GTU Scientists Conducted Research in the Waters, Soil, and Food Products of Racha-Lechkhumi and Lower Svaneti
25-08-2025
“Within the project, a soil arsenic contamination map was created in the GIS system. Hot spots of contamination were identified. This is crucial for implementing environmental protection, ensuring the purity of water, soil, and food products, and safeguarding the health of the population. Carrying out phytoremediation in a high-mountainous region and on open ground is truly innovative, as this research was conducted here for the first time. After applying the research findings and recommendations in Ambrolauri and Lentekhi municipalities, it will be possible to prevent negative events from environmental pollution. This is a success for the project and will have a significant impact on the field’s development”, said Lali Shavliashvili, a scientist at the Hydrometeorological Institute of the Georgian Technical University.
A group of scientists and researchers from GTU, within the framework of the grant project – “Research on arsenic contamination of natural waters, soils and food products of the Racha-Lechkhumi and Lower Svaneti regions and soil phytoremediation”, conducted a complex study to detect and assess the level of arsenic concentration in natural waters, soils and food products in the Racha-Lechkhumi and Lower Svaneti regions, in particular, in Ambrolauri and Lentekhi.
Scientists - Lali Shavliashvili, Mariam Tabatadze, Ekaterina Shubladze, and Gulchina Kuchava determined the hydrochemical composition and pollution classification of the rivers Lukhuni and Tskhenistskali.
As the head of the project, Lali Shavliashvili states that, based on research data, a map showing arsenic contamination in the soils of the Racha-Lechkhumi and Lower Svaneti regions was created. Hot spots of contamination were identified. Phytoremediation biotechnology was introduced on arsenic-contaminated soils to purify them, and its effectiveness was determined.
According to Lali Shavliashvili, field work was carried out in Ambrolauri municipality. The soil samples taken were transported using the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) methodology. Laboratory research was conducted using both ISO and US EPA standard methods.
“Arsenic pollution in Georgia is particularly high in the Racha-Lechkhumi and Lower Svaneti regions, where arsenic ore mining, processing, and production of arsenic-containing compounds have been ongoing for decades. Today, both deposits are preserved and arsenic is no longer produced, but contaminated soils remain for future generations. To this day, large batches of toxic waste (more than 130 thousand tons containing 4-9% white arsenic, plus thousands of tons of arsenic-containing waste imported from Russia, including those stored in the open air) from the Soviet period are stored on the territory of the mining and chemical plant located in the villages of Urava and Tsana. We consider the main source of pollution to be the soils located directly adjacent to arsenic processing plants. Results of As determination in food products, shows that in all products (Ambrolauri municipality) the arsenic content exceeds the MRL, especially high in onions, potatoes, carrots, apples, grapes, and beans. The arsenic content in food products collected in Lentekhi municipality is relatively lower; in some products, the arsenic content slightly exceeds the MRL (onions, apples, grapes, and beans),” the scientist says.
According to Mikheil Janikashvili, Head of the GTU Department of Science and Innovations, the neutralization of soil and water from harmful substances by plants and microorganisms plays a major role in the restoration of contaminated soil.
As Janikashvili states, phytoremediation methods can remove practically all types of toxicants from the environment, because they are close to the surface, have the ability to be irreversible, do not pose a risk to human health, the environment, cover large surfaces, at the same time, are ecologically safe and inexpensive, therefore this method is widely used in many developed countries.
“Within the framework of the grant project - “Research on arsenic contamination of natural waters, soils and food products of the Racha-Lechkhumi and Lower Svaneti regions and soil phytoremediation”, various varieties of cosmopolitan plants were selected for the purpose of phytoremediation and phytomigration of the soil, which are well adapted to local climatic conditions: Amaranthus gangeticus, Chenopodium album and sunflower - Helianthus annuus. During phytoextraction, plants absorb pollutants from soil and water and store them in the plant’s harvested biomass. The concentration of metal absorbed by hyperaccumulator plants is, on average, 100 times higher than in ordinary plant species. The plants we selected belong to hyperaccumulators. In one month of growth on arsenic-contaminated soil, the plant -Amaranthus gangeticus removes 72-81% of arsenic from the soil,” says Mikheil Janikashvili.
A group of scientists and researchers from GTU, within the framework of the grant project – “Research on arsenic contamination of natural waters, soils and food products of the Racha-Lechkhumi and Lower Svaneti regions and soil phytoremediation”, conducted a complex study to detect and assess the level of arsenic concentration in natural waters, soils and food products in the Racha-Lechkhumi and Lower Svaneti regions, in particular, in Ambrolauri and Lentekhi.
Scientists - Lali Shavliashvili, Mariam Tabatadze, Ekaterina Shubladze, and Gulchina Kuchava determined the hydrochemical composition and pollution classification of the rivers Lukhuni and Tskhenistskali.
As the head of the project, Lali Shavliashvili states that, based on research data, a map showing arsenic contamination in the soils of the Racha-Lechkhumi and Lower Svaneti regions was created. Hot spots of contamination were identified. Phytoremediation biotechnology was introduced on arsenic-contaminated soils to purify them, and its effectiveness was determined.
According to Lali Shavliashvili, field work was carried out in Ambrolauri municipality. The soil samples taken were transported using the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) methodology. Laboratory research was conducted using both ISO and US EPA standard methods.
“Arsenic pollution in Georgia is particularly high in the Racha-Lechkhumi and Lower Svaneti regions, where arsenic ore mining, processing, and production of arsenic-containing compounds have been ongoing for decades. Today, both deposits are preserved and arsenic is no longer produced, but contaminated soils remain for future generations. To this day, large batches of toxic waste (more than 130 thousand tons containing 4-9% white arsenic, plus thousands of tons of arsenic-containing waste imported from Russia, including those stored in the open air) from the Soviet period are stored on the territory of the mining and chemical plant located in the villages of Urava and Tsana. We consider the main source of pollution to be the soils located directly adjacent to arsenic processing plants. Results of As determination in food products, shows that in all products (Ambrolauri municipality) the arsenic content exceeds the MRL, especially high in onions, potatoes, carrots, apples, grapes, and beans. The arsenic content in food products collected in Lentekhi municipality is relatively lower; in some products, the arsenic content slightly exceeds the MRL (onions, apples, grapes, and beans),” the scientist says.
According to Mikheil Janikashvili, Head of the GTU Department of Science and Innovations, the neutralization of soil and water from harmful substances by plants and microorganisms plays a major role in the restoration of contaminated soil.
As Janikashvili states, phytoremediation methods can remove practically all types of toxicants from the environment, because they are close to the surface, have the ability to be irreversible, do not pose a risk to human health, the environment, cover large surfaces, at the same time, are ecologically safe and inexpensive, therefore this method is widely used in many developed countries.
“Within the framework of the grant project - “Research on arsenic contamination of natural waters, soils and food products of the Racha-Lechkhumi and Lower Svaneti regions and soil phytoremediation”, various varieties of cosmopolitan plants were selected for the purpose of phytoremediation and phytomigration of the soil, which are well adapted to local climatic conditions: Amaranthus gangeticus, Chenopodium album and sunflower - Helianthus annuus. During phytoextraction, plants absorb pollutants from soil and water and store them in the plant’s harvested biomass. The concentration of metal absorbed by hyperaccumulator plants is, on average, 100 times higher than in ordinary plant species. The plants we selected belong to hyperaccumulators. In one month of growth on arsenic-contaminated soil, the plant -Amaranthus gangeticus removes 72-81% of arsenic from the soil,” says Mikheil Janikashvili.
