Particulate nickel distribution and fluxes in the sediments and suspended particulate matter of Kandalaksha Bay (White Sea, Russia)

Abstract

Surface sediment and suspended particulate matter (SPM), together with two sediment traps, from Kandalaksha Bay and its associated estuaries (Niva, Kolvitsa and Knyazhaya) were collected during June 2000 in order to evaluate the nickel distribution and fluxes within the basin. The mean nickel concentration found in the sediments (45.2 ± 9.4 μg/g) is typical for unpolluted marine sediments, but higher than for other Russian Arctic seas such as the Laptev or the Pechora. Ni concentrations in the SPM range from values similar to those found in the sediments to very high values up to 3800 μg/g. The particulate nickel flux in Kandalaksha Bay increases with depth-18.7 μg m-2 d-1 at 55 m vs. 32.2 μg m-2 d-1 at 270 m. This nickel flux is compared to the published atmospheric deposition data for the area in order to evaluate the importance of the Cu-Ni smelters located in the neighboring Kola Peninsula on the nickel inputs to Kandalaksha Bay