Integrative Journal of Environmental & Earth Science [IJES] Volume 2020 Issue 01 Research Article Comparative Analysis of Chemical Composition of Snow Melt Water and River Water from Areas with Aluminum Production (Russia, Baikal region) Valentina I. Grebenshchikova* and M.I. Kuzmin A.P. Vinogradov Institute of Geochemistry, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences Received: February 28, 2020; Accepted: March 09, 2020; Published: March 13, 2020 R-Infotext Citation: Grebenshchikova VI, Kuzmin MI (2020) Comparative Analysis of Chemical Composition of Snow Melt Water and River Water from Areas with Aluminum Production (Russia, Baikal region). Integrative J of Envi & Ear Sci 01 (01): 1–15. Abstract This paper is focused on the comparative analysis of the chemical composition of snow melt water and surface water in two areas holding aluminum production (Baikal region): both under operation (Shelekhov town) and under construction (Tayshet town). It appears that the levels of contamination of the studied environmental components (snow melt water, snow solid phase, river water) with Al and its satellite elements (F, Be, Li) in the towns hosting aluminum production are from 2 to 5 times higher than the regional background values. The monitoring studies in areas with aluminum production are still going on. Keywords: aluminum production, chemical composition, pollution, snow melt water, snow solid phase, surface water. Introduction They are able to accumulate in the human body for a long time and exceed the concentration (dose) necessary for life Aluminum production has been continuously growing (Martin, Larivière 2014). Thus, aluminum widely occurs worldwide as this element is actually of great importance in technogenic processes, but it is poorly studied, though in different industries: aircraft construction, motor and its chemistry is closely related to medicine and biology. food industries, electronics, etc. Aluminum is derived from The elements, satellites of aluminum production such as bauxite. Bauxite is a breed with a complex composition. F, Be, Li, B, etc. are related to certain diseases and turn alumina (Al O ) is obtained from bauxite. Then from First, 2 3 out to be highly toxic. Many of water- soluble inorganic alumina as a result of electrolysis in the melt of fluoride salts aluminum compounds are long-preserved and they might at a temperature of about 950 ºC, the main component cause harmful effect on humans and warm-blooded animals of the melt, cryolite, is obtained. Cryolite is Na AlF salt 3 6 through drinking water, food, soil and even dishware, that (Anshits et al 1991). In the process of electrolysis, aluminum is confirmed by medical and sanitary observations in urban is deposited in special electrolysis baths. In its pure form, systems [3–8]. aluminum is used much less frequently than in the form of alloys. The alloys additionally contain various elements The snow cover is known to be an informative and that increase their hardness, density, thermal conductivity, depositing medium capable of accumulating pollutants etc. For this purpose, Be, B, Li, Fe, Si, Mg, Mn, Zr, Ag, entering the environment. It influences the hydrological Pb, Cu, Ni and other elements are used (Table 1, 2). All of regime of rivers and has an effect on soil chemical the above elements, which exceed the regional background composition. In the Eastern Siberia, the snowpack content [1] or the city clarke [2] (Table 1), are to some generally accumulates over a longer period of time extent toxic to humans, as shown by numerous publications. (generally 5 months) and thus is considered to be a natural March 13, 2020 Integrative J of Envi & Ear Sci, Volume 01(01): 1–15, 2020 Comparative Analysis of Chemical Composition concentrator of many chemical elements including toxic specific diseases. The maximum permissible concentrations ones. The elemental composition of snow cover can give the (MPC) do not exist for different elements, including those information concerning geochemistry and geology of an considered in this article (Al, Be, Li, F and some others) area under study and therefore can provide the information both for liquid and solid phases of snow cover. The standard on industries available there. It is known, that the snow concentrations of different elements in drinking water for cover chemical composition influences the composition domestic purposes are: of other environmental components (soil, plants, water). Al – 500 μg/ L, Be- 1 μg/L, Li – 30 μg/ L, F- 1.5 mg/ L The pollutants accumulated in the snow cover can cause (GN 2.1.5.1315–03.., 2003; Control.., 1998). Table 1. Contents of components (mg/L), pH and the sum of major components in the city’s snow water and in the background areas of the Baikal region Component Shelekhov Shelekhov (2012) Tayshet Biryusinsk District of Regional background (2008-2012) (2014) (2014) factories under (Grebenshchikova et construction in al., 2008) Taychet region (2014 ) pH 5.7-6.9 6.3-6.9 5.4-6.5 6.2-8.1 3.8-6.3 5.8-6.9 6.65 6.0 7.0 4.9 6.5 – HCO3 1.34-11.10 3.05-10.25 4.5-20.4 6.0-29.5 3.8-12.3 1.59-8.42 5.22 9.5 12.2 6.9 5.12 Cl– 0.39-2.97 0.39-1.65 0.72-2.08 0.92-1.26 0.77-1.25 0.38-0.65 0.66 0.97 1.0 0.94 0.5 2– SO4 0.09-15.0 0.18-2.90 1.10-4.30 1.2-2.0 0.74-2.56 0.7-3.9 0.48 1.70 1.6 1.43 1.5 F– 0.3-26.0 0.30-10.75 0.0005-0.03 0.003-0.05 0.01-0.03 0.04-0.09 3.62 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.08 – NO3 0.22-1.2 0.22-0.44 0.20-0.52 0.28-0.60 0.17-0.58 0.47-2.28 0.33 0.35 0.46 0.36 1.04 – NO2 0.007-0.187 0.007-0.187 0.006-0.072 0.008-0.039 0.003-0.023 0.01-0.03 0.03 0.014 0.03 0.009 0.02 + NH4 0.006-1.071 0.004-0.277 0.002-0.19 0.02-0.11 0.001-0.039 0.027-0.103 0.12 0.02 0.03 0.004 0.06 K+ 0.09-1.87 0.09-1.06 0.02-0.12 0.07-0.09 0.05-0.17 0.15-0.29 0.38 0.07 0.08 0.09 0.18 Na+ 0.26-25.3 0.26-9.17 0.04-0.12 0.05-0.20 0.04-0.08 0.28-0.90 2.68 0.07 0.07 0.05 0.3 Ca2+ 0.17-6.09 0.17-6.09 0.7-3.9 2.0-8.0 0.5-1.5 1.8-3.1 1.53 1.6 4.4 0.7 2.0 Mg2+ 0.05-1.99 0.05-0.51 0.1-0.7 0.2-0.8 0.06-0.73 0.24-0.49 0.17 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.3 TDS 11.4-94.6 5.91-27.32 8.5-28.1 11,7-41,5 7.3-18.0 10.1-18.7 14.55 18.0 21.0 10.9 15.1 Number of 45 25 11 4 14 4 samples The maximum concentrations is highlighted in bold. March 13, 2020 Integrative J of Envi & Ear Sci, Volume 01(01): 2–15, 2020 Comparative Analysis of Chemical Composition Table 2. Concentrations of trace elements in snow melt water (μg/L) of cities with aluminum production and the background area of the Baikal region Element Shelekhov Shelekhov Tayshet Biryusinsk District of factories under Baikal natural (2009-2012) (2012 ) (2014) (2014) construction background (mean in Taychet region (2014 ) value) (2012) Be 0.02-3.73 0.02-1.12 0.003-0.014 0.0029-0.0033 0.002-0.01 0.01 0.37 0,01 0.003 0.005 Al 63-7730 63-7730 10.8-343 13.1-354 5.5-170 28 2020 72 145 38 B 2.5- 51.12 2.5-25.6 0.53-8.0 1.2-9.4 0.3-1.9 0.71 8.2 3.0 4.6 0.8 Li 0.52-60.1 0.52-13.0 0.04-0.29 0.15-0.20 0.02-0.18 0.57 3.86 0.12 0.18 0,06 As 0.1-3.38 0.03-0.59 0.06-0.30 0.06-0.14 0.04-0.18 0.24 0.24 0.16 0.09 0.09 Cd 0.013-0.28 0.01-0.20 0.006-0.033 0.005-0.02 0.005-0.03 0.04 0.09 0.01 0.01 0.01 Ni 1.22-19.13 0.90-12.9 0.12-0.58 0.15-0.36 0.07-0.36 0.4 5.03 0.24 0.22 0.17 Pb 0.056-0.81 0.019-0.35 0.16-0.51 0.27-0.39 0.08-0.56 0.3 0.16 0.32 0.33 0.29 Sb 0.10-0.71 0.10-0.35 0.14-0.34 0.03-0.05 0.09-0.16 0.06 0.15 0.19 0.04 0.13 Zn 8.7-202 10.3-35 5.67-17.9 6.24-26.9 4.5-11.1 15 20 10.6 12.4 7.3 Co 0.12-0.93 0.12-0.93 0.04-0.18 0.03-0.08 0.02-0.11 0.12 0.34 0.08 0.05 0.05 Cu 0.20-8.4 0.20-5.62 0.27-1.04 0.28-0.57 0.12-0.58 1.0 1.07 0.51 0.42 0.27 V 0.06-2.1 0.06-1.18 0.05-0.92 0.09-0.95 0.05-0.62 0.30 0.63 0.41 0.39 0.15 Cr 0.02-0.76 0.04-0.58 0.05-0.67 0.09-0.23 0.04-0.41 0.1 0.16 0.20 0.14 0.14 Mo 0.034-1.3 0.034-0.82 0.03-0.12 0.04-0.11 0.02-0.06 0.09 0.19 0.06 0.08 0.03 S 268-4502 311-2960 84-688 233-648 64-336 939 1236 349 493 192 Hg 0.0005-0.13 0.0005-0.0053 0.0005- 0.0005-0.0018 0.0005-0.001 0.001 0.001 0.0017 0.002 0.001 0.001 Number of 45 25 11 4 14 8 samples In the numerator – minimum-maximum, in the denominator – average; the maximum content of the elements is shown in boldface.