated in the above-ground parts of wormwood, common chicory, and tansy and in roots of yarrow. The maximal permissible concentration of elements is exceeded to 3.5 times for Pb, to five times for Cd, and to three times for Ni in yarrow; to 5.5 times for Pb and to two times for Ni in wormwood; to two and six times for Pb and Cd, respectively, in chicory; and to three times for Pb and Cd in tansy. The content of mobile compounds of heavy metals in soil and their accumulation in plants are the highest within 3 km to the northwest from the power station. The degree of technogenic load on soils and medicinal plants in the impact zone is assessed on the basis of biogeochemical parameters.