Matti Äyräs

Rainwater composition in eight arctic catchments in northern Europe (Finland, Norway and Russia)

Monthly rainwater samples were collected during the summer of 1994 in eight arctic catchments in northern Europe (four in Russia, three in Finland, one in Norway), at different distances and wind directions from the emissions of the Russian nickel ore mining, roasting and smelting industry on the Kola Peninsula. Three stations consisting of five samplers each were placed in open areas in all the catchments. Results show that close to the smelters in Monchegorsk, rainwater is strongly enriched in Ni (633 x), Co, Cu, As, Mo, Al (36 x), V, Cd, Sb, Pb (11 x), Zn, Fe, Sr, Na, S/SO4 (6 x), Cl, Cr, Se (4 x) and Ag when compared to a Finnish background catchment. Three sources of elements can be differentiated: natural dust, sea spray and anthropogenic (smokestack emissions and dust). Correlation diagrams and element ratios can be used to identify the different industrial processes and even ore feed changes at one smelter.

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.

Regional variation of snowpack chemistry in the vicinity of Nikel and Zapoljarnij, Russia, northern Finland and Norway

The Geological Surveys of Finland and Norway, in co-operation with the Central Kola Expedition, Russia, are carrying out a major geochemical mapping project (1992–1996) of the western half of the Kola Peninsula and the adjacent areas in Norway and Finland (188 000 km2). A part of this project was a pilot study of the area surrounding the nickel industries in Nikel and Zapoljarnij, Russia, and the iron ore mine and mill in Kirkenes, Norway, using a variety of sample media. Snowpack samples taken at the end of the 1991–1992 winter proved to be well suited to characterising the industrial emissions in this area. By separately analysing meltwater and filter residues, water soluble and particulate emissions can be differentiated. Results show that, for the majority of elements, particles govern the total deposition chemistry. Four different sources of element input can be distinguished: (1) industrial emissions, (2) sea spray, (3) geogenic dust and (4) anthropogenic dust. Multi-element analysis, using ICP-MS, ICP-AES and ion chromatography, followed by regional mapping, showed that all the elements analysed for, namely Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Cl, Co, Cr, Cu, F, Fe, K, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Si, Sr, Th, Ti, Tl, U, V, Y and Zn, show unusually high concentrations in the vicinity of the nickel industry in Russia.

Regional patterns of heavy metals (Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, V and Zn) and sulphur in terrestrial moss samples as indication of airborne pollution in a 188, 000 km2 area in northern Finland, Norway and Russia

The geological surveys of Finland and Norway and the Central Kola Expedition in Russia are carrying out a geochemical mapping project in a 188,000 km2 area north of the Arctic Circle. Several sample media (terrestrial moss, organic topsoil (0–3 cm), topsoil (0–5 cm), complete podzol profiles) were collected throughout the area during the summer of 1995 at an average density of one sample station per 300 km2. Colour surface maps of the major airborne pollutants (Ni, Cu, Co and S) from the Russian nickel mining and smelting industry in this area, as recorded by ICP—MS and ICP—AES analysis of terrestrial mosses, clearly show the industrial sites and the areal extent of the pollution. The contrast between background and polluted sites is very large for Ni, Cu and Co, but not for S. Pollution follows the main wind and topographical directions in the area, and gradients towards the west are rather steep. Maps for some additional elements (Fe, Cr, Pb, V, Zn) show the influence of other sources than just airborne pollution on the composition of the mosses. Zn is an example of an element whose local variation is so high that no reliable regional maps can be constructed using the moss technique. A hitherto unknown, large V anomaly was detected in the surroundings of Murmansk.

Stream water geochemistry from selected catchments on the Kola Peninsula (NW Russia)and in neighbouring areas of Finland and Norway: 1. Elements levels and sources

The pH, electrical conductance and concentration of six anions and 33 cations were determined in stream waters sampled in 1994 from eight arctic catchments on and adjacent to the Kola Peninsula (Russia, Finland and Norway). The catchments are located at various distances (5–300 km) from the major industrial emissions centres of Monchegorsk, Nikel and Zapoljarniy in Russia. The source of the elements can be (1) natural, marine (sea spray), (2) natural, geogenic (blowing soil/dust, till, bedrock), and/or (3) anthropogenic, industrial (emissions from smelters, dust from mining, etc.), each source showing a distinct signature. The median concentration of many contaminants can vary by up to three orders of magnitude from polluted to remote locations, and the concentration ranges observed in different catchments often do not overlap. This implies that contamination falls sharply with distance from source, but is quite profound and lasting close to the emission centres. Elevated trace metal contents in the most polluted streams indicates that deposited contaminants are transferred to the aquatic ecosystem, and eventually can reach the ocean.

The state of the ecosystems in the central Barents Region: scale, factors and mechanism of disturbance

Abstract More than 650 locations spread over a 188000-km2 area in the European Arctic (Russia, Finland and Norway) were visited in the course of an ecogeochemical mapping project during 1995. Moss and soil samples were taken for chemical analyses and each site was documented in a series of photographs. The qualitative, empirical data gained during the project shows that the ecosystem is damaged over vast areas. The scale of the damage, as well as its causes, vary from country to country. Industrial activity, including two of the worlds largest SO2 and heavy-metal emission sources on the Kola Peninsula, is responsible for almost all of the pollution and visual ecosystem damage found in the Russian project area. In the Finnish and Norwegian areas, reindeer overgrazing is the major cause of ecosystem damage. The scale of the damage from overgrazing in Finland is comparable to, and in Norway even more extensive than, the industry-related damage found in Russia. Comparison of the two different factors involving human impact (pollution and overgrazing) on a delicate ecosystem provides new information on the mechanisms of ecosystem degradation.

Ecogeochemical investigation, Kola peninsula: Sulphur and trace element content in snow

The Central Kola Expedition and the Geological Surveys of Norway and Finland have undertaken a multi-media investigation of eight catchments situated in Russia (Zapoljarniy, Monchegorsk, Kirovsk, Kurka), Norway (Skjellbekken) and Finland (Kirakka, Naruska, Pallas) to determine the environmental impact of local industrial pollution. Results of analysis of snow samples collected in March/April 1994 are presented for both filtered meltwater and filter residues. Many heavy metals (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, V and Zn), as well as S, Al and Fe, are unusually enriched in both phases in the Russian catchments, primarily in Monchegorsk and/or Zapoljamiy. Typically, some elements are found mostly in the meltwater phase (e.g. Na, S, Sr, Zn), others in the filter residues (e.g. Cr, Fe, Mo, Ni). Cu and Ni are well correlated, both in meltwater and in filter residue, and the ratio of Cu to Ni can be useful in identifying pollution sources. Snow is a well-suited medium for fingerprinting environmental pollution sources. Estimates of deposition from snow meltwater only, will be seriously underestimated for many elements.

Snow composition in eight catchments in the central barents Euro-Arctic region

Abstract Snowpack samples representing atmospheric deposition during winter 1993–1994 were taken in eight catchments at different distances to the industry on the Kola Peninsula, NW Russia, and in contiguous areas of Norway and Finland. Snow was collected at 7–13 stations per catchment and delivered frozen to the laboratory. There, the samples were melted and filtered (

COMPARISON OF SULPHUR AND HEAVY METAL CONTENTS AND THEIR REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION IN HUMUS AND MOSS SAMPLES FROM THE VICINITY OF NIKEL AND ZAPOLJARNIJ, KOLA PENINSULA, RUSSIA

Terrestrial moss and humus (the O-horizon) are often used separately for determining and monitoring airborne heavy metal pollution. Here, we directly compare the results of analyses of moss and humus samples taken at a density of one site per 300 km2 in a 12 000 km2 area (45 samples) around the nickel smelter in Nikel, the nickel ore roasting plant in Zapoljarnij, both in Russia, and the iron ore mine and mill near Kirkenes in Norway. The samples were air dried, digested in conc. HNO3 and analysed for more than 30 elements by ICP-MS and ICP-AES at the laboratory of the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK). For most elements, observed levels and variations are considerably greater in soil than in moss. The main contaminants, Ni and Cu, reach equally high median levels in the moss and soil, but maximum values are far higher in soil. Both media show comparable regional distribution patterns for the heavy metals, but not for sulphur. Cu and Ni can be used to delineate the limits of contamination in the survey area. Both media show the same picture, with a generally very steep gradient from east to west and background levels being reached 30–50 km from the nickel smelter. When moss is used, Cu/Ni, Cu/S and Ni/S ratios can be used to separate input from the smelting and roasting proccesses in Russia.Both media are well suited to use separately to detect airborne pollution in this heavily contaminated area. The moss data are generally easier to interpret, but moss is not available at the most polluted sites. Levels for many elements other than Cu and Ni are close to the detection levels in moss samples, but not in humus samples. Information gathered from both media thus complement each other in a regional multi-element survey.

Stream water geochemistry from selected catchments on the Kola Peninsula (NW Russia) and in neighbouring areas of Finland and Norway: 2. Time-series

Stream water composition, measured weekly for 8–9 months in 1994 in three arctic catchments on and around the Kola Peninsula (Russia, Finland and Norway), is presented in the form of time-series. In all three catchments, snowmelt causes a major dilution of the stream water, as reflected by marked dips in electrical conductance. In the most polluted catchment (C2), the snowmelt flood (the major hydrological event at these latitudes) is reflected in the stream water by a pH dip and a pulse in technogenic heavy metals (Cu, Ni, etc.), Al and S. This results from melting of the snow laden with heavy metals and sulphate, and from leaching of the topsoil layer. In the most pristine catchment (C8), snowmelt causes no heavy metal pulse (remote location) but yields an increase in stream water Al (acidic lithology/overburden). In the intermediate catchment (C5), very subdued heavy metal and S increases are noticeable in the stream water, whilst its pH increases steadily until summer (basic lithology). Some elements (Cl, S) may be mobilised out of the snowpack before its complete thawing and reach the stream 1–2 weeks ahead of the heavy metals. The substrate (soil, overburden and bedrock) of a catchment controls to a large extent its ability to buffer acid inputs.