Environmentalists have conducted studies on the presence of harmful substances in the craters from artillery shells in a number of localities in Donetsk region. Soil samples revealed exceeding the permissible norms of heavy metals. According to environmentalists to grow something near the artillery craters is very dangerous. Experts of the organization «Ekologiya-Pravo-Chelovek» (Ecology-People-Law) , selected samples of soil on the site of explosions of shells in populated areas Peski, Opytne, mineralne, Kremenets, Veseloe and in Donetsk Airport. “We found out a significant excess of the allowed rate of mobile forms of heavy metals. Some of metals, that we revealed and this is — manganese, copper, iron, lead , cadmium , chromium , tin , gallium , nickel , titanium , yttrium , zirconium , cobalt , strontium , zinc, are dangerous in that they may be kept in the environment for hundreds of years, and migrate into plants and human organism. Getting in the human body, this substances almost not output. They only accumulate, causing diseases of the nervous, reproductive, cardiovascular systems, affecting the liver and kidneys. Several generations of Ukrainians may suffer from the negative impact as well as on the controlled area and the occupied part of the country”, — says environmentalist of the organization «Ekologiya-Pravo-Chelovek» (Ecology-People-Law) Ekaterina Norenko. Death statistics Results ot the scientists showed excess of the concentration of the moving forms of  lead in soil. In village Kremenets they were in 8,2 times, in villages Opytne and International Donetsk Airport — in 1,8 times, in village Veseloe — in 1,6 times more than normal level. In village Mineralne environmentalists found concentrations of cadmium in two and a half times higher than the admissible norm. In International Aiport of Donetsk more than 12 times. The excess of zinc found only in village Opytne — 3,2 times higher than normal level. Maximal concentration of ferrum — in 10,8 times, manganese — in 3,3 times, copper — 2,4 times and chrome — 1,9 times were fixed in the same crater. “The highest concentration of insoluble forms of heavy metals was fixed in Donetsk by us”, — telling Ekaterina Norenko — In total content of manganese in excess of the rate of 3,2 times,  3,1 times in the nickel . Vanadium and copper, 2,8 times 2.4 times higher than the allowable limit. In the village Vesele chrome and cobalt, more than 3 times higher than normal, 1,.4 times zirconium , vanadium, two and a half times and strontium in half. The rare earth metal is yttrium, concentration exceeding almost three times the background , was found in village Mineralne. Excessing for tih in 2,8 times is in a village Kremenets. Also, in this sample at the place of funnel set of excessing of  manganese in of 1,6 times , 2,1 times chromium , gallium twice , nickel and titanium is 1,4 times , copper one and half a time , 1,2 times , zirconium , cobalt — two and a half times».

Ammunition often contain phosphorus. Ecologist made measurements for the content of this substance in all samples. “Exceeding of the total content of phosphorus is available in samples from settlements Kremenets — four times , Mineral — and a half times , fun — four and a half times and in Donetsk Airport — 1.8 times relative to the background concentrations», — said Ekaterina Norenko .

To dispose of the poisoned land.

“When in 1999 the hostilities were in ex-Yugoslavia, — tells Ekaterina Norenko, — agricultural production was stopped on the territory area of 2,5 millions of hectares, cause of pollution from breaking shells”.

If in your garden shell broken, ecologists advice to remove the top layer of the soil and take out beyond the garden before the first rains.

“There are companies which are specifically involved in the safe disposal of contaminated soil. If opportunity exists it’s better to contact with them, heavy metals won’t be back inti environment and don’t to get back into the soil from the dump. If there were rains, heavy metals might fall into the lower layers of the soil, where they are still denied for plants and then it will have to take more layer of soil” — advises Ekaterina.

According to the expert to grow something on a place where shell fall down is absolutely not.

“It’s very dangerous for your health. Since heavy metals accumulate in organism, the negative effects may occur in a few months, or even years. And when problems with health come, it will be hard to connect it with eaten some time ago not usual radish — thinks ecologist — Before planting top layer of the soil need to be removed. In no case simply burying the crater, because all  harmful substances with vegetables will be on table. Soil removes nearly 10-15 centimeters of its thickness — if there wasn’t raining and 15-20 centimeters  after the rain from the middle of the crater. And around it — in radius of 3-4 meters. If crater is very big (up to 10 meters), it’s better to increase radius to 4-5 meters”.

Scientists believe that negative influence on the ecology of Donbass greatly underestimated and still poorly studied.

“Except the pollution of ground of harmful substances, the top layer of humus so needed for agriculture is destroying with breaking of ammunition — tells Ekaterina Norenko — It will take from 1500 to 7400 years for natural recovery of this layer”.

Photo: 0629.com.ua — site of Mariupol.

Denis Matsola, Alla Voitsehovska for Informator.lg.ua