The bioluminescent enzymatic bioassays for assessment of soil contamination using the bacterial coupled enzyme system NAD(P)Н:FMN-oxidoreductase + luciferase (Red + Luc) as a test system were developed. This approach are based on the effect of soil extracts on the intensity of light emission of the bioluminescent enzyme reactions.

The purpose of the study was to develop a bioluminescent method for the assessment of the quality and environmental pollution of the full-profile soil sections, soils of virgin lands, arable lands and deposits.

It was shown that the bioluminescent method can be used for the assessment of soil quality of the full-profile soil sections, regardless of their origin and genesis, and also in the contamination by model and real toxic substances.

The residual luminescence shows that the accumulation of pollutants occurs in the top soil horizon. The contamination decreases with the depth and is practically absent in the lower soil horizon.

The effect of the humic substances on the coupled enzyme system was investigated as a reason of a false contamination. The content of humic compounds in the soil in the range 0.77-1.41% with mobile humus concentration of 50 mg∙C/100g had no effect.

The bioassay for soil contamination was developed using simulating method of heavy metals contamination. It was applied for ecological monitoring of soil of Krasnoyarsk.

The advantages of this bioassays are the technical simplicity, short response time and high sensitivity to pollutants.

This study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (project no. 16-14-10115).