The paper considers the results of geoecological and geophysical studies conducted in the Khojahasan Lake basin in the Western part of Baku. The main purpose of the work was to study the anthropogenic impact on geoecological conditions of the lake. To assess the development of exogenous geological processes in the coastal zone of the lake and their impact on the environment, geophysical studies were carried out by the vertical electric sounding (VES). From 1990 to 2014, the physical and chemical characteristics of water and sediments were studied in a representative section of the lake. Metal concentrations, including such toxic elements as Cu, Zn, Cd, Sr, Ba, Pb, Cr, and Ni, were determined in the trace element composition of bottom sediments. It was revealed that since the mid-XIX century and especially since the second half of the XX century the high rate of population growth and urbanization in the territory of the Absheron Peninsula (in the Republic of Azerbaijan the name Apsheron was changed to Absheron) led to intensive use of natural resources and increased anthropogenic load on the environment. Technogenesis actively violates the natural cycle of matter and energy in lakes (limnogenesis), along with other natu- ral media, as lake basins are located in lowlands and often accumulate industrial, municipal, agricultural, and other discharges. Pollutants accumulated in the lake basin affect hydrobiochemical conditions, transform quantitative and qualitative indicators of the aquatic environment and bottom sediments. Factors affecting the lake landscape are ge- netically different, unequal in the degree and nature of the impact, as well as induration.
The issues of salt production at salt lakes of Apsheron Peninsula in Azerbaijan are reviewed here. The paper objective is to examine the brine formation process and analyze the ways of transformation of salt extraction from the lakes of Apsheron Peninsula under ever increasing industrial development and urbanization. The research on ecological state of salt lakes at the peninsula have shown that the decades-long development of oil and gas and other industries had a dramatical impact on the natural properties of water resources in this area. Laboratory test revealed high concentrations of total hydrocarbons, phenols, toxic metals (Cd, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cu, V, Mo, etc.), surface-active suspended solids and other pollutants in water samples of salt lakes. The paper presents physical and chemical properties of Boyukshore Lake, which for many years was the republic’s primary source of cooking salt. Based on comparative analysis of obtained properties with the maximum allowable concentrations and international standards the level of pollution of natural salt lakes of Apsheron has been assessed and the contribution of each anthropogenic source to the pollution of these water bodies has been determined. The paper presents quantitative and qualitative properties and pictures of the lakes depicting formation of saline deposits and volumes of salt produced at brine lakes of Apsheron. It has been established that decades-long negative impact on the environment led to disruption of ecological balance of the open waters in the region. Most saline lakes in the peninsula lost their natural qualities and became unsuitable for salt production.
The results of investigations aimed at dust contamination of air during stone-cutting opera-tions and improving the means and methods of dust control in stone quarries of Azerbaijan are presented in this paper. The dependence of air dustiness on various parameters was studied in a stone-cutting machine of CM-89A model. It was revealed that the natural humidity of stone rocks is one of the main factors reducing dust release. The works carried out through irrigation of stones with fresh and sea waters showed that the maximal dust reducing is achieved during ir-rigation with seawater.
