Marja Liisa Räisänen

Regional atmospheric deposition patterns of Ag, As, Bi, Cd, Hg, Mo, Sb and Tl in a 188,000 km2 area in the European arctic as displayed by terrestrial moss samples-long-range atmospheric transport vs local impact

Abstract The regional atmospheric deposition patterns of Ag, As, Bi, Cd, Hg, Mo, Sb and Tl have been mapped in a 188,000 km2 area of the European Arctic (N Finland, N Norway, NW Russia) using the moss technique. The Russian nickel mining and smelting industry (Nikel and Zapoljarnij (Pechenganikel) and Monchegorsk (Severonikel)) in the eastern part of the survey area represents two of the largest point sources for S02 and metal emissions on a world wide basis. In contrast, parts of northern Finland and northern Norway represent still some of the most pristine areas in Europe. The terrestrial mosses Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi were used as monitors of airborne deposition. Samples in all three countries were collected during the summer of 1995 and analysed in one laboratory using ICP-MS. Maps for most elements clearly show elevated element concentrations near the industrial sites and delineate the extent of contamination. Pollution follows the main wind and topographical directions in the area (N-S). The gradients of deposition are rather steep. Background levels for all the elements are reached within 150–200 km from the industrial plants. The relative importance of long-range atmospheric transport of air pollutants from industrial point sources on the world wide increase of heavy metals observed in the atmosphere is thus debatable for many elements. Increasing population and traffic density, accompanied by increasing local dust levels, may play a much more important role than industrial emissions. The regional distribution patterns as displayed in the maps show some striking differences between the elements. The regional distribution of Hg and TI in the survey area is completely dominated by sources other than industry.

Mobility and retention of heavy metals, arsenic and sulphur in podzols at eight locations in northern Finland and Norway and the western half of the Russian Kola Peninsula

The mobility and retention of heavy metals, arsenic and sulphur in podzols from eight areas located north of the Arctic Circle in Finland, Norway and Russia were determined by analyzing the < 2.0 mm fraction, using an ammonium acetate (pH 4.5) extraction in addition to a concentrated nitric acid digestion for the humus samples, and a hot aqua regia digestion for the mineral soil samples. Total C, H and N concentrations were determined in humus and mineral soil samples with a CHN analyser. Ni, Cu, Co and As were strongly enriched in the humus layer in the contaminated sites (Monchegorsk, Kurka, Zapoljarnij) when compared to their concentrations in the parent tills and in podzols from the background sites. In most study sites the illuvial layer showed a low capacity to retain the metals and As, the exception included a strongly eroded profile at Monchegorsk, where Ni was tightly fixed in the illuvial layer while Cu was mobile. In contrast to metals, airborne S was not accumulated in the humus layer, but was accumulated in the illuvial layer, more markedly at eroded sites than in places where the humus was covered as at Monchegorsk.

NORMA ‐ a program to calculate a normative mineralogy for glacial tills and rocks from chemical analysis

Abstract The NORMA program was developed to calculate a normative mineralogy for glacial tills and rocks. The normative mineralogical composition in NORMA is calculated from the proportions of constituents soluble and insoluble in hot aqua regia. Constituents insoluble in hot aqua regia were determined by subtracting the concentrations of elements soluble in hot aqua regia from the element concentrations of the total analysis. A test made with the theoretical and actual chemical compositions of minerals showed that the successive distribution of elements into normative minerals was most successful when the variability in the chemical formulae of minerals was small. Since the method includes as normative minerals those predominating in acid and intermediate plutonic rocks and their weathering products, it can be applied only with caution to mafic and ultramafic rocks. Raisanen, M.L., Tarvainen, T. & Aatos, S., 1995: NORMA ‐ a program to calculate a normative mineralogy for glacial tills and rocks from chem...

Acidity status and mobility of Al in podzols near SO2 emission sources on the Kola Peninsula, NW Russia

Soil acidity status and Al mobility in podzols was examined on a broad scale near the large emission sources of SO2 and heavy metals on the Kola Peninsula (the Severonikel and Pechenganikel smelter complexes) in NW Russia and in neighbouring parts of Norway and Finland. Acidification of the upper podzol horizons and depletion of mobile base cations were only evident at sites where ecosystems are severely destroyed, in the immediate vicinity of the Severonikel smelter complex. The high content of base cations in the parent material (till) near the emission sources may mask the acidification effect of pollution. Both strong anthropogenic (SO2) emissions and natural acidification (in situ weathering of black schist) accelerate weathering and mobilize Al. However, drainage conditions seem to be the most important factor determining the content of mobile Al in the podzols.