Geochemical pollution of trace metals in permafrost-affected soil in the Russian Arctic marginal environment.

The Arctic marginal environment has been considered as far from industrial areas and low population. During June-July of 2016 "Russian High Latitude" expedition, 93 samples of soil genetic horizon from 25 soil profiles dug till frozen ground were sampled from 8 islands and 2 capes of the Russian Arctic without direct anthropogenic influences. Nine trace metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, Ni, Co, Zn, Fe, Mn and Hg) were measured and quantified by energy-dispersive X-ray analysis for elemental concentrations.

Influence of Anthropogenic Activities on Metals in Arctic Permafrost: A Characterization of Benchmark Soils on the Yamal and Gydan Peninsulas in Russia.

Permafrost-affected region in Russian Arctic is an important study area for investigating fate of trace metals in soils by geological processes and human-induced trace metals through atmospheric deposition. Two plots of soils in Yamal region were selected: Northern Trans-Urals area (PU1, PU2, PU3) adjacent to urban areas and Gydan Peninsula representing reference groups as natural landscapes (Yavai, Gyda, Enysei). The levels of most metals in Urals area were more than those in Gydan Peninsula.