History of the Pollution in Tomsk Region (Siberia, Russia) According to the Study of High-Moor Peat Formations

Abstract

A method that could be used to detect the change of the environment was used to determine the input of trace elements from the atmospheric fallouts into the biosphere near Tomsk city (West Siberia, Russia) during the last century. In this study we used high-moor peat formations because of the wide-spread occurrence of bogs in this region. Investigations of the raised peat bogs in areas with different degree of anthropogenic impact showed that the distribution of trace elements in the upper parts of peat deposits depends on the location of bogs towards industrial sources. The highest concentrations of Ca, Fe, Cr, Co, Sc, Hf and rare earth elements were found in the upper part of the bog located near the city Tomsk. Distribution of trace elements in the vertical profiles of raised peat deposits near cities Tomsk and Seversk reflects the industrial specialization of these cities and the dynamic of the atmosphere pollution. Studies of radioactive elements (<sup>137</sup>Cs, <sup>238</sup>Pu, <sup>239</sup>Pu) have indicated their inputs from global fallouts

Anthropogenic- and natural sources of dust in peatland during the Anthropocene

“…3) is especially notable. This finding is in line with the observed peak in concentration of La, Th and U, and increased activities of 238 Pu and 137 Cs, in a peat layer dated cal AD 1963 in peatlands of the Tomsk region15 as well with maximum of above ground nuclear tests in Russia (AD 1962)31. The most powerful nuclear test was Tsar Bomba detonated at Novaya Ziemlya in 196132.…”

“…Studies of the geochemistry of Siberian peatlands have focused predominantly on the probable impact site of the Tunguska Cosmic Body or on the pollution related to Tomsk- and Norilsk heavy industry (Fig. 1)141516. Furthermore, no existing studies identify the recently proposed Anthropocene period, the period in which human activity dramatically altered all earth systems171819.…”

A regional approach for the calculation of characteristic toxicity factors using the USEtox model

“…According to the investigations of L. P. Rikhvanov et al (Mezhibor, 2011;Rikhvanov et al, 2008), the anthropogenic sources of air pollution in Tomsk oblast comes from the thermal power industry, petrochemical industry, oil industry and vehicles.…”

“…Moreover, the Tomsk district is of interest because this area contains many industrial sites, for example the Northern industrial unit is located close to Seversk city. More than thirty industrial complexes are located within the Northern industrial unit, including the world's largest nuclear fuel cycle enterprise -the Siberian Chemical Plant (Gauthier-Lafaye et al, 2008;Ilyinskikh et al, 1998;Mezhibor, 2011), and the largest oil and gas processing plant in Russia -Sibur (formerly Tomsk Petrochemical Plant).…”

“…The negative anthropogenic influence on its population has been studied over many years (Mezhibor, 2011;Rikhvanov et al, 2008;Ильинских et al, 2001;Москвитина, 1999). The fact of industrial impact on pollution in this region is highlighted in the article of Mezhibor et al (Mezhibor, 2011).…”