Assessment of damage and losses caused by soil pollution due to war

Purpose. The aim of the study is to assess the damage and losses caused by soil contamination due to Russian-Ukrainian war, and to identify the relationships between the contamination factors (CF) for potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and calculated losses. Methodology. In a study using a quantitative design, the damage (based on the CFs for Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) and losses due to military soil contamination were assessed by analysing of 116 samples collected from agricultural lands of the Prolisnenska territorial community, Chuhuiv district, Kharkiv region (Ukraine). The analysis of the results from field, laboratory, and desk-based research used descriptive statistics; tests for normality (based on skewness, kurtosis, and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Lilliefors, and Shapiro-Wilk criteria); Student’s t-test for independent samples and the Mann-Whitney U test; as well as correlation analysis and regression modelling. Results. Based on the average values of the CF for PTEs, a considerable level of soil contamination with Zn was recorded, along with a moderate level of contamination with Fe and Pb; for the remaining elements, contamination was low or absent. The average total losses due to soil contamination by PTEs, with concentrations exceeding background levels, amount to 10726 USD/ha. Statistically significant differences in damage (based on CFs for Cd, Fe, and Ni, p < 0.05) and total losses (p = 0.06 according to the t-test; p = 0.05 according to the Mann-Whitney U test) due to contamination were identified between land that has recently undergone humanitarian demining and land used for agricultural purposes (average losses amount to 11521 and 10118 USD/ha, respectively). Total losses have statistically significant positive, predominantly moderate, correlations with the CFs for Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn (using Pearson’s method) and for Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn (using Kendall’s method). Based on standardised β coefficients (p < 0.001), the largest relative contributions to total losses due to soil contamination were attributable to Pb (β = 0.391), Cu (β = 0.374), and Cr (β = 0.302). Originality. In this study, for the first time: (1) an economic assessment of losses was carried out based on experimental data on soil contamination with PTEs at the local level caused by military actions; (2) statistically significant differences in damage and losses due to contamination were identified between land after humanitarian demining and land used for agricultural purposes; (3) relationships between the CFs for PTEs in the soil and the calculated losses were established; and (4) multifactorial models for the predictive assessment of these losses were developed. A method for assessing losses due to military soil contamination based on comparing actual values of PTE content with background level instead of maximum permissible concentration was proposed. This study contributes to a better understanding of the economics of military land degradation in terms of the environmental and economic consequences of soil contamination due to the Russian-Ukrainian war. Practical implications. The findings can be used by decision-makers and agricultural producers to: (1) improve current methodology for assessing losses and developing policies and practices for the restoration and protection of soil health in areas affected by military contamination; and (2) monitor, assess and forecast damage and losses caused by soil contamination at the local level.