Environmental consequences of noise pollution in the city of Donetsk

Kornienko V. O., Yaitsky A. S.

The paper studies ecological consequences of noise pollution of urbanized territories using city of Donetsk as the example. The data of traffic flow intensity is given, and the vibration-acoustic noise of the territory is determined. Analysis of the obtained data shows the 40–45% excess of the maximum permissible levels of noise pollution, which should affect the condition of green spaces and their resilience. Examination of data on noise attenuation with distance in various dendrocoenoses revealed the plants with the best noise protection properties for the territory – Populus bolleana Lauche (38%) and Ulmus laevis Pall. (25%). At the same time, the largest share in the total population has Acer platanoides L. (45%), Populus bolleana Lauche (29%), Ulmus laevis Pall. (12%) and Crataegus laevigata (Poir.) DC. (8%). The viability of existing 40–50 years old prevalent woody plants was estimated at 3 points out of 5. Under given anthropogenic loads, trees are found severely weakened, and having damage of the trunk and the architectonics of the crown.

Keywords:noise level of the territory; intensity of traffic flow; anthropopressing; environmental consequences; green spaces; viability.