Sergey Sergeevich Ogorodnikov

The article presents a comparative analysis of the spatial structure of technogenic impacts on soil cover under conditions of localized (point-source) and diffuse (area-wide) pollution. The study focuses on the territories of Sverdlovsk and Tula regions, which are contrasting in terms of land use and the nature of anthropogenic transformation. The former is characterized by an industrial landscape dominated by stationary emission sources, while the latter represents an agro-industrial region with a developed background level of pollution formed by the combined effects of agricultural activity, dispersed emissions, and long-term radiological impacts. Based on data on heavy metal (Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn) concentrations in soils and the application of remote sensing (NDVI) and geoinformation analysis methods, a functional zoning approach is proposed. This approach allows for the differentiation of land areas by the intensity of technogenic pressure and the degree of ecological transformation. The methodological framework includes key concepts such as the environmentally permissible background (EPB), the anthropogenically modified background (AMB), and the point of no return (PNR), the latter being interpreted as a critical threshold beyond which ecosystem degradation becomes irreversible and bioproductivity steadily declines. The zoning model comprises sanitary protection zones (SPZ), ecological responsibility zones (ERZ), and post-contamination zones (PCZ), each of which possesses specific functional and regulatory attributes. The paper substantiates the need to move away from universal maximum permissible concentrations (MPCs) toward regionally adapted background-based benchmarks derived from empirical observations. The proposed methodology was tested across representative sites with varying degrees and types of anthropogenic influence and demonstrated high sensitivity to the interplay between physicochemical and landscape factors. The findings offer a more substantiated basis for the design of sanitary and environmental protection measures, refinement of soil quality standards, and formulation of sustainable land-use strategies. The developed approach can be applied in the practice of environmental and cadastral services, regional spatial planning, industrial environmental assessment, and soil and environmental monitoring systems at both regional and municipal levels.