Long-term particle measurements in Finnish Arctic: Part I – Chemical composition and trace metal solubility

Abstract

Week-long total suspended particle filter samples collected between 1964 and 2010 from Kevo, Finland were analyzed for trace metals, soluble trace metals and major ions. Ion chromatography was used to measure major ions. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to measure the trace metal and soluble trace metal concentrations. Species of anthropogenic origin (V, Co, Cu, Ni, As, Cd, Pb, SO42−) have significantly higher concentrations compared with other Arctic locations. A clear seasonal trend with winter/spring maxima and summer minima is observed for most species, although it is less pronounced than those found in the high Arctic due to the relative proximity to Eurasian pollution sources. High concentrations of Cu (14.1 ng/m3), Ni (0.97 ng/m3), and Co (0.04 ng/m3) indicate the influence of non-ferrous metal smelters on the Kola Peninsula, although Cu unexpectedly did not correlate with Ni or Co. Ni and Co were highly correlated. Cu, Re, Tl, As, W, and V had high solubilities (61%–87%), Co and Ni had solubility's of ∼33%, and Pb had a solubility of 22.9%. The solubility of metals can help determine if the source is natural or anthropogenic. It also dictates the bioavailability of metals once introduced to the environment.