Chemical elemental composition of Elodea canadensis Michx. 1791. and its use for the assessment of anthropogenic pollution of the littoral of Lake Baikal

Abstract

The ICP-MS method was used to study chemical elemental composition of the invasive species Elodea canadensis Michx. at Lake Baikal littoral sites with different degree of anthropogenic load. It is found out that dominant macroelements in E. canadensis are K > Ca > Na > P > Mg > S > Cl, dominant microelements are Fe, Mn > Si, Sr > Al, Ba, Zn > Br, B. The content of Ca, Sr, Mg, B and Si in E. canadensis samples are characterized by the least variability, and Na, P, Cl, K, V, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, Rb, Cd, I, Pb contents are more variable. The maximal heterogeneity in distribution is characteristic for lithophilous elements (Be, Al, Ti, Cr, Mn, Y, Zr, Nb, REE (rare earth), Hf, Ta, W, Th) as well as for Fe, Co, Sn, Sb, Bi. Maximal contents of Na, Cl, K and P associated with income of household waste waters into the near-shore zone is found in Elodea samples collected in Frolikha vent and at littoral sites adjacent to such populated areas as Gremyachinsk, Maksimikha, Nizhneangarsk. The elevated level of Zn, Cd, Pb is characteristic as well for the samples collected at the littoral sites with a high anthropogenic charge (Listvyanka settl., Bugul’deyka, Nizhneangarsk, Maksimikha village and Gremyachinsk).