Scientific publications

The article presents the results of geochemical and radioecological studies in the Arkhangelsk agglomeration. Snow cover and groundwater samples for studying the content of heavy metals and uranium isotopes were taken within the bounds of the agglomeration. The content of heavy metals was determined by mass spectrometry. The average concentrations of heavy metals in groundwater samples form the following geochemical series in descending order (μg/L): Fe (809,33) > Mn (426,38) > Zn (24,24) > Cr (16,08) > Ni (12,76) > Cu (2,99) > Ti (2,48) > V (1,5) > Pb (0,97) > U (0,91) > As (0,39) >Co (0,58) > Mo (0,32) > Sb (0,09) > Cd (0,02). The values for heavy metals were compared with the WHO levels. The permissible limits were exceeded for Fe and Mn, while the concentrations of other metals were below the permissible limits. The study shows that heavy metals from the snow cover migrate to groundwater after snowmelt. The concentrations of iron and manganese in the groundwater were ten times that of the snow. Concentrations of Zn, Cr, Ni, Cu, Ti, V, Pb, As, Co, Mo, Sb and Cd in snow were comparable to those in groundwater. In terms of total snow contamination, the suburban areas of Arkhangelsk were the most polluted – 216.91 mg/m².