Landscape-geochemical patterns of distribution of heavy metals in biological objects and bottom sediments of the Altai lakes

Biogeochemical studies have been carried out on seven lakes of the Altai Territory, situated in different landscape-geochemical zones. The basic contents of heavy metals in the biological objects determining the biogeochemical background have been estimated. These contents serve as references in monitoring of increasing element concentrations during the man-induced pollution of lakes. The method of cluster analysis was used to carry out a computer-aided classification of correlations between chemical compositions of biological objects, bottom sediments, and regional soils. It has been established that the accumulation of trace elements in the living matter differs considerably from their accumulation in bottom sediments. The bottom sediments accumulate chiefly Cr, Ni, and Co, whereas the living matter accumulates Hg, Zn, Cd, and Mn. There are zones of local pollution in Lake Bol'shoe Yarovoe with elevated concentrations of mercury in biological objects and bottom sediments, resulting from industrial waste of a chemical plant in the town of Yarovoe.