From September 21 to 25, 2026, another field expedition was conducted as part of the research project titled “Assessment of the Environmental Status of Soils Contaminated with Persistent Organic Pollutants in Azerbaijan”, under the leadership of Associate Professor Zaman Mammadov, Head of the Soil Ecology Laboratory of the Institute of Geography of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

As a continuation of previous studies, a comprehensive assessment of the environmental status of soils contaminated with persistent organic pollutants in various regions of the country is planned within the framework of the laboratory’s thematic research programme. The current expedition covered a highly contaminated source area of approximately 8 hectares located in the vicinity of Mususlu village, Ujar District, as well as a total study area of approximately 500 hectares surrounding the contaminated site.

The field research programme was carried out in accordance with a preliminary project prepared on the basis of international methodological requirements, the principles of the Stockholm Convention, FAO guidelines for soil sampling, and other relevant scientific methodologies.

Based on the coordinates identified during the preliminary desk-based preparation and designated as Risk Zone II, access to the sampling points identified using Google Earth was ensured, and soil sampling was conducted. In accordance with the methodology, a total of 32 soil samples were collected from 16 sampling points at depths of 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm. In addition, plant samples were collected from two points representing characteristic areas of the study site. Approximately 10 additional soil samples were also collected to investigate the impact of contamination on soil microbiota and assess soil microbiological activity.

Furthermore, as residues of certain pollutants had been detected in soil samples collected from both soil layers during the previous study, the research team returned to four sampling points within Risk Zone I and collected samples from a depth of 40–60 cm. This was aimed at monitoring the dynamics of prohibited substances within the soil profile and determining the extent to which they have penetrated into deeper soil layers.

The collected samples are currently being prepared for laboratory analysis. Based on the results of the analyses, the level and spatial distribution of persistent organic pollutants in the soil, contamination risks, and their potential impacts on human health and the environment will be assessed. The boundaries of the contaminated areas will also be determined more precisely.

The results of the study are of significant importance for the conservation of biodiversity both in the region and across the Republic of Azerbaijan.