TY - JOUR

T1 - The ecological impact of mineral exploitation in the Russian Arctic

T2 - A field-scale study of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in permafrost-affected soils and lichens of the Yamal-Nenets autonomous region

AU - Ji, Xiaowen

AU - Abakumov, Evgeny

AU - Polyako, Vyacheslav

AU - Xie, Xianchuan

AU - Dongyang, Wei

PY - 2019/12

Y1 - 2019/12

N2 - Forty soil and lichen samples and sixteen soil horizon samples were collected in the mining and surrounding areas of the Yamal-Nenets autonomous region (Russian Arctic). The positive matrix factorization (PMF) model was used for the source identification of PAHs. The results of the source identification showed that the mining activity was the major source of PAHs in the area, and that the mining influenced the surrounding natural area. The 5+6-ring PAHs were most abundant in the mining area. The lichen/soil (L/S) results showed that 2+3-ring and 4-ring PAHs could be transported by air and accumulated more in lichens than in the soil, while 5+6-ring PAHs accumulated more in the soil. Strong relationships between the quotient of soil/lichen (QSL) and Log KOA and Log PL and between the quotient of lichen/histic horizon soil and KOW were observed. In addition, hydrogeological conditions influenced the downward transport of PAHs. Particularly surprising is the discovery of the high levels of 5 + 6 rings in the permafrost table (the bottom of the active layer). One hypothesis is given that the global climate change may lead to further depth of active layer so that PAHs may migrate to the deeper permafrost. In the impact area of mining activities, the soil inventory for 5+6-ring PAHs was estimated at 0.14 ± 0.017 tons on average.

AB - Forty soil and lichen samples and sixteen soil horizon samples were collected in the mining and surrounding areas of the Yamal-Nenets autonomous region (Russian Arctic). The positive matrix factorization (PMF) model was used for the source identification of PAHs. The results of the source identification showed that the mining activity was the major source of PAHs in the area, and that the mining influenced the surrounding natural area. The 5+6-ring PAHs were most abundant in the mining area. The lichen/soil (L/S) results showed that 2+3-ring and 4-ring PAHs could be transported by air and accumulated more in lichens than in the soil, while 5+6-ring PAHs accumulated more in the soil. Strong relationships between the quotient of soil/lichen (QSL) and Log KOA and Log PL and between the quotient of lichen/histic horizon soil and KOW were observed. In addition, hydrogeological conditions influenced the downward transport of PAHs. Particularly surprising is the discovery of the high levels of 5 + 6 rings in the permafrost table (the bottom of the active layer). One hypothesis is given that the global climate change may lead to further depth of active layer so that PAHs may migrate to the deeper permafrost. In the impact area of mining activities, the soil inventory for 5+6-ring PAHs was estimated at 0.14 ± 0.017 tons on average.

KW - Distribution

KW - Lichen

KW - Mining activities

KW - PAHs

KW - Permafrost-affected soil

KW - Russian Arctic

KW - BLACK CARBON

KW - THERMAL STATE

KW - TIBETAN PLATEAU

KW - PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS

KW - DIAGNOSTIC RATIOS

KW - PETROLEUM-HYDROCARBONS

KW - SURFACE SEDIMENTS

KW - SOURCE APPORTIONMENT

KW - ACCELERATED SOLVENT-EXTRACTION

KW - PARTICULATE MATTER

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85072246599&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.mendeley.com/research/ecological-impact-mineral-exploitation-russian-arctic-fieldscale-study-polycyclic-aromatic-hydrocarb

U2 - 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113239

DO - 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113239

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85072246599

VL - 255

JO - Environmental Pollution

JF - Environmental Pollution

SN - 0269-7491

M1 - 113239

ER -