Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences

- Conducting research and preparing databases on the distribution of uranium-thorium-radium isotopes in the water and soil ecosystems of Azerbaijan and related heavy metals and polycyclic compounds in environmentally sensitive areas

-Study of environmental pollution with radionuclides, heavy metals, toxic elements and common organic hydrocarbons in oil production areas;

- Study of radionuclides, metals and organic pollutants in the aquatic environment and bottom sediments of the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea;

- Study of natural and anthropogenic pollutants in the river basins of Azerbaijan and the risks they create;

- Studying the influence of environmental stress factors on biological objects.

1. An assessment was made of the content of radionuclides, heavy metals, toxic elements and the total content of organic hydrocarbons in oil-producing and related areas, and sources of pollution were identified in the areas under study. The age of oil industry lakes formed by formation waters was determined from the activities determined for Ra228 and Ra226 isotopes.

2. In the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea, radionuclides, metals and organic pollutants were studied in the aquatic environment and bottom sediments, and based on the results obtained, the Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo.), Pollution Factor (CF), The enrichment factor (EF), and the environmental risk factor were calculated (Er), Pollution Degree (DC), Pollution Load Index (PLI), Environmental Risk Index (RI). Despite the anthropogenic enrichment and moderate pollution of the study area, the potential environmental risk was low.

3. Samples of water, bottom sediments and soil taken along transboundary rivers were examined to determine the concentration of radionuclides, heavy metals and pesticides and the risks caused by them were assessed. It has been established that changes in water quality due to natural, anthropogenic impacts and seasonal changes can increase the accumulation of radionuclides and heavy metals. As a result of the study of pesticides in transboundary river ecosystems, it was found that relatively high amounts of DDT and its isomers, a-BHC, b-BHC, d-BHC, dieldrin, endosulfan II and endosulfan sulfate isomers are observed in the studied areas.

4. For water taken from the northern rivers of Azerbaijan and rivers located on the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus, soil samples taken from adjacent territories and from bottom sediments, the elemental composition and degree of contamination with radionuclides were determined. The water quality was assessed for these rivers.

5. Pollution of natural and anthropogenic origin in the ecosystems of the rivers of the Lesser Caucasus and the risks caused by them are assessed. Based on the research results and calculated data, the influence of natural and anthropogenic changes in river basins on water quality has been studied.

6. In the liberated territories, an initial assessment of the radioecological situation and measurements of the radiation background were carried out. As a result of studying the water sources of the region, it was found that the concentration in Okchuchay, which enters the Zangilan region of Azerbaijan from the territory of the Republic of Armenia, is 1.7-1.8 times higher than the permissible limit values. for the Mn element, 3.1-3.6 times for the Al element and 6-7.5 times for the Fe element. An assessment of pesticides in arable soils was carried out and it was found that the concentrations of the banned pesticide DDT and its isomers prevail over other components.

7. Paramagnetic centers in biological objects have been studied and it has been established that various stress factors (temperature, humidity, radiation, etc.) cause the appearance of magnetic properties in these objects.