Enrichment of Surface Water by Elements: Effects of Air Pollution, Acidification and Eutrophication

Element content in lake water of European Russia (ER) along transects from the tundra to the arid ecoregion are presented. Trace element distributions as a result of climate ecoregion, landscape type and man-induced processes (i.e., acidification and eutrophication) are presented. The high concentrations of Ti, Ni, Cu, Co, Cd and Se are characteristic of tundra and taiga ecoregions. The main factors are distribution of airborne elements from Cu-Ni smelting plants and leaching by acidic precipitation. The variability of Fe, Mn and Al concentrations is primarily caused by the degree of humification of the forest watersheds. In the southern regions, the evaporative concentration leads to increased concentrations of a large group of elements. Trace elements contained in water are presented. Surface waters throughout the East European Plain are enriched in elements such as J, Br, As, Se, As, Mo, Sb, Cd, Ag, Sc, Re and Ni compared to bedrocks. The coefficient of water migration is defined as the ratio of the content of a given element in the water, as mineral compound, to its content in the bedrock. Statistical analysis of relationship between elements was performed and the influence of pH and eutrophication on element mobility has been proved. The geology of the rocks is the main controlling factor of element migration. Organic carbon is an important factor of iron and manganese migration. Lanthanides and actinides have an affinity for alkalinity content. Acidification influence on migration of cadmium and zinc is presented. In all ecoregions, Mo, As, Pb, U, Bi, Sb, Cd, Ag, Se and Re are characterized by high coefficients of water migration. The Re content in water exceeds more than 100 times its concentration in bedrock. Many of these elements have been involved in the geochemical cycle by human activities. As a result, there is high element concentration in surface water at the regional and global scale. The quantitative data of element concentrations in surface water can be used as reference concentrations of trace elements in different ecoregions and accordingly can define regional water quality standards. © 2016, Springer International Publishing Switzerland.