Approaches to the hygienic assessment of soil quality in populated areas under special anthropogenic stress

Introduction. The soils of the Murmansk region are experiencing intense anthropogenic stress caused by the activities of mining and metallurgical enterprises, ship repair, and energy. This leads to the formation of profoundly transformed soil landscapes polluted with heavy metals and persistent organic compounds. The specifics of the region, including harsh climatic conditions, low buffer capacity and organic matter poverty of local soils, contribute to the long-term preservation and accumulation of pollutants, which creates increased risks to public health.The purpose of the study is to carry out a hygienic assessment of the soil quality of populated areas with a ranking of the territories according to the degree of chemical hazard based on the results of field studies performed in the closed administrative-territorial entity (CATE) Alexandrovsk, Murmansk region.Materials and methods. In 2025, thirty soil samples were taken in various functional zones on the territory of the CATE the Alexandrovsk settlement in the Murmansk region. The studies were conducted in an accredited laboratory in accordance with the requirements of SanPiN 1.2.3685–21, SanPiN 2.1.3684–21, MU 2.1.7.730–99. The assessment of the level of chemical pollution was carried out by the concentration coefficient (CC) and the total pollution index (Zc).Results. Systemic excess of hygienic standards (MPC/ODC) for the content of heavy metals (copper, nickel, lead, zinc) and benz(a)pyrene was found in all selected soil samples. Soil contamination with substances of the 1st hazard class (lead, zinc, benz(a)pyrene) is assessed as very severe, and of the 2nd hazard class (copper, nickel) as severe. The total Zc pollution index was: Olenya Guba – 11 (acceptable), Polyarny – 38.3 (dangerous), Gadzhievo – 45.25 (dangerous), Snezhnogorsk – 60.1 (dangerous). The category of soil pollution in the territory of BUT is assessed as “dangerous”, with the exception of the locality of Olenya Guba (“permissible”).Limitations are related to the fact that the studies were conducted on soils selected from one territory located in the Murmansk region, with a developed nuclear and chemical industry, and did not affect territories with other sources of pollution.Conclusion. The identified very strong and severe chemical contamination of the soils of the populated areas of CATE Alexandrovsk, especially with substances of the 1st hazard class, creates real risks to public health, which requires the development of measures to reduce anthropogenic pressure and strengthen environmental monitoring.Compliance with ethical standards. The study does not require the submission of a conclusion from the biomedical ethics committee or other documents.Сontribution: Evseeva I.S. – concept and design of research, collection of material and data processing, writing, editing; Ushakova O.V. – concept and design of research, writing, editing; Ibragimova S.Sh. – collecting material and data processing, writing text, editing; Yudin S.M. – research concept, editing. All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final versionConflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.Funding. The research was carried out within the framework of the state assignment. Conflict of interests. The authors declare the absence of obvious and potential conflicts of interest in connection with the publication of this article.Received: November 17, 2025 / Accepted: December 2, 2025 / Published: February 10, 2026