Urban biogeochemistry

These peculiarities of urban area development led to the technogenic biogeochemical provinces, i.e., the areas with local increase of pollutants in different components of urban ecosystems such as soils, grounds, surface and ground waters, plants, atmosphere. These pollutants create ecological risk to human and ecosystem health by their accumulation in the biogeochemical food webs (food stuffs and water). 

MODERN APPROACHES TO EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT IN URBAN AREAS 

The concept of urban air pollution has changed significantly during the past several decades. Thirty or fifty years ago, air pollution was only associated with smoke, soot, and odor. At present, we should suggest the following definition that encompasses 

Air pollution in cities can be considered to have three components sources, transport and transformations in the troposphere, and receptors. The sources are processes, devices, or activities that emits airborne substances. When the substances are released, they are transported through the atmosphere, and are transformed into different substances. Air pollutants that are emitted directly to the atmosphere are called primary pollutants. Pollutants that are formed in the atmosphere as a result of transformations are called secondary pollutants. The reactants that undergo the transformation are referred to as precursors. An example of a secondary pollutant is troposphere ozone, O3, and its precursors are nitrogen oxides (NO = NO + NO2) and non-methane hydrocarbons, NMHC. The receptors are the person, animal, plant, material, or urban ecosystems affected by the emissions (Wolff, 1999). 

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Lofton DD, Hershey AE, Whalen SC (2007) Evaluation of denitrification in an urban stream receiving wastewater effluent. Biogeochemistry 86 77-90... 

Bodaly RA, Rudd JWM, Flett RJ. 1998. Effect of urban sewage treatment on total and methyhnercury concentrations in effluents. Biogeochemistry 40 279-291. 

Kasimov, N. S., Koroleva, T. V., Proskuryakov, Yu. V. (1995). Biogeochemistry of urban landscapes (on the example of the Tolyatti City). In N. S. Kasimov (Ed.). Ecogeochemistry of Urban Landscapes. Moscow, Moscow University Publishing House, pp. 23-282. 

Gunilla Oberg (sustainable sewage management in growing urban areas water futures for sustainable cities use of science in policy chlorine biogeochemistry in soil). Institute for Resources, Environment and SustainabUity (IRES), University of British Columbia (UBC),... 

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