Features of the Natural and Anthropogenic Fluxes of Heavy Metals Formation and Assessment of Cleansing Ability of Northern European Territory of Russia Mouth Rivers

Abstract The Northern Dvina River estuary is characterized by specific natural conditions (long cold winters, short cool summers, podzolic type of soil formation, high waterlogging (up to 20%) and high forest cover (about 80%) of the territory), the influence of tidal and wind waves of the White Sea, providing deep penetration into the delta river of salt water, as well as significant anthropogenic influence on the part of the enterprises of pulp and paper industry and forestry, thermal power engineering, etc., located in the cities of Arkhangelsk, Novodvinsk and Severodvinsk. All this has a significant impact on the formation of concentrations and fluxes of heavy metals in the study area. The following balance sheet components are actively involved in heavy metal transport: precipitation (solid and liquid), soils and vegetation; river water (water, suspended matter and bottom sediments); hydrobionts; groundwater; and industrial discharges and emissions. Natural and anthropogenic flows of heavy metals were calculated, and the cleaning capacity of the Northern Dvina River estuary was estimated. On the basis of the obtained data, a conceptual balance model was developed, which describes the processes of transfer of heavy metals between the studied components.