The Don River mouth area environmental problems at the present stage: Assessment and analytical review

¹ Academy of Biology and Biotechnology named after. D. I. Ivanovsky, Stachki Ave. 194/1, Southern Federal University , Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation
² Rostov Research Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology, Gazetny ln., 119, Rostov-on-Don, 344000, Russian Federation
³ Institute of Earth Sciences Southern Federal University Zorge Street 40, 344090 Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation
⁴ Federal Scientific Center of Hygiene named after F.F. Erisman of Rospotrebnadzor, st. Semashko, 2, Mytishchi, Moscow region, 141010, Russian Federation
⁵ Volgograd State Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Fallen Fighters Square 1, Volgograd, 400131, Russian Federation
⁶ Moscow Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology named after G.N. Gabrichevsky Rospotrebnadzor, st. Admiral Makarov 10, Moscow 125212, Russian Federation

^* Corresponding author: vszubcov@mail.ru

Abstract

The article presents an analytical review of the current ecological state of the mouth area of the Don River, which is conventionally divided into three sections: from the village of Razdorskaya to the top of the delta in the area of Rostov-on-Don, the delta and the Taganrog Bay. Various methods have been used in the literature to assess pollution in the Lower Don. However, a comprehensive review that systematically describes and analyzes all existing contaminants has yet to be conducted. To address this research gap, the authors conduct an analytical review. Particular attention is paid to indicators characterizing the level of organic and biological pollution of river water, the main sources of pollution and their impact on the sanitary, hygienic and epidemiological state of water areas are identified. In 2022-2023, with the participation of the authors, seasonal studies of water were carried out to assess the ecological and sanitary state of the Don and Temernik rivers within the city of Rostov-on-Don based on the use of various microbiological indicators. The set of typical environmental management problems is supplemented by issues related to the reduction of water flow and sediment load of the river. The most vulnerable sectors in this regard are shipping, agriculture and fisheries. The ecological situation in the mouth area of the Don River continues to remain tense, as evidenced by data from hydrochemical and sanitary-bacteriological studies of water, bottom sediments and aquatic organisms.