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ESTIMATION OF THE TRACE METALS ACCUMULATION IN BOTTOM SEDIMENTS AND THEIR CONNECTION WITH THE GRANULOMETRIC COMPOSITION

K. I. Gurov

Abstract

An important indicator of the existing and possible pollution of any water area is the content of trace metals in bottom sediments that can characterize the level of anthropogenic load. Analysis of the content of metals in bottom sediments in different parts of the water area made it possible to establish the features of distribution of toxic metals in dependence on natural geochemical processes and to identify the areas that experience the most intensive anthropogenic load. In the paper, estimates of the spatial distribution of the investigated parameters were obtained, and correlations between bottom sediment fractions and elevated concentrations of heavy metals were found. Analysis of the quantitative characteristics of granulometric composition and the features of spatial distribution of the bottom fractions showed that over the past ten years an increase in the fraction of fine-grained material has been noted, and the areas of its accumulation are located in places of active anthropogenic development. The content of clay material in the sediments of the Balaklava bay for all samples on average increased from 58.2 to 65.9%, and its maximum values still concentrate in the western and northwestern parts of the bay. Pollution of the bottom sediments of the Balaklava bay by metals is of polyelement nature and is determined primarily by metals such as Pb, Cr, Zn, Cu, As, Sr. Specific features variability in the content of the elements and localization of their inputs to the ecosystem were determined. Maximum metal concentrations are observed near local pollution sources. The obtained results allowed to evaluate the modern ecological state of the investigated regional object, to develop recommendations for its rational economic use.

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