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The total concentrations of ten elements (Ag, As, Co, Cs, Fe, Ir, Ni, Rb, Sb, and Sc) were determined in soil and vegetation samples from the surroundings of a Cu-Ni smelter in Monchegorsk, Northwest Russia, and a background area in Naruska, North Finland. The samples were analysed by epithermal neutron activation analysis (ENAA). Elements emitted from the smelter (Ag, As, Co, Ir, Ni, and Sb) were mostly accumulated in the topsoil. Some elements also appeared to contaminate deeper soil layers. In both soil and vegetation the metal concentrations decreased with increasing distance from the smelter. The most significant contributor to the high concentrations of Fe and Sc near the smelter was probably damaged ground vegetation and subsequent wind erosion. Possibly high geochemical abundance of Fe and Sc may also have been a contributing factor. Concentrations of Cs and Rb in soil and vegetation generally increased with increasing distance from the pollution source. High negative correlations were evident between these elements and the elements emitted from the smelter, suggesting that cation exchange of Cs and Rb by the elements supplied from the smelter was likely occurring in the surface soil. |
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