Terrestrial pollution in the Pechora basin, north-eastern European Russia

• Main Author: Walker, Tony Robert
• Published: University of Nottingham 2003
• Subjects: 363; QK504 Cryprogams : QH540 Ecology
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.275955

The chemical composition of snow, terricolous lichens and top-soil along with abundance and diversity of lichen communities were assessed in the Pechora and Usa basins, North-Eastern European Russia. Transects were established through the principal industrial towns of Vorkuta, Inta and Usinsk to assess the spatial extent of acid or alkaline and metal deposition. A further eight sites were selected to assess local impacts of oil and gas operations. In the Usa basin decreases of nitrogen concentration in the lichen Cladonia stellaris and winter deposition of non-sea salt sulphate moving northward were attributed to long range transport of oxides of nitrogen and sulphur from lower latitudes. Increased ionic content and pH of snow, along with elevated nitrogen concentrations and modified cation ratios in lichens (Cladonia arbuscula and Flavocetraria cucullata) within 25-40 km of Vorkuta and Inta were attributed to local deposition of alkaline coal ash. Nitrate concentration in snow did not vary with proximity to perceived pollution sources. Trace metal composition of winter snowpack, snow-melt filter residues and top-soils indicated elevated concentrations of elements associated with alkaline combustion ash around coal mining operations in Vorkuta and Inta, adding significantly to the soil metal loading as a result of ash fallout. Around the petrochemical industry near Usinsk there was little evidence of trace metal deposition. Acid deposition was associated with pristine areas, whereas alkaline combustion ash near to emission sources more than compensated for the acidity due to S02 and NOx. There were limited perturbations in the chemical signals in lichens, top-soils and lichen diversity close to an oil and gas industrial complex on the Kolva river. Here, there were elevations of lead and nitrogen concentrations in lichen apices and in the apical : basal nitrogen ratio in Flavocetraria cucullata, with lower lichen diversity of epigeal and epiphytic lichens. Elevated concentrations of Ba and Ca were found in soil-ash, probably as a result of local emissions from construction activity and gas flaring, rather than from long-range transport. Virtually all other sites remained unmodified and reflected background concentrations.The ecological impacts of the measured pollution loads are discussed.