Mercury in soils and plants in the area of Lake Bol’shoe Yarovoe (Altai Territory)

We examined mercury distribution in soils and plants of the catchment area of Lake Bol’shoe Yarovoe with the Altaikhimprom chemical industrial complex situated on its shore. Data on mercury contents show a considerable mercury flow into the environment, though the industrial complex and its waste do not pose serious threat. The revealed pollution in the immediate vicinity of the industrial complex, including that due to atmospheric transport, as well as the elevated content of mercury in hydrochloric and alkaline extracts suggest its intense migration from the waste. Therefore, it is necessary to make up an inventory of the industrial-complex waste and perform a detailed study of the lake ecosystem as a model unit.