Long-term changes of heavy metal and sulphur concentrations in ecosystems of the Taymyr Peninsula (Russian Federation) North of the Norilsk Industrial Complex

The Norilsk industrial ore smelting complex (Taymyr Peninsula, Russian Federation) has significantly impacted many components of local terrestrial and aquatic environments. Whether it has had a major impact on the wider Russian Arctic remains controversial as studies are scarce. From 1986 to 2004, data on heavy metal (Cu, Ni, Zn, Hg, Cd and Hg) concentrations in fish (burbot), moss, lichens, periphyton, hydric soils and snow in and around Norilsk and the most northern parts of the Taymyr Peninsula were analysed. Very high concentrations of Cu (203 μg L?1 ± 51 μg L?1) and Ni (113 μg L?1 ± 15 μg L?1) were found in the water of the Schuchya River close to Norilsk. Heavy metal concentrations in burbot liver were highest in Lake Pyasino near Norilsk compared to other study regions that were >100 km distant. From 1989-1996, Cu (121 μg L?1 ± 39 μg L?1 SD), Zn (150 μg L?1) ± 70 μg L?1) and Ni (149 μg L?1 ± 72 μg L?1) snow concentrations were greatest in Norilsk, but were low elsewhere. By 2004, these concentrations had dropped significantly, especially for Cu-74 μg L?1 (±18.7 μg L?1 SD), Zn-81.7 μg L?1 (± 31.3 μg L?1 SD) and Ni-80 μg L?1(±18.0 μg L?1 SD). Norilsk and its surroundings are subject to heavy pollution from the Norilsk metallurgical industry but these are absent from the greater Arctic region due to the prevailing winds and the Byrranga Mountains. Pollution abatement measures have been made so further investigations are necessary in order to assess their efficiency.     

Measurements of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in the lower reaches of major Eurasian arctic rivers using trace metal clean techniques

Concentrations of dissolved and particulate Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were determined in samples collected in summer 1998 from the lower reaches of six major Eurasian arctic rivers: the Onega, Severnaya Dvina, Mezen, Pechora, Ob and Yenisey. These data comprise some of the earliest measurements of trace metals in Eurasian arctic rivers above the estuaries using recognized clean techniques. Significant (α = 0.05) differences were observed among mean concentrations of particulate metals in the individual rivers (F ≤ 0.006), with highest levels overall observed in the Severnaya Dvina and Yenisey. No significant differences were observed among mean concentrations of dissolved metals in the individual rivers (F = 0.10-0.84). Contributions from anthropogenic sources are suggested by comparison of trace metal ratios in the samples to crustal abundances. These results establish a baseline for assessing future responses of Eurasian arctic river systems to climate-related environmental changes and shifting patterns of pollutant discharge.     

Zinc accumulation by the slime mold Fuligo septica (L.) Wiggers in the former Soviet Union and North Korea

Samples of the slime mold Fuligo septica (L.) Wiggers were collected from an ecologically diverse selection of sites across the former USSR and in North Korea to determine their Zn concentrations. Plasmodia were collected from trees, rocks, soils, the walls of buildings and a variety of other materials and structures from 1990 to 1996. The biomass collected ranged from 305 to 968 mg, whereas Zn concentrations in plasmodia of F. septica ranged from 8400 to 23,000 mg kg(-1) dry wt. (mean and standard error = 14,200 +/- 860 mg kg(-1) dry wt.). No clear trend as to which areas produced F. septica with the highest Zn concentrations was discernable. Nor was it possible to identify any particular substrate on which F. septica grew that produced noticeably high Zn concentrations. For example, forest litter on which F. septica was found had Zn concentrations of only 25 to 130 mg kg(-1) dry wt. Our data confirm the only other study showing hyperaccumulation of Zn in F. septica, which was carried out in Finland. This ability seems to be unique to this species, but how or why it does this, or why such high Zn concentrations are not toxic to F. septica, are questions requiring future research.     

Riverine fluxes of the persistent organochlorine pesticides hexachlorcyclohexane and DDT in the Russian Federation

The contribution of gross riverine organochlorine pesticide (OCP) transport to estuaries of Russian seas and Lake Baikal was determined to help understand OCP transboundary transfer and to provide a basis for estimating Russia's contribution to global pollution by these pesticides. The official OGSNK/GSN data ranks sea/ocean/lake basins in the following order based upon the amounts of total OCPs received from agricultural use: Eastern Arctic>Western Arctic>Pacific>Baltic>Caspian>Azov/Black>Baikal. A similar ranking was obtained using an independent set of data: Eastern Arctic>Pacific>Caspian>Western Arctic>Baltic>Azov/Black. In terms of riverine flow-associated discharge of HCH isomers (i.e., sum of alpha-, beta- and gamma-HCH) estuaries of the Kara, Okhotsk and Beloye (White)/Barents seas received more pesticides than other seas. No HCH was discharged to estuaries of the Eastern Siberian and Bering seas. For DDT and its derivative (DDE), estuaries of the Kara, Caspian, Okhotsk and Baltic seas received the greatest amounts. During our study period (1988-1996), HCH transport was more prevalent in the majority of rivers reflecting both the official ban on the use of DDT in the former Soviet Union and the greater popularity of HCH as a pesticide. In general, it appears that Russian rivers play a significant role in OCP contamination of some estuaries of regional seas, especially those of the eastern Arctic basin, such as the Kara Sea.