ACCUMULATION AND MIGRATION OF CHEMICAL ELEMENTS IN THE ARCTIC TERRESTRIAL AND AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS IN THE IMPACT ZONE OF EMISSIONS FROM PECHENGANICKEL COMPANY

Abstract

The distribution of chemical elements (Ni, Cu, Co, Zn, Cd, Pb, Cr, As, Hg, Fe, Mn, Al, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Sr) in various components of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems was analyzed based on the results of long-term investigations in the impact zone of the emissions from the M ining and M etallurgical Plant Pechenganikel, which is the local source of elevated heavy metal concentrations in the topsoil, surface waters and sediments of water bodies. There is an increase in the content of alkaline and alkaline-earth metals, which is manifested in the effect of alkalization, resulting in higher pH values of the lake water and aqueous extracts from the litter and soil organic layer at a distance of up to 20–30 km from the source. The content of a majority of the studied elements in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems demonstrated a regular increase along the gradient lake water – litter –soil organogenic layer – lake sediments. Heavy metals accumulated in terrestrial ecosystems (in soils and plants) in the catchments over the 80 years of operation of the mining and smelting company will continue contaminating the water bodies around it for decades to come because self-purification of soils takes a long time.

Keywords

• water
• sediments
• lakes
• soil
• pollution
• heavy metals