Pollution of the Main Components of the Natural Environment of the Most Developed Part of the Southwestern Coast of Lake Baikal (within the Baikal Municipal Formation)

Abstract

The data of landscape-geochemical studies of the main components of the environment (snow, surface water, soils and vegetation) near the sedimentation ponds of the industrial site of the former Baikal pulp and paper mill, Baikalsk, at the mouth of the Kharlakta and Babkha rivers on the southwestern coast of Lake Baikal are presented. Increased content of heavy (HM) and alkaline-earth metals, SO₄^2–, NO₃^–, NH₄⁺, PO₄^3– was detected in the snow near the Baikalsk town, exceeding background readings. Concentrations of F^–, NO₃^–, NH₄⁺, Pb, Mo, Mn, Zn, Sr and V in surface waters of local lake shore sites exceed sanitary and hygienic norms. Soil contamination with HM in the recreational and industrial zone located on the shore of Lake Baikal has been revealed. Correlations between the concentrations of macro- and microelements in soils and their indicators such as the content of organic carbon and physical clay fraction have been established, which indicates the presence of biogeochemical barriers on which Na, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Co accumulate in values above the background readings and MAC.