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

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.

Effects of Rain and Snow on the Air Quality Index, PM2.5 Levels, and Dry Deposition Flux of PCDD/Fs

“…Snow has a purifying effect on the air, because the water molecules in the air in the crystallization process of forming snowflakes, the surface area of the rapid increase, can effectively absorb the particles in the air, and in the process of snow will bring them to the ground. In fact, contaminants such as total metals can be detected in the snow to determine the level of local air pollution (Krupnova et al, 2021). As Fig.…”

Elemental Composition of PM2.5 and PM10 and Health Risks Assessment in the Industrial Districts of Chelyabinsk, South Ural Region, Russia

“…Chelyabinsk is one of the snowiest cities in the Russian Federation. The decrease of PM concentration in winter can partially be explained by the “wash-out” effect, as the first snowfall typically happens in October and are lasting throughout the winter [ 46 , 47 , 48 ]. Snow grains to moderate snow has been reported from January–March and October–December of 2020 ( Figure S1b ).…”

“…The substantial increase in PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels from March to August at Station 2, compared to Stations 1 and 3, could be due to dust resuspension of the nearby slag dump caused by windy dry weather. During the autumn-winter period rains [ 46 ] and snow cover [ 47 , 48 ] significantly reduced dust episodes and the levels at Station 2 is comparable to that of Stations 1 and 3. The PM 2.5 and PM 10 concentrations observed during the spring-summer period of 2020 at Station 3 were substantially lower than at Station 2 and markedly lower than at Station 1.…”