Ecological and geochemical assessment of heavy-metal and sulfur pollution levels in hilly peatbogs of southern Taimyr

• Published in: Contemporary problems of ecology Vol. 7; no. 6; pp. 685 - 693
• Main Authors: Efremova, T. T, Efremov, S. P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Moscow Springer-Verlag 01.11.2014; Pleiades Publishing; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anthropogenic factors; Biomedical and Life Sciences; cities; Contaminants; Ecology; ecosystems; Emissions; Environmental changes; Geochemistry; Heavy metals; Life Sciences; monitoring; Peat; pollution; Pollution levels; rivers; Sulfur; hilly peatbogs; nickel; technogenic pollution; copper; sulfur; cobalt; lead
• ISSN: 1995-4255; 1995-4263
• DOI: 10.1134/S1995425514060031

The monitoring of hilly peatbogs has been found to yield valuable information on technogenic changes in the environment. The intensive accumulation of heavy metals and sulfur has been shown to occur in the top layer of peat deposits (usually no deeper than 5 cm and sometimes as deep as 15 cm). The depth of penetration of anthropogenic contaminant fluxes into the peat deposits do not exceed 30–35 cm. Monitoring of adverse changes evoked by sulfur emissions should be carried out in bog ecosystems of the valley of the Rybnaya River, while the effects of heavy metals should be assessed in areas close to industrial objects of the cities of Norilsk and Talnakh.