ICP-MS determination of heavy metal content and isotopic composition of lead in the Altai glaciers

The Altai glaciers are natural collectors of global and regional atmospheric pollution. The purpose of this study is to determine the occurrence of heavy metals in high-mountain unexplored glaciers of the Attai and to make attempt to identify a source of lead pollution using its isotopic ratios. Concentrations of heavy metals and isotopic composition of Pb in high-mountain firn from Western Plateau of the Katun' ridge were determined by ICP-MS. The obtained occurrence of heavy metals is comparable with the data on Alpine region. Pronounced variations in concentrations within centimeter depth scales are associated with relative contributions from the different natural and anthropogenic sources of heavy metals fallouts. Measured isotopic ratios of Pb confirm anthropogenic origin of the lead pollution of the Altai high-mountainous region

Assessment of contamination of the Issyk-Kul' valley natural waters with uranium mine wastes

The Lake Issyk-Kul' of the central Tyan-Shan is characterized by increased natural uranium content. Uranium-carbon deposit situated on the southern bank of the Lake can be the reason of chemical and radioactive contamination of this unique basin by exploitation wastes. ln order to estimate possible danger, a project “Assessment and prognosis of environmental changes in Lake Issyk-Kul' (Kyrghyzstan)” was developed and supported by the Program ofthe European Commission “Copernicus-2” (2001-2003). According to this project the water assays were sampled from different depths near the banks of the Lake and from low-debit sources draining the dumping grounds of the uranium-carbon deposit. Elemental and isotopic examinations of these water samples were performed using an ELEMENT HR-ICP-MS (Finnigan Mat). The results obtained are the evidence that the ecological status of the Lake Issyk-Kul'is not damaged at present. Wastewaters from the uranium-carbon mine do not make decisive contribution into the natural radioactive background