ABSTRACT
Within the period from 1989 to 1993, the impact of heavy metals and acid oxides on lakes, more than 100 km distant from the nearest source of pollution (enterprises of the copper-nickel industry), has been investigated. On the basis of complex investigations (chemical composition of snowpack and lake sediments, state of fish organisms and populations), it was discovered that there is intensive precipitation of heavy metals and acid oxides within the catchment of the lake Kochejavr. The catchment is characterized by a natural buffer capacity to neutralize acid precipitation. Active accumulation of heavy metals is observed in lake sediments. Metal accumulation causes subtoxic effects on the lake fish. The levels of precipitation of nickel and copper of 0.9 mg/m2 per year over long periods was found to be dangerous for biological systems of freshwater catchments.
Subject(s)
Air Pollutants/adverse effects , Fishes , Metals, Heavy/adverse effects , Water Pollutants/adverse effects , Air Pollutants/analysis , Air Pollutants/pharmacokinetics , Animals , Arctic Regions , Environmental Monitoring , Geologic Sediments/chemistry , Metals, Heavy/analysis , Metals, Heavy/pharmacokinetics , Snow , Tissue Distribution , Water Pollutants/analysis , Water Pollutants/pharmacokineticsABSTRACT
The contents of Cd, Cu, Cr, Hg, Ni and Zn in muscle, liver and gills were studied in whitefish, perch, pike, brown trout, burbot and vendace from three lake localities in a watercourse in the border region between Norway and Russia, in the vicinity of mining activity and several metallurgic smelters. The contents of Cd and Ni in fish tissue increased with increasing proximity to the smelters, whereas the other elements showed similar concentrations at the three localities. The recorded heavy metal concentrations appeared to be within the ranges reported for fish from other metal-contaminated lakes, and higher than comparable observations from unpolluted systems. The heavy metal concentrations were usually lowest in muscle and highest in the liver or the gills. Significant differences in metal concentration levels were found between different fish species, but Hg was the only metal where these species differences were possibly related to biomagnification. For the other elements, the concentrations generally appeared to be inversely related to the trophic level of the fish species.
