Trace metal deposition and mobility in the sediments of two lakes near Sudbury,Ontario

The accumulation and mobility of Fe, Mn, Al, Cu, Ni and Pb in the sediments of two lakes (Clearwater, pH 4.5; and McFarlane, pH 7.5) near Sudbury, Ontario have been investigated. The Al, Cu and Ni concentrations are expectedly relatively high in the overlying waters of Clearwater Lake and much lower for Al and Cu in McFarlane Lake. The low trace metal concentrations found in the anoxic porewaters of Clearwater Lake could be explained by a sharp increase in porewater pH concomitant with SO₄² reduction and H₂S production within the first 1–2 cm of the sediments, which has conceivably led to the precipitation of mineral phases such as AL(OH)₃, NiS, and CuS. In both lakes, Fe concentrations in anoxic porewaters appear to be controlled by FeS and/or FeCO₃ formation. Solubility calculations also indicate MnCO₃ precipitation in McFarlane Lake. In Clearwater Lake, however, both porewater and total Mn were relatively low, a possible result of the continuous loss of Mn(II) through the acidic interface. It is suggested that upwardly decreasing total Mn profiles resulting from the removal of Mn from the top sediment layers under acidic conditions may constitute a reliable symptom of recent lake acidification.The downward diffusion of AI, Cu and Ni from the overlying water to the sediments has been estimated from their concentration gradients at the interface and compared to their total accumulation rates in the sediments. In both lakes the diffusion of Al is negligible compared to its accumulation rate. However, diffusion accounts for 24–52% of the accumulation of Cu in the sediments of Clearwater Lake, but appears negligible in McFarlane Lake. The downward diffusive flux of Ni is important and may explain 76–161% of the estimated Ni accumulation rate in Clearwater Lake, and 59% in McFarlane Lake. The porewater Cu and Ni profiles suggest that the subsurface sedimentary trace metal peaks observed in Clearwater Lake (as in other acid lakes) may not be caused by sediment leaching or by a recent reduction in sedimentation but may have a diagenetic origin instead. Diffusion to the sediments thus appears to be an important and previously overlooked trace metal deposition mechanism, particularly in acid lakes.     

The study of soil acidification of paddy field influenced by acid mine drainage

The acidification of paddy fields was studied in Guizhou Province, China. Affected by acid mine drainage, the pH value of irrigation water was 2.9 with the concentrations of iron and aluminium above 40 mg/L. Based on the pH(H₂O) of topsoil, the paddy fields studied were classified spatially into three zones, the natural zone (pH value from 6.2 to 5.5), the acidified zone (pH value from 5.5 to 4.5), and the seriously acidified zone (pH value from 4.5 to 3.2), respectively. Comparing to the natural zone, the buffering processes for acidification of paddy soil were discussed by considering the changes of calcium, magnesium, potassium and aluminium in soils. The Ca, Mg and K were leached from the soil by the decomposition of carbonate and kaolinite. The leaching of Mg became less with the enrichment of iron in topsoil layer. When the soil pH was below 5.0, aluminium was leached from soil because of the dissolution of alumino silicate minerals. In addition, the hydrolysis of iron and aluminium in soil provided more protons to promote the soil acidification. Furthermore, the buffer capacity of paddy soil was discussed by the results of buffer experiment, based on which the pH buffer curve was drawn and the empirical formula for calculating the acidification rate was developed. Because pH buffer capacity of soil is about 2.78 cmol_c/kg pH for the pH(H₂O) value above 5.0, it is estimated that only another 50 years are needed for the pH(H₂O) of the paddy soil decrease to 3.5 in the acidified zone if the acid water is used for irrigation continuously.     

Modelling of pH and inorganic aluminium after termination of liming in 3000 Swedish lakes

Significant resources are spent on counteracting the effects of acidification, mainly by liming. Due to lower S and N deposition in Europe and North America, authorities are changing directives and strategies for remediation and reducing liming. However, as the acid–base buffer capacity differs in different water bodies, the desirable reduction of the lime dose is variable. In this study, a geochemical model is used to predict pH and inorganic monomeric Al (Al_i) when liming is reduced and finally terminated in the 3000 Swedish lakes currently treated with lime. To estimate Ca and Mg concentrations not affected by liming for use in the model, the Ca/Mg ratio in nearby unlimed reference lakes was used. For the modelling of pH and inorganic Al the Visual MINTEQ program including the Stockholm Humic Model recently calibrated for Swedish fresh water was used. The predictions were validated with modelling results from six monitored lakes, in which liming had been terminated. The use of geochemical modelling appeared to be a promising tool for the calculation of accurate lime requirements in acid waters. For simulations in which liming was completely terminated, the pH value decreased by, on average, 1 pH unit to pH 5.7, whereas Al_i increased by 17 μg L⁻¹ to 32 μg L⁻¹. If liming was reduced by half, the pH would drop only 0.3 pH units and Al_i would increase by 2 μg L⁻¹. Lakes in the south-western part of Sweden were predicted to reach a lower pH and higher Al_i, which would be expected due to their greater historical S deposition. The results indicate that liming can be terminated in certain areas and in other areas be reduced without increases in the lake acidity.     

Anthropogenic inventories and historical and present accumulation rates of copper in Great Lakes sediments

Sediment cores were collected from depositional basins in lakes Michigan, Ontario and Superior to assess spatial and temporal variations in Cu accumulation rates and inventories. Sediment chronologies were determined via ²¹⁰Pb dating, and ²¹⁰Pb inventories were used to correct for the effects of sediment focusing. Among the lakes studied, Cu loading histories generally decrease to the present, signifying a regional reduction in the anthropogenic release of Cu to the environment. Focusing-corrected Cu accumulation rates in surficial sediments vary significantly within lakes Michigan and Ontario, suggesting that recent inputs of Cu to these 2 lakes may have been dominated by localized sources. Variations in Cu accumulation rates within Lake Superior are interpreted to be insignificant, suggesting either that Lake Superior is well-mixed with respect to copper inputs or that the lake is dominated by a single source for Cu. Recent measurements of atmospheric fluxes of Cu within the Great Lakes region generally indicate that the atmosphere accounts for less than 50% of the Cu accumulating in surficial sediments. Historical Cu accumulation rates from Lake Superior are poorly correlated with Cu production associated with local smelters, but favorably agree with national production rates. Trends in historical Cu accumulation rates within all 3 lakes may indicate that recent declines in Cu loading can be attributed to the enactment of stricter environmental regulations as well as changes in the use of Cu. Focusing-corrected Cu inventories in lakes Michigan, Ontario, and Superior are generally invariant within a given lake, indicating that, historically, these lakes have been dominated either by a single source or were well-mixed with respect to Cu inputs. The disparity between the results from recent accumulation rates and historical inventories may reflect differences in how the Great Lakes respond to contaminant loading on short (e.g. years) versus long (e.g. decades) timescales.     

Effects of water acidification on element concentrations in natural waters of the Kola North

This study discusses the problem of evolution of water chemistry under the influence of acid loadings from copper–nickel smelters of the Kola mining and smelting company (“KGMK”). The natural waters of the Kola Peninsula are characterized by low contents of biogenic substances and mineral salts owing to low water temperatures and low mass transfer rates at high latitudes. Acid precipitation causes water acidification in regions made up by granite gneisses and sandy rocks. Unlike naturally acidic waters with high humic acid contents, these lakes have high-transparency waters. The results show that Cd, Bi, Se, and Re become involved in the transport fluxes irrespective of a natural or anthropogenic source of acidification. Acidified lakes have higher Zn, Pb, As, Bi, and Sb contents compared to neutral lakes. The high coefficient of aqueous migration of Se, Re, Bi, Sb, Cd, and Sn is indicative of the anthropogenically-induced dispersal of these elements.     

Exploring aberrant bivalve shell ultrastructure and geochemistry as proxies for past sea water acidification

Throughout much of Earth's history, marine carbonates have represented one of the most important geological archives of environmental change. Several pivotal events during the Phanerozoic, such as mass extinctions or hyperthermal events have recently been associated with ocean acidification. Nevertheless, well‐defined geological proxies for past ocean acidification events are, at best, scarce. Here, experimental work explores the response of bivalve shell ultrastructure and isotope geochemistry (δ¹³C, δ¹⁸O and δ²⁶Mg) to stressful environments, in particular to sea water acidification. In this study, the common blue mussel, Mytilus edulis, was cultured (from early juvenile stages to one year of age) at four pH regimes (pH_NBS 7·2 to pH 8·0). Shell growth rate and ultrastructure of mainly the calcitic portion of the shells were compared between experimental treatments. Specimens exposed to low‐pH environments show patches of disordered calcitic fibre orientation in otherwise well‐structured shells. Furthermore, the electron backscattered diffraction analyses reveal that, under acidified conditions, the c‐axis of the calcite prisms exhibits a bimodal or multi‐modal distribution pattern. Similar shell disorder patterns have been reported from mytilids kept under naturally acidified sea water conditions. In contrast, this study found no evidence that different pH regimes affect shell carbon, oxygen or magnesium isotope ratios. Based on these observations, it is proposed that: (i) stressful environments, in this case low sea water pH, predictably affect bivalve biomineralization patterns; and (ii) these findings bear potential as a novel (petrographic) proxy for ancient sea water acidification. An assessment of the applicability of these data to well‐preserved fossil shell material from selected time intervals requires additional work.     

The peculiarities of water acidification in European Russia and Western Siberia

Studies have proven the anthropogenic acidification of waters developing over the spacious territories of European Russia and West Siberia. The acidification is exhibited by the waters of small lakes characterized by bedrock consisting of granite and quartz formations. The acidified lakes of high water transparency, pH values below 6, and the prevalence of strong acids in the anion composition account for 4.4% of 201 lakes of European Russia and 8.2% of 166 explored lakes in the taiga and tundra regions of western Siberia. The main factor causing the development of acidification over the European Russia is the emission of technogenic sulfur by metallurgical smelteries. As for western Siberia, this is the combustion of associated gas at oil-producing enterprises. These processes combined with natural factors determine the complicated mechanism of anthropogenic acidification of waters.     

Regional variations in atmospheric deposition and sources of anthropogenic lead in lake sediments across the Canadian Arctic

Stable Pb isotope profiles in dated lake sediment cores were used to gauge the relative amounts and possible sources of anthropogenic Pb deposited from the atmosphere in different regions of the Canadian Arctic. A distinct north-south difference was found. In four High Arctic lakes (i.e., north of 66°N) in this study, recent Pb isotopic shifts or concentration increases attributable to anthropogenic Pb were negligible. The maximum possible contribution from anthropogenic Pb was 0 to 19% of acid-leachable Pb in the 1980s or 1990s. In contrast, two lakes in the Hudson Bay region displayed significantly lower Pb isotope ratios and threefold to fivefold increases of Pb concentrations in modern sediments, corresponding to anthropogenic Pb inputs of at least 72 to 91% of leachable Pb. Eurasian urban and industrial Pb is known to dominate the High Arctic atmosphere. A possible explanation for its negligible influence on northern lake sediments is that atmospheric Pb deposition at northern latitudes is reduced compared with southern regions and is small compared to local geological inputs. ²¹⁰Pb deposition declines with increasing latitude, apparently because of declining precipitation rates; stable Pb deposition may be similarly affected. Meteorological considerations and variations in the post-1900 Pb isotopic trajectories indicated that the predominant anthropogenic Pb source region in NW Hudson Bay was Eurasia, while in SE Hudson Bay, it was Canada and the United States, with a minor Eurasian component.     

Chronology of a lacustrine core from Lake Linggo Co using a combination of OSL, 14C and 210Pb dating: implications for the dating of lacustrine sediments from the Tibetan Plateau

Vast palaeolakes once occupied the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau (TP). Analyses of the sedimentary records of these lakes could potentially provide an extensive dating archive. Many previously constructed age‐depth models simulating lacustrine cores have been principally based on radiocarbon (¹⁴C) dating. However, such dating could have been hampered by the so‐called ‘lake reservoir effect’ (LRE) and the reworking of lakebed sediments, resulting in inaccurate ¹⁴C age‐depth models and limiting interpretations of existing lacustrine palaeoclimatic records. Lake Linggo Co is located on the central TP, in one of the coldest and most arid regions of Tibet. We dated a 9.87‐m‐long lacustrine core extracted from the lakebed at a water depth of ~60 m using a combination of ²¹⁰Pb, ¹⁴C and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) techniques. Some ¹⁴C ages showed significant age reversals; all the ¹⁴C ages were much older than the ²¹⁰Pb and OSL ages for the same depths. This could possibly be attributed to the presence of old, inherited carbon, causing the inherited ¹⁴C age to appear unstable during the deposition period. The ²¹⁰Pb and OSL ages were roughly concordant, and were also consistent with the stratigraphical succession. We therefore suggest that ¹⁴C dating may, on its own, be inadequate for accurate dating of lacustrine sediment sites on the TP, and that the OSL method should also be applied in order to evaluate the reliability of any ¹⁴C ages. With this approach, we constructed an age‐depth model, revealing sedimentation rates of 1.7, 0.8, 6.8 and 0.6 mm a⁻¹ between 0–1.9, 1.9–4.2, 4.2–4.4 and 4.4–9.4 ka, respectively.     

湖南洞庭湖地区土壤酸化特征及机理研究

湖南省洞庭湖地区是中国酸雨沉降和土壤酸化严重的地区之一,酸雨沉降具有明显的季节性和地域性差异,酸雨沉降与土壤酸化具有较好的空间对应性,但土壤酸化的程度还取决于土壤中盐基离子的含量。在土壤酸化较严重的地区,垂向上,土壤酸化深度已达50cm左右,土壤酸化伴随着大量的可溶性铝的溶出。在土壤pH值与盐基离子、氮和硫含量的关系曲线上,存在着pH值突变的临界点(临界点pH值为8),在碱性范围内,硅酸盐和铝硅酸盐矿物的水解使大量盐基离子溶出,中和了因SO42-和NO3-的输入而造成的土壤酸化,但当pH值下降到小于7·25的中酸性范围时,酸性物质和碱性物质组成的土壤缓冲体系失去缓冲作用,酸性物质略有增加,就会导致土壤迅速酸化。     

Evaluation of aluminum speciation in surface waters in China and its environmental risk assessment

As the ongoing global research on acid precipitation is developing in depth, more and more attention has been paid to the ecological effects of aluminum (Al) due to its toxicity to plants and animals, which is caused by acid precipitation. As a very serious problem of terrestrial and aquatic environmental acidification occurs in China, especially in southwestern China, a systematic investigation of Al speciation in these regions is very important. In this paper, the Al speciation results of surface waters in China are reported and its ecological impacts is evaluated. More than 100 water samples were collected from about twenty provinces of China. Driscoll's Al speciation scheme combined with the modified MINQEL computer model is used for speciation of Al. This study shows that the ecological impacts of acidification are quite different between China and Western countries, because of different geographical environments and geological settings. In Western countries, acidification is mainly caused by NO₂^-. Due to low concentrations of K⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, the buffer capacities of soil and water are weak. Therefore, natural waters can be acidified to pH<5 very easily, resulting in a considerable mobilization of Al and worsening of the ecological environment. In China, acid precipitation is mainly in the form of sulfuric acid. In northwestern China, concentrations of K⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ are high in soil and surface waters. This leads to much higher capacity and a high resistance ability to acidification. The pH values of waters in this region are high (around 7) and no serious Al toxicity is found at present. However, in northeastern and southeastern China, the soil is rich in Al (unsaturated aluminosilicates in northeastern China, saturated aluminosilicates in north and central China, aluminum-rich soil in southeastern and southwestern China). The concentrations of K⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ in soil and waters are lower than those of northwestern China. Therefore the buffer capacity is limited. Numerous surface waters have already been acidified and pH values declined to 5. The impacts of Al toxicity on ecological systems in these regions are very serious, especially in Jiangxi, Hubei Provinces and Chongqing Municipality.     

Atmospheric deposition of cadmium in the northeastern USA

Lake sediment cores, dated by ²¹⁰Pb, were collected from Spectacle Pond (SP), Massachusetts, and Side Pistol Lake (SPL) and Sargent Mountain Pond (SMP), Maine, USA. SP is a kettle seepage lake in granitic sand and gravel. SMP is a drainage pond on granite with little soil in the small watershed. SPL is a drainage lake in granitic till. The three cores were analyzed for total Cd. For SP and SMP, maximum concentrations of 1.7 and 3.9 mg/kg, four and eight times background concentrations, respectively, occur in the late 1960s. Accumulation rates reach maximum values concurrently with concentration and are 0.054 and 0.016 μg/cm²/a, more than 10 times background. Concentration and accumulation rate age relationships in SMP and SP are similar for background values, timing and magnitude of increase to peak values, and the decrease nearly to background values since about 1975. The chemical response to decreased atmospheric deposition lags in SPL sediment. Kettle-like lakes more clearly indicate changes in atmospheric deposition than drainage lakes.     

Influence of emission from copper–nickel smelters on the chemical composition of lake water: Acidification forecast

The influence of the emission of sulfur dioxide and solid substances from Pechenganickel and Severonickel copper–nickel combines (Murmansk oblast) on the chemical compositions of lake water and the development of acidification is analyzed. The temporal dynamics of ∼100 lakes, studied in 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2009, and the response of the chemical composition of the lake water to the impact of acid-forming substances depending on the load level (the distance of combines), geologically controlled sensitivity of catchment areas of the lakes studied to acid deposition, and the lake areas is discussed. The likely further changes in sulfate concentration and pH value in the lake water under the scenarios of increase/decrease of sulfur dioxide emissions from smelter are estimated.

     

Sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to northwestern Saskatchewan lakes east of the Athabasca oil sands

The past several decades have witnessed a significant expansion of mining activities in the Athabasca oil sands region, raising concerns about their impact on the surrounding boreal forest ecosystem. To better understand the extent to which distal sites are impacted by oil sands-derived airborne contaminants, we examine sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface sediments and dated sediment cores from Saskatchewan lakes situated ∼100–220 km east–northeast of the main area of bitumen mining activities. The concentrations and fluxes of both parent and alkylated PAHs are low and show considerable variability over the past 70–100 years. Small yet discernible increases in PAH concentrations and fluxes occurred over the past 30 years, a trend which coincides with the rapid growth in bitumen production. However, several lines of evidence point to wildfires as the principal source of PAHs to these lakes: (1) the significant co-variations in most cores between retene (1-methyl-7-isopropyl phenanthrene) and other groups of parent and alkylated PAHs, (2) the similarity in compound specific δ¹³C signatures of the parent PAHs phenanthrene and pyrene in recently deposited surficial sediments and those corresponding to time intervals considerably pre-dating the large scale development of the oil sands and (3) the discernible up-core increases in the proportion of refractory carbon (i.e., char) in Rock-Eval 6 data. The collective evidence points to softwood combustion from boreal forest fires as the principal source of retene in sediments and the general increase in forest fire activity in this region over the past several decades as the source of refractory carbon. Mining activities associated with the Athabasca oil sands are thus not considered a major source of PAHs to these lakes.     

Lake sediment cores as indicators of historical metal(loid) accumulation – A case study in Mexico

To examine and compare historical accumulation of metal(loid)s in Mexican lakes and reservoirs, ²¹⁰Pb and ¹³⁷Cs dated sediment cores were evaluated: two from the remote Zempoala and Miramar Lagoons and three from Lake Pátzcuaro, and the Intermedia and Silva dams that are affected by human activities. Sediment ecotoxicology was assessed using consensus-based sediment quality guidelines for freshwater ecosystems. The +100 a sediment core from the remote Miramar Lagoon had the highest concentrations of Cr and Ni these being higher than the Probable Effect Levels (PELs). Zinc concentrations were also higher in the Miramar Lagoon compared to the other lakes and reservoirs, with concentrations higher than the Threshold Effect Level (TEL). Mercury concentrations from this lagoon were comparable to those for the Intermedia dam that receives water from urban, industrial and agricultural areas. The higher metal concentrations in the core from the Miramar Lagoon suggest that metal concentrations in the rocks of the watershed are high. Another explanation for the higher metal concentrations is the slow sediment accumulation that causes metals to be accumulated over longer time-periods at the sediment–water interface. A decrease in the concentration of As in the Intermedia dam was observed in sediments corresponding to the last decades. This may be due to an increase in sediment accumulation rate or to the reduction in sources of this metalloid in the watershed. In the Miramar Lagoon, an increase was observed in concentrations of As and Cr in more recent sediments, probably related to increased deforestation in the area or the eruption of El Chichonal volcano in 1982. Concentrations of Pb showed a decreasing tendency over the past decades in the Lake Pátzcuaro, Miramar and Zempoala Lagoons sediment cores while such behavior was not be observed for the Intermedia dam. This reduction in concentrations of Pb was attributed to the decrease in use of leaded gasoline.     

Influence of natural and anthropogenic factors on water acidification in humid regions

Anthropogenically induced acidification of waters develops at humid territories in Russia. Acidified lakes with high water transparence, low pH (<6) and predominance of strong-acid anions make up 4.4% lakes in the European part of Russia and 8.2% in the tundra–taiga part of Western Siberia. The major factors responsible for water acidification are sulfur compounds emitted from smelters in the European part of Russia and synthesized when accompanying gas is combusted at oil-producing enterprises in Western Siberia. In combinations with natural factors, these processes result in complicated mechanisms of anthropogenic water acidification. Organic acids, whose concentrations in waters in humid zones are high, are able to enhance anthropogenic acidification.     

河北平原农田土壤重金属元素Pb、Hg地球化学行为的影响因素

土壤重金属元素地球化学行为是目前国内外研究的热点。研究显示重金属元素地球化学行为与土壤理化性质有密切关系。本文选择河北平原农田为研究区,采集了325个根系土样品,测定了Pb、Hg有效态含量,并探讨了影响其地球化学行为的主要因素。研究表明:(1)Pb、Hg水溶态和离子交换态与土壤p H值呈显著负相关关系,土壤酸化使Pb、Hg有效性增加,直接导致农作物中Pb、Hg含量增加,保持土壤p H值在弱酸性至弱碱性范围,防止土壤酸化,可以降低重金属危害。(2)土壤中有机质含量与Pb、Hg全量呈显著的正相关性,但与水溶态和离子交换态呈负相关。所以土壤中有机质的增加可以降低Pb、Hg元素水溶态和离子交换态含量。(3)随着土壤黏粒的增加,Pb、Hg水溶态和离子交换态含量降低,说明黏粒可以吸附一定量的重金属离子,与重金属元素Pb、Hg地球化学行为存在一定关系。土壤p H值、有机质、黏粒是控制重金属元素Pb、Hg地球化学行为的重要因素。     

The role of pollution versus natural geological sources for lead enrichment in recent lake sediments and surface forest soils

This paper assesses the role of airborne pollution and natural geological sources for lead enrichment in lake sediments and in surface soils of boreal forests. This assessment is based on analyses of stable lead isotopes (²⁰⁶Pb and ²⁰⁷Pb) and lead concentrations in sediment cores (>30 lakes), ombrotrophic peat and soil samples in Sweden. The ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratio and concentration profiles in the sediment cores change synchronously over the last 3,000 years in different lakes, temporal concentration changes in sediments and peat deposits are very consistent, and these temporal concentration changes coincide well with the history of lead production in Europe. The ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratio is almost the same in all soil mor samples (1.152ǂ.009; n=94), and similar to values recorded in aerosols, despite very high and different ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratio of the mineral soil in the C-horizon (1.3-1.7). This study provides evidence that lead enrichment in recent sediments and peat, and in the mor layer are caused by deposition of pollution lead and not natural processes.     

Distribution of Pb between sediments and pore water in Woods Lake,Adirondack State Park,New York,U.S.A.

Interstitial water samples and sediments were collected from acidified Woods Lake (pH= 5.0) to evaluate Pb profile stability and distribution between the solid and aqueous phases. A simple equation was developed to describe the distribution coefficient for Pb(Kd_Pb), based on the sample moisture content and analyte concentrations in bulk sediment and pore water. In Woods Lake sediment Kd_Pb values ranged from 6.7 × 10⁴to6.7 × 10⁵ml/g. The affinity of Pb for the solid phase was further demonstrated by inverting a sediment core and leaving it for 10 months in situ. Upon retrieval, the Pb profile was found to have remained intact over the same depth, albeit inverted, as in the surrounding sediment. Geochemical modeling using MINTEQA2 demonstrates that Pb solids that may reasonably be expected to precipitate were all undersaturated by several orders of magnitude with respect to the interstitial water, indicating that Pb was sorbed to, rather than precipitated in, Woods Lake sediment.     

Character of spatiotemporal variations in the chemical composition of lake water under the influence of emission from copper–nickel plants: Prediction of acidification

In this paper, we analyze the influence of variations in the emission of sulfur dioxide and solid substances by the Pechenganikel and Severonikel copper–nickel plants in Murmansk oblast on the chemical composition of lake water and development of acidification. The dynamics of ~100 lakes examined in 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, and 2009 and response of the chemical composition of the lake waters on the impact of acidifying substances was explored depending on the magnitude of load (distance from the plants), geologically controlled vulnerability of the lake catchments to acid precipitation, and the size of the lakes. Possible further changes in the sulfate concentration and pH values of lake waters were estimated for scenarios assuming an increase or a decrease in sulfur dioxide emission from the plants. It was shown that, in the zone of maximum and high load, a 20% change in sulfur dioxide emission will result in a mean change in sulfate concentration of ±8 μeq/L (which is comparable with the regional background) and a change in pH value of ±0.1 in acid-sensitive lakes and will have almost no effect on these parameters in lakes insensitive to acid precipitation.