Heavy metal pollution in sediments of the Pasvik River drainage

The purpose of this paper is to study the regional impacts of heavy metals (Ni, Cu, Co, Zn, Cd, Pb, Hg) on the watershed of the Pasvik River. On the b asis of sediment investigations at 27 stations of the watershed, background concentrations of the heavy metals, vertical distribution of heavy metals in sediments, heavy metal concentrations in surface sediments, cont aminati on degree, and risk index were determined. The atmospheric emissions of Ni, Cu, Co, Zn, Cd and Hg from the smelters and waste waters from tailing dams and mines of the Pechenganickel Company are likely to be the main sources of increasing concentrations observed in recent sediments of the lower rive r reaches. Lead showed a different pattern from the other heavy metals-incr easing Pb concentrations in the upper sediment layers rewards the Norwegian side. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.