Environmental Risk Assessment in the Masrik River Basin

М. А. Nalbandyan; А. О. Nersisyan

doi:10.32819/021009

М. А. Nalbandyan Institute of Geological Sciences National Academy of Sciences https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5406-2042
А. О. Nersisyan Institute of Geological Sciences National Academy of Sciences https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6301-0199

Keywords: environmental risk; river water quality; modeling and mapping

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess the environmental risks of water pollutionin the Masrik River catchment area. The risk assessment studies are based on the results of thehydrochemical monitoring of the Masrik River Basin water quality in 2012‒2014. The main riskfactors for pollution of the river basin area are mining, agriculture, uncontrolled utility flows.Zoning was performed and areas of zones were calculated using a digital elevation model (DEM)in the ArcGIS software environment and taking into account sampling points and river basins. Atthe same time, the territory was ranked by population density. Then a geodatabase (GDB) wascompiled. GDB presents the point assessments of the state of river waters according to the level ofthe pollutant concentration factor and population density. The thematic layers based on the resultsof the indicators in the ArcGIS program were compiled. A map was obtained according to a pointassessment of environmental risk. An integrated assessment of river water pollution was carriedout in different parts of the basin. The population density and total risk index were calculated. Thethree risk zones were identified in the river basin: high, medium and low. In addition to presentingtheoretical value, the conclusions are also of practical importance and can be used in the developmentof river basin risk management programs, measures for quality management and control ofpollution sources in the aread.

References

Agriculture from "A" to "Z"( 2013) http://racechrono.ru/torfyanye-pochvy/3210-sostav-mineralnoy-chasti-v-torfyanyh-pochvah-chast-5.html.

Asatryan, V.L., Dallakyan, M.R. (2018). Assessment of seasonal differences of ecological state of lotic ecosystems in the basin of Lake Sevan (Armenia) by bioindication methods: case study of Masrik River. Water Supply 19.. doi.org/10.2166/ws.2018.182

Belov, N.S., Zotov, S.I. (2008). Assessment of the Hydroecological State of the River Systems of the Kaliningrad Region, Natural Sciences, 1, 6‒16. (in Russian)

Farag, A.M., Woodward, D.F., Goldstein, J.N., Brumbaugh, W. and Meyer, J.S. (1997). Concentrations of Metals Associated with Mining Waste in Sediments, Biofilm, Benthic Macroinvertebrates, and Fish from the Coeur d'Alene River Basin, Idaho. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 34, 119–127. doi.org/10.1007/s002449900295.

Fo¨rstner, U., Wittmann, G.T.W. (1983). Metal Pollution in the Aquatic Environment. Springer Verlag, Berlin, Second Edition, 486. doi: 10.001: 10.1007/978-3-642-69385-4

Hambaryan, L.R., Nalbandyan, M.A., Poghosyan, A.M. (2015). Peculiarities of Development of Phytoplankton as an Indicator of the Ecological State in Modern Hydrochemical Conditions of Masrik River, American Journal of Environmental Protection, 4(3‒1), 44‒50. doi: 10.11648/j.ajep.s.2015040301.18

Hydrological Atlas of Armenia (1990). Publishing house of the Academy of Sciences of RA, 68 (in Russian).

Kharytonov, M.М., Pugach, A.М., Stankevich, S. А., Кozlova, A.O. (2018). Geospatial assessment of the Mokra Sura river ecological condition using remote sensing and in situ monitoring data. Journ.Geol.Geograph.Geoecology, 27(3), 422-430. doi:10.15421/111866.

Kharytonov M., M., Babenko, M. H., Sytnyk, S. A., Maslikova, K. P. (2019). Ecological assessment of water quality of Samotkan river in the area of polymetallic ores mining. Agrology, 2(1), 22‒26. doi: 10.32819/2617-6106.2018.14013

Koronkevich, N. I., Zaitseva, I. S. (1992). Geographical direction in the study and prediction of hydroecological situations. Izvestia RAS, Geographical series, publishing house Science (M.), 3, 23–32 (in Russian)

Koronkevich N., I., Zaitseva, I. S., Kitaev, L. M. (1995). Negative hydroecological situations. Izvestia RAS, Geographical series, publishing house Science (M.), 1, 43–53 (in Russian).

Koronkevich, N. I., Barabanova, E. A., (2015). Hydrological Consequences of Economic Activity in the Watersheds, Fundamental problems of water and water resources: Proceedings of the Fourth All-Russian Scientific Conference with international participation, Moscow, IWP RAS, 305‒308.

Krylova, A.V. (2010). Ecology of the lake Sevan in the period of its increase. Results of research of the Russian-Armenian biological expedition on hydroecological survey of Lake Sevan (Armenia). Makhachkala, Nauka DNTS, 348.

Kulikova, D.V., Kovrov, O.S., Buchavy, Yu.V., Fedotov,V.V. (2018). GIS-based Assessment of the Assimilative Capacity of Rivers in Dnipropetrovsk Region. Journ.Geol.Geograph.Geoecology, 27(2), 274‒285. doi:10.15421/111851

Mining encyclopedia (2021) https://www.armstat.am

Nalbandyan, M.A., Saakov, A.S. (2019). The patterns of heavy metals accumulation in water, soil and their transfer in the soil–plant system in the catchment area of the Sotk and Masrik rivers, Agrology, 2(2), 112‒116. doi:10.32819/019016

Nature of Armenia (2006). Armenian Encyclopedia (in Armenian).

Reshetnyak, O.S., Nikanorov, A.M., Trofimchuk, M.M., Grishanova Yu.S. (2017). Assessment of hydroecological risk in the OKA river basin. Water and ecology, 3, 159–171. doi: 10.23968 / 2305–3488.2017.21.3

Saet, Yu.E., Aleksinskaya, L.N., Yanin, E.P. (1982). Methodical recommendations for geochemical assessment of pollution of surface water courses by chemical elements, Edited by Grigoryan. USSR Ministry of Geology, Moscow ( in Russian).

Sheykhi, V., Moore F. (2012). Geochemical characterization of Kor river water quality, Fars Province, Southwest Iran. Water Quality, Exposure and Health, 4, 25–38. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-012-0063-1

Sidorenko, A.V., Mkrtchyan, S.S., Vardanyants, L.A., Gabrielyan, A.A., Magakyan, I.G., Paffengolts K.N. (1974). Geology of the USSR, Ministry of Geology of the USSR Department of Geology of the Council of Ministers of the Armenian SSR, Mineral Resources, 43 (2) (in Russian).

Sidorenko, A.V., Mkrtchyan, S.S., Vardanyants, L.A., Gabrielyan, A.A., Magakyan, I.G., Paffengolts, K.N. (1962). Geology of the USSR, Geomorphology, Publishing house of the Academy of Sciences of Arm. SSR, 1, 90–97 (in Russian).

Statistical Committee of the Republic of Armenia (2021) https://www.armstat.am.

Vardanian, T.G. (2012) On Some Issues of the Anthropogenic Transformation of Water Ecosystems (Case Study of Lake Sevan). National Security and Human Health Implications of Climate Change, Springer, 29, 325‒336. doi: 10.1007/978-94-007-2430-3_29.

Vardanyan, T.T. (1961). Brief botanical characteristics of peat in Armenia. Bulletin of the Academy of Sciences of the Armenian SSR, 10, 98‒102 (in Russian).

Velde, G.V., Leuven, R.S.E.W. (1999). Polluted river systems:Monitoring and assessment of ecotoxicological risks, Acta Hydrochimica et Hydrobiologica, 27(5), 251–256. doi/10.1002/(SICI)1521-401X(199911)27:5<251::AID-AHEH251>3.0.CO;2-I

Wenhao, W., Rui, M., Ziyong, S., Aiguo, Zh., Jianwei, B., Xiang, L.,Yunde, L. (2018). Effects of Mining Activities on the Release of Heavy Metals (HMs) in a Typical Mountain Headwater Region, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 15(9), 488. doi: 10.3390/ijerph15091987

Zakrutkin, V.E., Arkhipova, O.E., Gibkov, E.V., Sklyarenko, G.Yu. (2014). The use of gis-technologies in the analysis of the hydroecological situation in coal-mining regions (on the example of the Eastern Donbass). Izvestiya Vuzov, North Caucasian Region, Natural Sciences, 2, 85‒89 (in Russian).