Concentrations of heavy metals in bottom sediments of the Yenisei river near Krasnoyarsk

Abstract

The relevance of the study is determined by the necessity to obtain information on concentrations of chemical elements in sediments of the Yenisei River under impacts of continuous human activity. The aim of the study is to assess the level of human-caused heavy metal pollution of the Yenisei River bottom sediments near Krasnoyarsk. Methods used in the study. Metal concentrations (Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni, Pb, Cd) were measured with an AAS Kvant 2A atomic absorption spectrophotometer in the Analytical Laboratory of IBP SB RAS. Concentrations of Ca, Fe, Na, Sr, U, Th, Rb, Cs, Eu, La, Sb, Co, Sm, Ce, Ba, Nd, Sc, As, Zn were measured using instrumental neutron activation analysis in the research reactor in National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University. Results. The authors have determined concentrations of 24 chemical elements in bottom sediments over 100 km of the Yenisei River near Krasnoyarsk. The distribution of heavy metals is non-uniform: concentrations of chemical elements in adjacent parts of sediments could differ by several times. In some regions Cd and Ni concentrations were higher than the threshold levels, above which adverse effects might occur. Zn, Cu, Cr, and Pb concentrations in bottom sediments of the Yenisei River fall within the range of average concentrations of these metals in other Russian river systems. Concentrations of U, Th, Сe, and Cs increased downstream of Krasnoyarsk. The study did not detect any critical or abnormally high concentrations of the metals measured; no definite effects of industrial pollution on the chemical composition of bottom sediments were either revealed.

Keywords

• bottom sediments
• heavy metals
• lanthanides
• actinides
• screening
• the Yenisei River