The Hydrochemistry and Recent Sediment Geochemistry of Small Lakes of Murmansk, Arctic Zone of Russia

Zakhar Slukovskii,Alexander Cherepanov,Alina Guzeva,Dmitry Denisov,Evgeny Siroezhko,Vladimir Dauvalter

doi:10.3390/w12041130

Zakhar Slukovskii, Alexander Cherepanov + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/w12041130

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Abstract

This paper presents the first study of five small lakes located in the city of Murmansk. Field work was carried out during 2018–2019. Water samples were collected using a bathometer, while the sediments were sampled using an Ekman grab and Limnos gravity corer. It was found that the water of the studied lakes in Murmansk belong to the sodium group of the chloride class and to the calcium group of the hydrocarbonate class. Compared to the background level, elevated pH, concentrations of the main cations of alkali and alkaline-earth metals, N compounds, total dissolved solids, and heavy metals were found in the lakes, which indicate exposure to anthropogenic impacts. The sediments of the lakes, composed of organomineral and mineral silts, also have an elevated content of heavy metals compared to the background. The most significant excessive concentrations were found for V, Ni, Sb, Pb, Co, Cr, and W. Based on the calculated pollution load index and geoaccumulation index of the sediments, the studied water bodies in Murmansk can be classified as lakes with heavy and extremely heavy pollution levels. The primary pollution sources are emissions from the Murmansk thermal power plant, coal port, road and, rail transport.

Highlights

Global social, political, economic, and environmental problems have become increasingly acute since the late 19th century
The following results were obtained in this research of water and sediment of urban lakes of Murmansk: The water chemistry in the studied urban lakes has undergone significant changes compared to the background water chemistry in the lakes of the Barents Sea catchment
Water pH values are significantly elevated compared to background, which is due to the weathering and decay of urban buildings and structures, as well as the use of reagents for deicing urban roads, and the influx of high concentrations of the main cations of alkali and alkaline-earth metals

Summary

Introduction

Political, economic, and environmental problems have become increasingly acute since the late 19th century. Aquatic systems located in technogenic areas are commonly affected by a variety of large-scale human activities from the disturbance of hydrological and heat regimes to water pollution [3,4]. This is especially so in the case of water chemical and phisical properties in urban and industrial territories [5]. One of such territories is Murmansk city, which is located in the northwest of Russia on the hilly coast of Barents Sea (Figure 1).

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