Vladimir Dauvalter

Heavy metal pollution in sediments of the Pasvik River drainage

The purpose of this paper is to study the regional impacts of heavy metals (Ni, Cu, Co, Zn, Cd, Pb, Hg) on the watershed of the Pasvik River. On the basis of sediment investigations at 27 stations of the watershed, background concentrations of the heavy metals, vertical distribution of heavy metals in sediments, heavy metal concentrations in surface sediments, contamination degree, and risk index were determined. The atmospheric emissions of Ni, Cu, Co, Zn, Cd and Hg from the smelters and waste waters from tailing dams and mines of the Pechenganickel Company are likely to be the main sources of increasing concentrations observed in recent sediments of the lower river reaches. Lead showed a different pattern from the other heavy metals--increasing Pb concentrations in the upper sediment layers towards the Norwegian side.

Heavy metals in lake sediments of the Kola Peninsula, Russia

Abstract Investigations of heavy metal content in lake sediments in the Kola Peninsula, Russia, were carried out from 1989 to 1992. The study lakes were situated at varying distances from two heavy metal pollution sources — smelters of the Pechenganickel and Severonickel Companies. Four aspects were considered: (1) values of background concentrations of heavy metals in the sediments; (2) historical trends in heavy metal concentrations; (3) regional distribution of the concentrations in surficial sediments; (4) degree of contamination and Hakansons risk index values. Atmospheric emissions from smelters of the Murmansk region were the main sources for the increased concentrations of Ni, Cu, Co, Cd and Hg observed in young sediments within a distance of 30 km, presenting a considerable ecological risk to aquatic ecosystems. Surface sediment concentrations declined considerably away from the smelters and differences between upper and lower layers decreased. Pb concentrations increased from east to west owing to the deposition of atmospheric Pb from automobile exhaust in northern Finland and north-eastern Norway.

Airborne contamination by heavy metals and aluminum in the freshwater ecosystems of the Kola Subarctic region (Russia)

Abstract Airborne contamination by heavy metals and aluminum in freshwater ecosystems of the Kola Peninsula in subarctic Russia has resulted from smoke emissions from large plants such as the Severonikel and Pechenganikel smelters and the Kandalaksha aluminum plant. Negative effects are intensified by acidic precipitation. Nickel is a primary technogenic effluent in surface waters of the Kola North. The area of highest nickel concentrations in water and lake sediments is limited to a 30-km zone around the copper-nickel plants; a similar situation exists for copper. Lake acidification increases the concentration of all metals in water, particularly aluminum. During flood times, a redistribution of metal speciation occurs that increases the concentration of more toxic metal species. We determined that there is a high intensity of metal accumulation in the organs of fish, and we discovered toxic effects, including specific pathologies and fish dysfunction. Based on this information, we estimated the critical levels of metals in freshwater ecosystems of the Kola North.

Chironomid responses to long-term metal contamination: a paleolimnological study in two bays of Lake Imandra, Kola Peninsula, northern Russia

Short sediment cores from two gulfs, Monche Bay and Kunchast Bay, of Lake Imandra (Kola Peninsula, northern Russia) were analysed for sediment chemistry and chironomid head capsule remains. Monche Bay has been receiving metals from the Severonikel copper-nickel smelter since the late 1930s. Kunchast Bay was selected in the remotest lake basin as an internal reference site. There were no pronounced changes in the chironomid assemblages with the beginning of slight metal contamination of Kunchast Bay. Based on the reconstructed environmental variables and chironomid assemblages, three developmental stages were distinguished from the chironomid fauna history of Monche Bay: (1) A natural development stage; (2) the early warning stage; and (3) the developing crises stage. During the first period, the changes in the chironomid fauna reflect an anthropogenically undisturbed assemblage, with Micropsectra insignilobus dominating (17–23%). The changes during the second period reflect the initial phase of anthropogenic succession associated with the beginning of metal pollution. The main species showed opposite distributional patterns in this period: the abundance of M. insignilobus decreased, whereas the abundance of Chironomus, Procladius and Sergentia coracina increased. At the same time, maximal numbers were attained for species richness (45) and Shannon-Weaver diversity (4.85) of chironomid assemblages, and the highest head capsule concentration (75 head capsules · g−1 of dry sediment). The third period was characterized by a major shift in the faunal assemblages, from M. insignilobus to other dominant species, including Chironomus (22–44%), Procladius (10–30 %) and S. coracina (15–18%). Besides fauna changes, assemblages of the third period are distinguished by the occurrence of mouthpart deformities in Chironomus head capsules.

Assessment of copper-nickel industry impact on a subarctic lake ecosystem

The Kuetsjärvi lake ecosystem has been subject to intensive pollution generated by the Pechenganickel Company activities for more than 50 years. This article considers the effects of emissions from the copper-nickel smelter, that uses out-of-date technology, on a subarctic lake ecosystem. Six years of investigations revealed changes occurring at all ecosystem levels. It was found that the content of heavy metals (Cu, Ni, etc.) in lake sediments was dozens of times higher than the background values. Phyto- and zooplankton communities were in an unstable condition, while fish had pathologies of functionally important organs (gill, liver and kidney). The concentration of nickel in zoobenthos and fish was correlated its accumulation in sediments.

Heavy metals in bottom sediments of Lake Umbozero in Murmansk Region, Russia

Sediment cores collected from different locations of Lake Umbozero were studied with respect to concentration and mobility of trace and heavy metals Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, U, and Zn. Lake Umbozero is the second largest lake in the Murmansk Region and subjected to contamination by air-borne emissions and river transportation from the nearby metallurgical and mining industries. Unlike its neighboring, more industry-prone Lake Imandra, Lake Umbozero is relatively unexplored with respect to its state of pollution. In our study, metal distribution in sediments was found to vary with respect to the cores, although in general the concentrations were at the same level throughout the lake indicating uniform horizontal distribution of metals. When compared to Lake Imandra, the concentrations of most of the metals studied were significantly lower and represented the levels in sediments measured in lakes of Kola Peninsula located further off from industrial pollutant sources. An exception was Pb the concentration of which was at the same level as in Lake Imandra, probably due to long-distance transport. Sediment layers were subjected to four-step sequential extraction procedure to reveal the metal distribution in soluble, exchangeable, acid-soluble, and residual fractions. Indicative of their potential higher lability, Mn, U, and Zn were generally found in exchangeable fraction; as also Mn and U extensively in the acid-soluble fraction.

Impact of mining and refining on the distribution and accumulation of nickel and other heavy metals in sediments of subarctic Lake Kuetsjärvi, Murmansk Region, Russia

Research on the influence of the activities of Pechenganickel Mining and Metallurgical Company on sediment heavy-metal geochemistry of the subarctic Lake Kuetsjärvi (north-western Russia) are described. It is estimated that during 60 years of mining/refining activity, 310 t of Ni, 120 t of Cu, 14 t of Co, 19 t of Zn, 0.087 t of Cd, 0.78 t of Pb and 0.053 t of Hg have accumulated in the lake sediments. The latter can be a source of secondary pollution and represent a danger for the lake ecosystem. The sedimentation rate in the lake is estimated to be within the range of 1.5-3 mm year(-1). The average concentrations of Ni, Cu, Hg and Co in superficial sediments have increased 25, 14, 11 and 5 times, respectively in the last century.

Impact of airborne pollution on the drainage area of subarctic lakes and fish

Within the period from 1989 to 1993, the impact of heavy metals and acid oxides on lakes, more than 100 km distant from the nearest source of pollution (enterprises of the copper-nickel industry), has been investigated. On the basis of complex investigations (chemical composition of snowpack and lake sediments, state of fish organisms and populations), it was discovered that there is intensive precipitation of heavy metals and acid oxides within the catchment of the lake Kochejavr. The catchment is characterized by a natural buffer capacity to neutralize acid precipitation. Active accumulation of heavy metals is observed in lake sediments. Metal accumulation causes subtoxic effects on the lake fish. The levels of precipitation of nickel and copper of 0.9 mg/m2 per year over long periods was found to be dangerous for biological systems of freshwater catchments.

Chemical composition of lake sediments along a pollution gradient in a Subarctic watercourse

Sediment cores were collected from seven lakes in the Subarctic Pasvik watercourse, polluted by sewage waters and air emissions from the Pechenganickel Metallurgical Company, in order to study chemical composition and estimate the intensity of pollution by taking into account background concentration of elements and the vertical and spatial distribution of their contents in cores and surficial layers of sediments. Sediment samples were analysed by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry for 18 elements (Ni, Cu, Co, Zn, Cd, Pb, Hg, As, Cr, Sr, Mn, Fe, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Al, P). Maximum concentrations of all investigated heavy metals (Ni, Cu, Co, Zn, Cd, Pb, Hg, As) were found in the surficial sediment layers of Lake Kuetsjarvi situated directly below the metallurgic smelters. Decreased contents of heavy metals were observed in surficial sediment layers further downstream in the Pasvik watercourse, although pollution remained rather high. Considerable increase in the contents of the heavy metals emitted into the atmosphere in significant amounts by the Pechenganickel Company (Ni, Cu, Co, Zn), was not observed in surficial sediment layers of lakes upstream in the watercourse polluted only by air contamination and household sewage, but substantial increase of the concentrations of chalcophile elements (Pb, Cd, Hg, As) was revealed. The increase in P contents towards the sediment surface in some lakes may suggest a development of eutrophication processes. Our studies reveal that the metallurgic processing of the Pechenganickel Company has resulted in comprehensive heavy metal pollution and contaminations of lakes sediments in the Inari-Pasvik watercourse. The pollution impact on the sediments is most severe in Lake Kuetsjarvi in the vicinity of the smelters, intermediate in lake localities in the main watercourse downstream the metallurgic enterprises and least in lake localities in the upstream part of the watercourse.

Specific features of accumulation of Cu, Ni, Zn, Cd, and Hg in two whitefish Coregonus lavaretus (L.) morphs inhabiting the Inari-Pasvik lacustrine-riverine system

The spatial regularities of the accumulation of heavy metals in two ecological morphs of whitefish of the Pasvik River (northern Fennoscandia) under long-term pollution have been investigated. It was revealed that the accumulation of priority pollutants (Ni and Cu) in fish declines the further you go from the source of pollution. The concentration of Hg in the tissues of fish from the Pasvik River was determined for the first time. It was found that metal accumulation depends on the ecological morphs of the fish, the natural conditions of the waterbodies, and the intensity of pollution. The specific features of heavy-metal distribution in the “bottom sediment-fish organism” system were determined. These may indicate the heterogeneity of the pollution processes of the Pasvik system of waterbodies.