AIRBORNE CONTAMINATION BY HEAVY-METALS AND ALUMINUM IN THE FRESH-WATER ECOSYSTEMS OF THE KOLA SUB-ARCTIC REGION (RUSSIA)

Airborne contamination by heavy metals and aluminum in freshwater ecos ystems of the Kola Peninsula in subarctic Russia has resulted from smo ke emissions from large plants such as the Severonikel and Pechenganik el smelters and the Kandalaksha aluminum plant. Negative effects are i ntensified by acidic precipitation. Nickel is a primary technogenic ef fluent in surface waters of the Kola North. The area of highest nickel concentrations in water and lake sediments is limited to a 30-km zone around the copper-nickel plants; a similar situation exists for coppe r. Lake acidification increases the concentration of all metals in wat er, particularly aluminum. During flood times, a redistribution of met al speciation occurs that increases the concentration of more toxic me tal species. We determined that there is a high intensity of metal acc umulation in the organs of fish, and we discovered toxic effects, incl uding specific pathologies and fish dysfunction. Based on this informa tion, we estimated the critical levels of metals in freshwater ecosyst ems of the Kola North.