From 27 to 31 July 2026, another field expedition was carried out under the research project "Assessment of the Ecological Status of Soils Contaminated with Persistent Organic Pollutants in Azerbaijan", led by Associate Professor Zaman Mammadov, Head of the Soil Ecology Laboratory at the Institute of Geography of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The five-year research project aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of the ecological status of soils contaminated with persistent organic pollutants (POPs) across different regions of Azerbaijan. The current expedition focused on a heavily contaminated source area of approximately 8 hectares located in Müsüslü village, Ujar District, together with the surrounding 200-hectare study area.

The field research program was implemented in accordance with a preliminary methodological framework developed on the basis of international methodological requirements, the principles of the Stockholm Convention, the FAO Guidelines for Soil Sampling, and other relevant scientific methodologies.

Using coordinates prepared in advance through Google Earth, the research team accessed the designated sampling locations and conducted field sampling activities. A total of 48 soil samples were collected from 24 sampling points at two depth intervals (0–20 cm and 20–40 cm). In addition, plant samples were collected from 15 representative locations across the study area. To investigate the impact of contamination on soil microbiota and to assess soil microbiological activity, approximately 15 additional soil samples were collected for microbiological analyses.

The collected samples are currently being prepared for laboratory analyses. The analytical results will be used to determine the distribution and spatial variability of persistent organic pollutants in the soil, assess contamination risks and their potential impacts on human health and the environment, and refine the boundaries of the contaminated areas.

The findings of the study are expected to make a significant contribution to the monitoring of areas contaminated with persistent organic pollutants in Azerbaijan, the assessment of ecological risks, the planning of remediation measures, and the development of scientifically sound environmental management and decision-making processes.