The effect of hydrocarbon contamination on the accumulation of lipids in soils

The effect of hydrocarbon contamination on the accumulation of lipids in soils is discussed. The field study was performed in the Shchelkovo district of Moscow oblast on soddy-podzolic soils contaminated with hydrocarbons in low concentrations along the entire profile. It was shown that the transformation of the hydrocarbons under the particular soil-geochemical conditions follows the way of the formation of incompletely oxidized compounds that are analytically determined in the fraction of the lipids. A significant increase in the concentration of lipids was found in the lower horizons of the semihydromorphic and hydromorphic soils under conditions of excessive moistening and a low redox potential. There was no increase in the concentration of the lipids in the upper soil horizons with their optimum water content and high values of the redox potential, which could be due to the complete oxidation of the hydrocarbons to carbon dioxide and water.