Spatial Trends of Trace-Element Contamination in Recently Deposited Lake Sediment Around the Ni–Cu Smelter at Nikel, Kola Peninsula, Russian Arctic

A large copper–nickel smelter complex is located at the Kole Penninsula, Russia, close to the Norwegian border. Trace-element concentrations in surface sediments (0–0.5 cm) and pre-industrial sediments from 45 lakes in the region were used to uncover spatial deposition patterns and contamination fac...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ambio 2013-10, Vol.42 (6), p.724-736
Main Authors: Rognerud, Sigurd, Dauvalter, Vladimir A, Fjeld, Eirik, Skjelkvåle, Brit Lisa, Christensen, Guttorm, Kashulin, Nickolay
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquatic ecosystems
Arctic Regions
arsenic
Atmospheric Sciences
cadmium
cobalt
Contaminated sediments
Copper - chemistry
Earth and Environmental Science
Ecology
Electrons
Environment
Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology
Environmental impact
Environmental Management
Environmental Monitoring - methods
Geologic Sediments - chemistry
Heavy metals
Industrial ecology
Industrial Waste
Lake sediments
Lakes
lead
Limnology
Materials
Mercury
Metallurgy
Metals
Nickel
Nickel - chemistry
Physical Geography
Pollutant emissions
Principal Component Analysis
Principal components analysis
Quality control
Russia
Sediments
Smelters
Surface areas
Time Factors
Trace elements
Trace Elements - chemistry
Trends
Water Pollutants, Chemical - chemistry
Water pollution
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Summary:A large copper–nickel smelter complex is located at the Kole Penninsula, Russia, close to the Norwegian border. Trace-element concentrations in surface sediments (0–0.5 cm) and pre-industrial sediments from 45 lakes in the region were used to uncover spatial deposition patterns and contamination factor of sediments. Elevated concentrations were found, especially for Ni and Cu, but also for Pb, Co, Hg, As, and Cd. Highest concentrations were found up to 20 km from the smelter, but the concentrations decreased exponentially with distance from the smelter. Increasing Ni, Cu, As, and Hg concentrations from sub-surface to surface sediments were found for lakes at intermediate distances (20–60 km). This may reflect recent changes in atmospheric depositions, as shown in nearby Norwegian areas. However, we cannot rule out that this also may have been caused by diagenetic processes, especially for the most redox-sensitive elements such as As.
ISSN:0044-7447
1654-7209
DOI:10.1007/s13280-013-0384-8