Ecogeochemical investigation : Stream water quality as an indicator of pollution in the border areas of Finland, Norway and Russia

The Geological Surveys of Finland and Norway, and the Central Kola Expedition, Russia, carried out an environmental geochemical mapping project, including investigation of stream water quality. The project was carried out in 1992-1993 in the border areas of Finland, Norway and Russia, covering an area of 12 000 km super(2), to determine the impacts of smelting industries at Nikel and Zapoljarnij. Stream water was one of eight different indicators providing an estimation of the degree and distribution of contamination in the study area. Contamination of surface water was assessed by analyses of 44 samples, 41 variables were measured on each sample. Indicators of human activities in surface waters are NO sub(3), K, electrical conductivity (EC), SO sub(4), Na, Cl and acidification indicated by alkalinity and pH. On the coast Na and Cl contents are also affected by marine salts. The results show considerably higher contents of K, Ca, Mg, SO sub(4), Na, heavy metals and EC in the samples close to Nikel and Zapoljarnij smelters than those sites more distant from the polluting sources. Especially chemical effects of high emissions of Ni, Cu and SO sub(2) on stream water quality from Nikel and Zapoljarnij smelters are clearly seen near the sources of emissions.