ECOLOGICAL AND GEOCHEMICAL ASSESEMENT OF KUYALNIK ESTUARY

The long-term investigations of Kuyalnik liman bottom sediments during the period of 2002-2012 years showed that the pollution levels in this estuary by heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Cr, V, Mn) and their spatial distribution depend on the location of the local anthropogenic contamination sources and the mechanical composition and types of sediments. The small depth, the limited water exchange and silt structure contribute to the accumulation of heavy metals in bottom sediments of Kuyalnik estuary. This research yields the data on the spatial distribution of heavy metals in the surface (0-20 cm) layer of bottom sediments of Kuyalnik estuary and made it possible to estimate the current level of pollution. All the sediment samples are shown to contain heavy metals (V, Zn, Pb, Cd, Mn, Cu). In particular, the high concentrations of metals that belong to the first class of hazard (Cd, Zn, Pb) are registered. The average concentration for all studied metals except cadmium and zinc do not exceed the geochemical background. The maximum concentration of Pb, Zn, Cd, V exceed the limit values for soil. The level of technogenic pollution was established to be quite equal with the natural clarkes of lithosphere levels.