INFLUENCE OF ATMOSPHERIC TRANSPORT ON THE ACCUMULATION OF HEAVY METALS BY THE COMPONENTS OF THE MIRES AROUND TOMSK

Abstract

Cities have become a source of natural landscapes pollution. Air transport of heavy metals changes the geochemical cycles of bogs that receive their main mineral nutrition from the atmosphere. The paper studies the distribution of heavy metals in the mire components through the example of key sites located near the cities of Tomsk and Seversk. The research was carried out on 7 mires, 5 of which are located to the north of the city and 2 are in the southwest of the city. The concentrations of Zn, Cu, Cd, and Pb were determined in 4 plant species (Betula pubescens, Pinus sylvestris, Chamaedaphne calyculata and Rhododendron tomentosum), peat, and bedrock. It has been found that the content of these elements in plants and peat, as well as the intensity of their absorption, is higher in the mires located north of Tomsk, in the direction of the main transfer from the southern winds prevailing in the region. The influence of the city is also manifested in the fact that in the peat of all the sites that were examined, the concentration of heavy metals is higher than in the bedrock. The study has revealed that woody plants most intensively absorb Zn and Cu, while shrubs accumulate Cd and Pb. The absolute values of metal concentrations in plants and peat do not go beyond the background values established for the region, but the use of geochemical coefficients makes it possible to reveal the effect of industrial pollution. The study shows that mires can serve as sensitive indicators of atmospheric pollution in the process of monitoring of the state of environment.