THE DISTRIBUTION OF SOME HEAVY-METALS AND ARSENIC IN RECENT SEDIMENTSFROM THE EASTERN GULF OF FINLAND

The highest concentrations of heavy metals in the eastern Gulf of Finl and are found in the Neva estuary as well as in the open sea for some metals such as Cd. Vertical profiles show lower amounts of anthropogen ically-derived heavy metals in the surface sediments compared to those immediately below. This can be attributed to improved sewage water tr eatment in St. Petersburg during the last decade as well as to a decre ase in the output of industrial waste in Russia as a result of the eco nomic depression. The water depth of the gulf increases westwards. Thi s enables the metals to migrate westwards under the influence of botto m currents when they are released from the sediments by strong current s as is predicted to happen when the Kotlin dam is operating. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.