MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
What kind of air do we breathe, how clean is the water in Moscow’s rivers, is the soil suitable for planting, and what substances are contained in the first snow? The specialists of the GPBU testing center can answer these questions. “MosEcoMonitoring” Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection.
On the eve of World Environmental Health Day, which is celebrated on September 26, mos.ru correspondents visited one of the largest environmental laboratories in the country, saw how it is set up, and learned what methods and equipment specialists use to determine the quality of air, water, and soil in the city.
Laboratory “kitchens” for natural research
The MosEcoMonitoring Testing Center occupies a two-story building at the address: Dalniy Pereulok, Building 2, Block 1. Here, water, soil, air, and precipitation samples are examined for more than 400 indicators. The specialists have the most modern equipment at their disposal, which allows them to obtain accurate data in a short time. Just as doctors diagnose diseases in the human body using tests, so ecologists and chemists analyze the composition of the natural environment and the level of impact of the metropolis on it.
“This is one of the few universal laboratories of its kind in Moscow, which uses both innovative and classical research methods. The specialists are engaged not only in scheduled monitoring: they go to the site in response to requests from residents received on the hotline of the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection,” says Marina Petrova, head of the analytical inspection department of the State Budgetary Institution MosEcoMonitoring.
All work processes in the testing center are subject to strict regulations. In one room, air samples are analyzed, in another – water, in a third – soil. The laboratories resemble huge kitchens – with refrigerators, cabinets, sinks, various bottles, containers and flasks, and chemists in white coats resemble chefs conjuring up another dish.
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Blue is ammonia, pink is nitrogen oxides
An important indicator of environmental well-being is air quality. In the laboratory for studying samples taken from the atmosphere, the shelves are lined with flasks and test tubes of various shapes and sizes, and measuring equipment is placed on the tables: titrators, gas analyzers, aspirators and various probes.
One of the main methods used to determine the composition of the air environment is chromatography. Special tubes filled with sorbent are used to collect samples. The aspirator they are connected to sucks in air like a vacuum cleaner, and the sorbent holds certain substances and does not release them. The sample is then sent to the laboratory.
“We regularly monitor the areas where industrial production is located and respond to citizens’ requests. If complaints are received about air pollution in a certain area, we promptly go out to check the information and take samples. Mobile laboratories are equipped with gas analyzers, which can be used to take measurements on site, which allows us to search for the source of air pollution,” explains Marina Petrova.
The content of various substances in the air is also determined by the classical photometric method. Various chemicals are added to test tubes, which react with the sample and produce different colors. For example, blue indicates the presence of ammonia in the air, pink indicates nitrogen oxides, pale yellow indicates the content of formaldehyde, bright yellow indicates chlorine, and red indicates hydrogen fluoride. To determine the concentration of solid particles in the air, it must be passed through a special filter, and then this filter must be weighed. This method is called gravimetric.
“We also conduct sampling at industrial enterprises. Sampling equipment helps with this. Specialists also conduct direct measurements. For this, there are gas analyzers, probes of different lengths and diameters. The direct measurement method allows us to determine the concentration of pollutants immediately on site, other studies are conducted in the laboratory,” says Dmitry Pakhomov, Deputy Head of the Analytical Inspection Department.
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Distinguish between text and smell
Another area of activity of the testing center is the study of the quality of water in Moscow rivers, ponds and underground waters. Samples are taken in different places of the objects with special equipment in the form of a narrow cylinder, poured into a common container for mixing, and then poured into bottles of different types – depending on the type of study. Special fixing reagents are added to some containers. After the sample arrives at the laboratory, it is registered and assigned a specific number, under which it “lives” from one to 10 days.
“Specialists conduct water research on 42 indicators, including general chemical analysis, determination of the content of hydrogen sulfide, metals, organic substances, oil products, biochemical oxygen consumption. Gravimetric, photometric, potentiometric, titrimetric, spectral and other methods of analysis are used,” notes Marina Petrova.
The organoleptic method is used when it is necessary to determine the smell of water. Using a water bath, the sample is heated to 20 or 60 degrees, then the specialist examines it, like a perfumer, and assigns marks on a five-point scale. In order to correctly evaluate the smell, you cannot use perfume or cosmetics.
The transparency of water is also determined in an interesting way: it is poured into a narrow flask fixed on a stand, and printed text is placed under it. A specialist looks into the flask without glasses and drains the water using a tap until he can clearly distinguish the letters. The more water remains in the flask, the higher its transparency, and vice versa.
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The purity of water can be checked using biological testing. It is performed using two test objects: green protococcal algae, which are grown in a special climatostat cabinet in the laboratory, and ceriodaphnia crustaceans.
“We usually use both methods, they complement each other. The prepared test object is placed in a sample of water or aqueous extract from soil or waste. Based on the lifespan and behavior of the test object in the sample, a conclusion is made about its toxicity,” says Maria Guzova, head of the biological analysis department.
As part of the monitoring programs and at the request of residents, the testing center specialists also conduct soil sampling. They are collected using the envelope method. Up to five kilograms of soil must be collected from the corners and center of the designated square area using metal shovels and drills. The soil is then dried, cleared of stones and foreign fragments, crushed, sifted through a sieve and placed in bags. Samples collected using various methods are delivered to the laboratory, after which they are prepared for testing. This includes drying, crushing and sieving. Further testing is carried out using both the above methods and unique ones (for example, the X-ray fluorescence method).
Moscow has a program for monitoring urban soils, which includes more than 1,300 permanent monitoring sites, and at least 300 are surveyed annually. Based on the results of the research, specialists assess the anthropogenic and technogenic load, as well as the suitability of the soil for plants.
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Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.