The ecological situation in the Russian part of the Black Sea — isotopic-geochemical monitoring in a shore-sea system

Methodological aspects and main results of the 1st stage (1993) of isotopic-geochemical monitoring in the Russian part of the Black Sea are considered. Interpretation of data has shown that carbon- and sulphur-containing products of technogenesis have different sources: in the first case great sea ports and terminals with oil products can be clearly identified; in the second - mainly surface run-off from agricultural areas and watersheds of big rivers. Metal compounds originated due to destruction of ore mineralization zones are clearly separated from the products of human activity. The main mass of contaminants is transported along seashore and turns to the deep part of the sea in the region of Tuzla cape where are evidently the main geochemical barriers and accordingly sedimentation of contaminants. High concentrations of metals of 1 and 2 groups by toxicity found in geochemical anomalies do not indicate their technogenic origin. The only criteria of their ranging in this case are isotopic data on C and S being combined with traditional geochemical analysis.