Pollution of Snow and Soils of the Northwest Coast of the Baikal Lake

Abstract

The purpose is to assess the pollution of snow and soil cover on the northwest coast of the Baikal Lake. Methods. The work was carried out on the basis of field landscape-geochemical and cameral analytical studies in 2015-2018. Snow and soil samples were selected at key sites, chemical and physicochemical analyses were carried out according to standard methods at the licensed Chemical and Analytical Center of the Institute of Geography of the SB RAS. Results and discussion. The studies revealed pollution of snow and soil cover of the northwest coast of the Baikal Lake. Increased contents of heavy and alkaline earth metals, SO4, NO3, NH4, PO4, oil products in snow near settlements of the coast exceeding background values were found. Concentrations of NH4, Pb and petroleum products in snow exceed sanitary standards. The main anthropogenic sources of environmental pollution are construction and road enterprises, thermal power plants, boiler houses, railway and road transport, landfills and waste dumps. To the very end of the water Lake Baikal there are garage and garden associations. Sources of snow water pollution with phosphates and ammonium are housing and communal facilities. There are 4 trunks, 8 departments and 16 types and 19 soil subtypes. Soils mainly have a light particle size distribution. In terms of the content of the main nutritional elements of plants, soils under the steppe are characterized by a satisfactory state. Contamination of HM soils in the recreational zone and on the territory of the garage-garden partnership located on the lake coast was revealed. Concentrations of Cu, Zn, Co in soils exceed MPC, which can be associated not only with anthropogenic sources, but also with deposits of rare metals. Conclusion. The revealed correlations between the concentrations of macro- and microelements in various natural media (snow – soil) indicate their anthropogenic (Ti, V, Co, Ni, Mo), as well as natural (Si, Cu, Zn, Al, Cd, Fe, Sr) origin. The absence of any dependence for Pb, Sr and Mn (soil – snow) confirms their anthropogenic origin. In some cases (snow – soil – rock), simultaneous anthropogenic and natural input of Al, Mo, Si, Mn, Pb, Be, Ni, Zn, Ba, Cr, Cd, Fe, Sr into the snow and soil cover has been established. The probability of this process decreases from the identified strong correlation to a weak one.