Chemical composition of snow and soil in Svirsk city (Irkutsk Region, Pribaikal'e)

The aim of the research was to study the chemical composition of snow and soil of Svirsk city (Pribaikal'e) in order to assess the current environmental-geochemical situation in the city. Industrial specifics in Svirsk city is marked by higher concentrations of many toxic elements-As, Cd, Pb, W, Sb, Pb, Zn, Hg, and characteristic of preexisting and currently existing enterprises. The contents in biological matrices of some of the toxicants exceed physiological standards and violate the balance of elements necessary for people. The results of studies of the chemical (major and trace elements) composition of snow water, solid residue of snow and soil, a comparative analysis with earlier published data, and maximum permissible concentrations of elements have shown that the environmental situation in the city has been adversely affected within the last 20 years due to technogenesis.