The Features of Distribution of Chemical Elements, including Heavy Metals and Cs-137, in Surface Sediments of the Barents, Kara, Laptev and East Siberian Seas

Abstract

Over the recent few decades, due to climate warming and the continuing exploration of Arctic seas’ mineral resources, the scientific interest in contamination problems has deepened significantly. In this study, for the first time, we characterize the distribution features of 47 elements (major and trace elements, including heavy metals, metalloid As, and Cs-137 technogenic radionuclide) in surface bottom sediments from some areas of the Barents, Kara, Laptev, and East-Siberian Seas. The lithogenic material was the main factor that controlled variability in many elements (Be, Al, Ti, Cr, Ga, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, REE, Pb, Th, U, W, and Cs). Among the hydrogenic processes, the formation of Fe and Mn oxyhydroxides has the greatest impact on the Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Ge, and Mo, and insignificantly V and Sb, variability in sediments. These, along with minor to moderate values of enrichment factor (EF) for most elements, allowed us to conclude that the observed element distribution is related to predominantly natural processes of thermal abrasion, river-run, and atmospheric input. The exception is As, which exhibited the elevated EF (up to 20) in the western and central Kara Sea, as well as in the Vilkitsky Strait. Since no significant relationship between As and Fe andMn oxyhydroxides distribution was found, we may assume primarily an anthropogenic source of As, related to the peat and/or coal combustion. According to the criteria of Ecological Risks assessment, all the examined areas have a low degree of risk. Data on the specific activity of Cs-137 correspond to the background average values characteristic for these regions. The highest levels of Cs-137 concentration (Bq/kg) were detected in the sediments of the Ob and Yenisei Rivers’ estuaries.