The genesis of the natural water chemistry in the South-Western Khibiny Mountains (the Malaya Belaya River Basin).

Thermodynamic modeling (in the software suite Selector) of the processes controlling the surface and groundwater chemistry in the catchment area of the Malaya Belaya River as part of the water-rock system made it possible to identify the migration forms and ratios of vital, carcinogenic, and toxic elements. It was found that the surface and groundwater chemistry is controlled by the interactions of surface, ground, and fissure water with the nepheline syenites and chibinites of the Khibiny massif, which is supported by the data on the concentrations of heavy isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen (δO and δH). The natural water chemistry and the element ratios may be causes of some of the diseases common among the area's residents, since these diseases are due to the excessively high or low or out-of-balance concentrations of many biologically important components and ratios thereof.

Chemical composition of lake sediments along a pollution gradient in a Subarctic watercourse.

Sediment cores were collected from seven lakes in the Subarctic Pasvik watercourse, polluted by sewage waters and air emissions from the Pechenganickel Metallurgical Company, in order to study chemical composition and estimate the intensity of pollution by taking into account background concentration of elements and the vertical and spatial distribution of their contents in cores and surficial layers of sediments. Sediment samples were analysed by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry for 18 elements (Ni, Cu, Co, Zn, Cd, Pb, Hg, As, Cr, Sr, Mn, Fe, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Al, P). Maximum concentrations of all investigated heavy metals (Ni, Cu, Co, Zn, Cd, Pb, Hg, As) were found in the surficial sediment layers of Lake Kuetsjarvi situated directly below the metallurgic smelters.

Heavy metal contents in whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus) along a pollution gradient in a subarctic watercourse.

Metallurgic industry is a source of serious environmental pollution related to the emission of heavy metals. Freshwater systems are focal points for pollution, acting as sinks for contaminants that may end up in fish and humans. The Pasvik watercourse in the border area between Finland, Norway and Russia is located in the vicinity of the Pechenganickel metallurgic enterprises, and the lower part of the watershed drains the Nikel smelters directly through Lake Kuetsjarvi.