CLEANING UP EMERGENCY OIL SPILLS FROM THE WATER SURFACE WITH MAGNETIC ADSORBENTS

There was suggested a method of obtaining a complex adsorbent with magnetic properties for the oil spill clean-up from the water surface by means of controlled magnetic field. As magnetic filler a finely-dispersed iron-ore concentrate in the form of magnetite, obtained by wet magnetic separation of crushed iron ore, was suggested. As an adsorbing component the disintegrating electric-furnace steelmaking slag, obtained by dry air-cooling method, was selected. The mass ratio of components slag:magnetite is 1(1,5÷2,0). For cleaning up emergency oil spills with the suggested magnetic adsorbent a facility, which is installed on a twin-hulled oil recovery vessel, was designed. The vessel contains a rectangular case between the vessel hulls with inlet and outlet for the treated water, the bottom of which is a permanently moving belt. Above the belt, at the end point of it there is an oil-gathering drum with magnetic system. The adsorbent is poured to oil-products layer from a hopper, provided with drum feeder. Due to the increased bulk weight the adsorbent sinks rapidly into the oil layer on the water surface. If the large non-floating flocculi are formed, they sink and sedimentate on the moving belt and are moved to the oil-gathering drum. The saturated adsorbent is removed from the drum surface with a scraper, connected with a gutter, with contains a rotating auger.

ACCUMULATION OF PLASTIC FRAGMENTS AND MICROPLASTICS ON THE BEACHES IN THE SOUTH-EAST BALTIC SEA

The sediment sampling from different areas of the beaches in the south-eastern part of the Baltic Sea (in Kaliningrad region) was executed for the purpose of studying the quantitative and qualitative composition of the microplastics particles (range 0.5-5 mm). Preference is given to those beaches that are exposed to maximum anthropogenic pollution. From June, 2015 to January, 2016, there were 14 expeditions along the coastline of the Baltic Sea (in Kaliningrad region) to collect experimental materials. The majority of samples were collected on the most recent flotsam deposited at “wracklines”, in the supralittoral zone. The primary examination of those samples revealed the presence of abundant microplastic particles of the required size range (0.5-5 mm). Quantitative distribution of microplastics in beach sediments was obtained in milligrams per gram of sediment and milligrams per m2: on average 0.05-2.89 (mg per gram of sediment) and 370-7330 (mg per m2), accordingly.

EXTREME DETERIORATION OF WATER QUALITY AND FISH SUFFOCATION PHENOMENA IN THE MARINE ESTUARY

The factors that provoke fish suffocation in an estuary, namely: natural (small river runoff, high air and water temperature, water stratification) and anthropogenic (regulation of river, etc.) were marked. Taking into account these factors the calculations were carried out and the possible areas of the Dnieper-Bug estuary, where fish kill of different scale and genesis is found out were identified.

BOTTOM SEDIMENTS OF LAKES AND STREAMS OF DVINA BAY OF THE WHITE SEA COASTAL AREAS AS AN INDICATOR OF ANTHROPOGENIC IMPACT (BY THE EXAMPLE OF MERCURY POLLUTION) _

The article analyzes the data of expedition studies conducted by the team of the leading scientific school of Professor Fedorov Yu.A. in the Archangelsk region for more then 10-years period of researches. The materials of mercury content obtained for samples of bottom sediments sampled in the mouth area of the Northern Dvina River, the lakes of Arkhangelsk and the surrounding areas, at Dvina Bay and different areas of the White Sea. Based on the available data and having considered the results of the authors working on the subject of mercury pollution in the subarctic region, conclusions about the level of anthropogenic impact on water bodies and streams of the Arkhangelsk region are justified. Factors that contribute to the formation of relatively high and low concentrations of mercury in sediments identified. The effects of mechanical, hydrochemical, hydrological barriers analyzed. The natural background of mercury in the bottom sediments of the region revealed. Comparative analysis of the accumulation of mercury in the bottom sediments of the study area and other parts of the subarctic region realized. Opportunities and conditions for existence of the effect of "secondary pollution" discussed.

ACCUMULATION OF PLASTIC FRAGMENTS AND MICROPLASTICS ON THE BEACHES IN THE SOUTH-EAST BALTIC SEA

The sediment sampling from different areas of the beaches in the south-eastern part of the Baltic Sea (in Kaliningrad region) was executed for the purpose of studying the quantitative and qualitative composition of the microplastics particles (range 0.5-5 mm). Preference is given to those beaches that are exposed to maximum anthropogenic pollution. From June, 2015 to January, 2016, there were 14 expeditions along the coastline of the Baltic Sea (in Kaliningrad region) to collect experimental materials. The majority of samples were collected on the most recent flotsam deposited at “wracklines”, in the supralittoral zone. The primary examination of those samples revealed the presence of abundant microplastic particles of the required size range (0.5-5 mm). Quantitative distribution of microplastics in beach sediments was obtained in milligrams per gram of sediment and milligrams per m2: on average 0.05-2.89 (mg per gram of sediment) and 370-7330 (mg per m2), accordingly.

THE REGULARITY OF HEAVY METALS DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOR IN THE BOTTOM SEDIMENTS ON THE PROFILE “NORTHERN DVINA RIVER – WHITE SEA”

A study was conducted to investigate the level of heavy metals in bottom sediments of the Northern Dvina mouth area and the White Sea in various seasons since 2004. Of greatest interest for the study was presented as such heavy metals as Hg, Pb, Cd, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cr, which belong to the priority group of toxic elements. The heavy metals concentrations were determined with atomic absorption spectrometer. Also the grain-size composition, concentrations of organic carbon and values of hydrogen ion exponent (pH) and redox potential (Eh) in bottom sediments were determined. It was found that the levels of heavy metals in sediments significantly changed in the lateral radial direction. There is a tendency to increased concentrations of some heavy metals downstream of the river. The high concentrations of heavy metals were found within the influence of cities and towns. So the extremely high mercury concentrations were found in the sediments of small and shallow channels crossing the Arkhangelsk city. The study of heavy metal concentrations in the bottom sediments along the profile “the Northern Dvina - Dvina Bay - White sea” showed that the marginal filter contributes to the coprecipitation with suspended metals of anthropogenic genesis. These processes greatly reduce the contamination risk of the White Sea. Thus, the impact of the river on the ecosystem of the White Sea outside the marginal filter is significantly less.

IMPACT OF NONYLPHENOL ON THE PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF FUNGI FROM THE COASTAL AREA OF THE GULF OF FINLAND

Nonylphenol (NP) is the most abundant environmental estrogen listed as one of the priority hazardous substances in the Water Framework Directive (EC 2000) and the priority pollutant of Baltic Sea (HELCOM 2010). The present study aims to compare the effects of technical nonylphenol (tNP) on the cellulase, amylase and protease activity of the terrestrial fungal strains played a significant role in aquatic ecosystems due to their high adaptive capacity and a large range of functional activity. The study also attempts to understand the mechanisms behind the varying sensitivity of the terrestrial fungi to tNP. The fungal strains were isolated from the bottom sediments of the coastal area of the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland. The terrestrial fungi were identified based on their morphological characteristics and nucleotide sequence analysis of internal transcribed space region. One reason for significant differences in sensitivity to the toxicant studied among the fungi is the change in the fungal cell permeability, in particular in cell membrane permeability, induced by NP. Environmentally relevant concentrations of tNP cause significant changes in activity of hydrolytic enzymes in the terrestrial fungi Aspergillus tubingensis, Penicillium expansum, Penicillium glabrum, and Cadophora fastigiata involved in organic matter degradation in bottom sediments. There can be increasing or decreasing trend, depending on both the type of enzyme and the tNP concentration. The revealed changes may disrupt the destructive processes in bottom sediments, as well as succession and stability of microbial communities functioning in the aquatic environment. It was found that tNP contributes to the activation of proteolytic enzymes, considered as potential fungal virulence factors. This may lead to emergence fungal strains with enhanced virulence in aquatic microbiocenoses. The investigations of the physiological responses of terrestrial fungi under nonylphenol will be important for biochemical processes dynamics and their environmental consequences evaluation.

OIL POLLUTION OF THE SOUTHEASTERN BALTIC SEA SURFACE AND POSSIBLE DIRECTIONS OF ITS PROPAGATION

Ships, seeps from the seabed, municipal and industrial waste waters, and the atmosphere are the main sources of sea water contamination with oil and oil products. During the satellite monitoring of the Kravtsovskoe oilfield (D-6) (2004-2015) the area west of Sambia Peninsula and anchorage in front of entrance to Kaliningrad Sea Canal were localized as the most polluted area of the Southeastern Baltic Sea. Oil spill drift forecast from these areas with a help of Seatrack Web model (SMHI, HELCOM) has shown that the average annual direction of oil pollution drift is directed to the North-East. In some cases, leakage of oil or oil products from ships west of Sambia Peninsula could be a reason of oil contamination of beaches of the “Curonian Spit” National Park.