Natalya Mukhortina, PhD (Chem.), research scientist at the Laboratory of Physical and Chemical Research of Core and Reservoir Fluids, Tomsk Branch of IPGG SB RAS, addresses one of the crucial aspects of the environmental science. Her research focuses on petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC) distributions in soils and water bodies across Siberia, where occurrence of these components is associated both with both natural processes and human-caused petroleum contamination.
Organic compounds contained in oil and products of petroleum refining affect detrimentally absolutely all links of the biological chain, causing serious ecosystem malfunctions. Monitoring of concentrations of such compounds is therefore critical, along with development of methods for early evaluation of environmental contamination levels for various types of petroleum pollutants.
— Besides arising from human activities, major hydrocarbon components of oils and petroleum products enter aquatic environments and soils and accumulate in bottom sediments via natural processes (direct runoff, weathering, dissolution, etc.). Some PHCs are produced by the vital activity and postmortem degradation of animal and plant organisms, thus forming the organic matter of soils and rocks. Therefore, it is critical to study PHCs from different regions, in order to identify their diagnostic markers, as well as to determine mechanisms of their supply from different sources and their subsequent distribution in ecosystems," the researcher explained.
The model laboratory experiments and analysis of samples collected in the north of Krasnoyarsk Krai and in the Pur District of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, conducted by Natalia Mukhortina yielded a number of remarkable results and findings.
Her research work in this area was funded by the Russian Science Foundation (RSF). As part of the grant, the study of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHCs) in water bodies and bottom sediments of Siberian regions (Krasnoyarsk Krai, Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Tomsk Oblast) is currently conducted with an aim to identify pollution sources. This time, the researcher's focus includes not only areas where oil extraction operations are under way, but also regions with developed coal mining industries (Kuzbass), as well as wildfire-affected areas.
Natalia Mukhortina has already tested a number of methodologies, opting for a PAHC extraction method using hexane which ensures a high yield of target compounds for her future research, specifically, for identification of marker compounds acting as pollution indicators.
— In Russia, maximum permissible concentrations (MPCs) have been adopted for only one compound from PAHCs —benzo[a]pyrene. However, there are 16 other compounds that also may have a negative environmental impact and pose threat to human health. It is highly important to accumulate as much environmental monitoring data as possible, which would allow for region-specific characteristics as well. These results will help identify pollution sources (both human-caused and natural), as well as assist in developing effective water body treatment measures. Responding to the need for a detailed perspective of petroleum pollution, they may serve as a basis for future adoption of MPCs for other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (such as phenanthrene, anthracene, chrysene, pyrene, dibenzoanthracene, and so on), — concluded Natalia Mukhortina.
Adopted from materials of the Akademicheskii Prospect newspaper (https://www.tsc.ru/files/ru/ap/ap_20260305.pdf)