Insights into Particle-Bound Metal(loid)s in Winter Snow Cover: Geochemical Monitoring of the Korkinsky Coal Mine Area, South Ural Region, Russia

Tatyana G. Krupnova, Olga V. Rakova, Galina P. Struchkova, Sardana A. Tikhonova, Tamara A. Kapitonova, Svetlana V. Gavrilkina, Aleksandra V. Bulanova and Olga N. Yakimova
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Tatyana G. Krupnova: Chemistry Department, South Ural State University, 454080 Chelyabinsk, Russia
Olga V. Rakova: Chemistry Department, South Ural State University, 454080 Chelyabinsk, Russia
Galina P. Struchkova: Larionov Institute of Physical-Technical Problems, North Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 677980 Yakutsk, Russia
Sardana A. Tikhonova: Larionov Institute of Physical-Technical Problems, North Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 677980 Yakutsk, Russia
Tamara A. Kapitonova: Larionov Institute of Physical-Technical Problems, North Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 677980 Yakutsk, Russia
Svetlana V. Gavrilkina: South Urals Federal Research Center of Mineralogy and Geoecology of the Urals Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Ilmen Reserve, 456317 Miass, Russia
Aleksandra V. Bulanova: Chemistry Department, South Ural State University, 454080 Chelyabinsk, Russia
Olga N. Yakimova: Chemistry Department, South Ural State University, 454080 Chelyabinsk, Russia

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 9, 1-16

Abstract: Snow plays an important role in air quality and winter geochemical monitoring in the South Ural region. This study deals with the air pollution monitoring of particle-bound metal(loid) concentrations using snow cover around the deepest coal mine in Eurasia, the Korkinsky coal mine. We studied the concentrations and ratios of suspended and dissolved forms of metal(loid)s (Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sr, and Zn) in snow samples. We examined 56 snow cover samples, collected at 12 sites located north, south, east and west of the Korkinsky coal mine. All snow samples were taken in January 2020. The spectral reflectance curves, cluster analysis, and spatial distribution maps were used to evaluate the potential sources of PM-bound metal(loid)s and the potential relationship among them. The highest concentrations (μg/L) were reported for Fe, Al, and Zn. In addition to the mine influence, burning coal for residential heating was identified as the major anthropogenic metal(loid) source. It was shown that elevated concentrations of some trace metals in snow samples were associated with southerly winds and the location of spoil heaps.

Keywords: air pollution; snow cover; metals; metalloids; snow pollution; source identification (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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