Metal accumulation in aquatic vegetation in heat-affected zone of Gusinoozersk state regional power plant

Abstract

The content of Fe, Mn, Al, Zn, Ni, Cu, Pb, Cr, Cd and Hg in higher aquatic plants, moss, charophyta and green filamentous algae was determined using inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry. A comparative assessment of metal accumulation was conducted. Plants growing within the heat-affected zone of Gusinoozersk State Regional Power Plant, especially filamentous algae, contained the largest amount of metals, which indicates the higher pollution of water and sediments and intensification of metabolic processes and their accumulation in plants. It was shown that aquatic plants of Lake Gusinoe accumulated most of the studied metals in volumes greater than in other cooling reservoir of Siberia. Thus, this research provides one of the important steps for the development of regional environmental standards and environmental risk assessments.