Biogeochemical indication of technogenic mercury pollution of the ecosystem components in the Bratsk Reservoir (East Siberia) and the Bolshoye Yarovoye salt lake (Altai Territory)

Abstract

Based on the results of long-term biogeochemical studies (1992-2003), the Bratsk Reservoir was classified as anthropogenically transformed water body. In its upper part, there was mercury pollution of the ecosystem components (water, bottom sediments and biological objects), which was associated with the discharges of mercury-containing wastewater from the Usolyekhimprom chemical plant producing chlorine and caustic soda (Usolye-Sibirskoye town). The results of the monitoring the ecological condition of the Bolshoye Yarovoye salt lake (1998-2004) revealed the local mercury pollution of the ecosystem components (water, bottom sediments and biological objects) by mercurycontaining onshore solid waste dumps of the Altaihimprom plant (Yarovoye town) producing chemical reagents, including mercury oxide.