Assessment of ecological comfort of soils of urban ecosystems under the influence of heavy metals on them

Assessment of the ecological state of environmental components in urban areas plays an important role in achieving environmental safety and environmental comfort for human habitation and economic activities. A comprehensive index of ecological comfort of soils polluted by heavy metals is presented and tested. The index is calculated by the ratio of the total impact of heavy metals (HM) on soils, plants, and soil biota to the sum of indicators of environmental sustainability of soils to this effect and the ability of soils to prevent HM pollution in nearby territories. The scale for ecological regulation and ecological comfort of urban ecosystem soils is proposed. It was noted that 42.8% of the soils of the studied key sites located in the sanitary-protective and recreational zones are environmentally comfortable, while 57.2% of the soils of the industrial, residential and sanitary-protective functional zones of the city are not considered to be ecologically comfortable.