Trace metals in surface water of the Pechora River and its tributaries: Content, water quality and risks assessment (Arctic Ocean basin)

Evgeny Yakovlev; Sergey Druzhinin; Anna Druzhinina; Sergey Zykov; Nikolay Ivanchenko

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115317

Trace metals in surface water of the Pechora River and its tributaries: Content, water quality and risks assessment (Arctic Ocean basin)

Mar Pollut Bull. 2023 Sep;194(Pt B):115317. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115317. Epub 2023 Jul 22.

Authors

Evgeny Yakovlev¹, Sergey Druzhinin², Anna Druzhinina², Sergey Zykov², Nikolay Ivanchenko³

Affiliations

¹ N. Laverov Federal Center for Integrated Arctic Research of Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 109 Severnoj Dviny Emb., Arkhangelsk 163000, Russia. Electronic address: evgeny.yakovlev@fciarctic.ru.
² N. Laverov Federal Center for Integrated Arctic Research of Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 109 Severnoj Dviny Emb., Arkhangelsk 163000, Russia.
³ N. Laverov Federal Center for Integrated Arctic Research of Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 109 Severnoj Dviny Emb., Arkhangelsk 163000, Russia; Northern (Arctic) Federal University, Arkhangelsk, Northern Dvina Emb. 17, 163000, Russia.

PMID: 37487428
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115317

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of trace metals content in the Pechora River and its tributaries, which is the largest river in the Arctic Ocean basin. The study of physico-chemical properties of water showed aerobic conditions of low-mineralised water with pH values suitable for drinking water. Analysis of the content of trace metals has revealed that the main flow of Al, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, V, As, Mg and Fe into the Pechora River comes from its tributaries. The average content of Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb, V, As, Mg and Fe in the water of the Pechora River delta was higher than for the main river channel, which indicates the transfer of a large mass of trace metals to the Barents Sea and the Arctic water ecosystem. For the studied river and tributaries, chronic pollution of the Pechora River with Al, Mn, Ba, Fe, Cu, U and Pb metals has adverse effects on waterborne organisms. The degree of contamination of natural waters by metals has been assessed using water quality indices (TMPI, TMEI, TMTI) and public health risks (HI and CR). Low contamination and weak toxicity of the Pechora River water has been determined, but serious contamination, toxicity and high non-carcinogenic risk of some of its tributaries have been observed. A high carcinogenic risk has been established for the consumption of all water sampled. Al, Ni, As, Fe, Mn, Cr, Cd, and Ba were found to be the highest priority contaminating trace metals. At present, contamination of the Pechora River and its tributaries with trace metals is formed under the influence of dissolution processes of rocks of the Ural Mountains, the Taminsky Ridge, underlying mineral deposits, permafrost degradation processes and glacier melting. Anthropogenic factors include oil and gas production and transportation.

Keywords: Arctic Ocean basin; Human health risk; Pechora River; Physico-chemical parameters; Trace metals; Uranium; Water pollution; Water quality indices.

MeSH terms

Ecosystem
Environmental Monitoring
Lead / analysis
Metals, Heavy* / analysis
Oceans and Seas
Risk Assessment
Rivers / chemistry
Trace Elements* / analysis
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis
Water Quality

Substances

Metals, Heavy
Lead
Trace Elements
Water Pollutants, Chemical