Assessment of Long-Term Socio-Geo-Ecological Consequences of Lead-Zinc Ore Mining on Vaygach Island

The article evaluates possible negative geo-ecological consequences for the inhabitants of Varnek settlement from the development of polymetallic ore deposit in the southwest of Vaygach Island in the first half of the 20th century. Accumulation of heavy metals in algae of lagoonal estuaries of the K...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Igor V. Miskevich, Ekaterina I. Kotova
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Northern Arctic Federal University 2025-03-01
Series:Арктика и Север
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.arcticandnorth.ru/en/article_index_years.php?ELEMENT_ID=398407
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849703353054920704
author Igor V. Miskevich
Ekaterina I. Kotova
author_facet Igor V. Miskevich
Ekaterina I. Kotova
author_sort Igor V. Miskevich
collection DOAJ
description The article evaluates possible negative geo-ecological consequences for the inhabitants of Varnek settlement from the development of polymetallic ore deposit in the southwest of Vaygach Island in the first half of the 20th century. Accumulation of heavy metals in algae of lagoonal estuaries of the Krasnaya (control site) and Varkutsyakha (background site) rivers was considered. There is an abandoned lead-zinc ore mine on the watershed of the Krasnaya River, where dumps of lead-zinc ore were left. The data were obtained that in the mouth of this river there is a significant accumulation of heavy metals in filamentous algae and fucus compared to the background site. At the same time, the content of lead in algae of the control site exceeding the permissible sanitary norm by 4.8 times was recorded. It is assumed that when waterfowl and fish use algae as food (through zooplankton and zoobenthos), lead in excessive concentrations may enter the organisms of local Nenets, for whom fishing and hunting have become the main occupation in the conditions of observed unemployment. To prevent possible negative effects of polymetallic ore mining on the human body, recommendations are given on what areas on the island should be avoided when setting up stations and bases for activities within the framework of the Vaygach State Nature Reserve and for tourism development.
format Article
id doaj-art-b8f8047d052e4cfa94eb031c76cfec37
institution DOAJ
issn 2221-2698
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Northern Arctic Federal University
record_format Article
series Арктика и Север
spelling doaj-art-b8f8047d052e4cfa94eb031c76cfec372025-08-20T03:17:18ZengNorthern Arctic Federal UniversityАрктика и Север2221-26982025-03-015858333910.37482/issn2221-2698.2025.58.38Assessment of Long-Term Socio-Geo-Ecological Consequences of Lead-Zinc Ore Mining on Vaygach Island Igor V. Miskevich 0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5737-4236Ekaterina I. Kotova 1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7442-3311Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M.V. LomonosovShirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M.V. LomonosovThe article evaluates possible negative geo-ecological consequences for the inhabitants of Varnek settlement from the development of polymetallic ore deposit in the southwest of Vaygach Island in the first half of the 20th century. Accumulation of heavy metals in algae of lagoonal estuaries of the Krasnaya (control site) and Varkutsyakha (background site) rivers was considered. There is an abandoned lead-zinc ore mine on the watershed of the Krasnaya River, where dumps of lead-zinc ore were left. The data were obtained that in the mouth of this river there is a significant accumulation of heavy metals in filamentous algae and fucus compared to the background site. At the same time, the content of lead in algae of the control site exceeding the permissible sanitary norm by 4.8 times was recorded. It is assumed that when waterfowl and fish use algae as food (through zooplankton and zoobenthos), lead in excessive concentrations may enter the organisms of local Nenets, for whom fishing and hunting have become the main occupation in the conditions of observed unemployment. To prevent possible negative effects of polymetallic ore mining on the human body, recommendations are given on what areas on the island should be avoided when setting up stations and bases for activities within the framework of the Vaygach State Nature Reserve and for tourism development. https://www.arcticandnorth.ru/en/article_index_years.php?ELEMENT_ID=398407vaygach islandore miningriver mouthsleadalgaeaccumulationhuman health
spellingShingle Igor V. Miskevich
Ekaterina I. Kotova
Assessment of Long-Term Socio-Geo-Ecological Consequences of Lead-Zinc Ore Mining on Vaygach Island
Арктика и Север
vaygach island
ore mining
river mouths
lead
algae
accumulation
human health
title Assessment of Long-Term Socio-Geo-Ecological Consequences of Lead-Zinc Ore Mining on Vaygach Island
title_full Assessment of Long-Term Socio-Geo-Ecological Consequences of Lead-Zinc Ore Mining on Vaygach Island
title_fullStr Assessment of Long-Term Socio-Geo-Ecological Consequences of Lead-Zinc Ore Mining on Vaygach Island
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of Long-Term Socio-Geo-Ecological Consequences of Lead-Zinc Ore Mining on Vaygach Island
title_short Assessment of Long-Term Socio-Geo-Ecological Consequences of Lead-Zinc Ore Mining on Vaygach Island
title_sort assessment of long term socio geo ecological consequences of lead zinc ore mining on vaygach island
topic vaygach island
ore mining
river mouths
lead
algae
accumulation
human health
url https://www.arcticandnorth.ru/en/article_index_years.php?ELEMENT_ID=398407
work_keys_str_mv AT igorvmiskevich assessmentoflongtermsociogeoecologicalconsequencesofleadzincoreminingonvaygachisland
AT ekaterinaikotova assessmentoflongtermsociogeoecologicalconsequencesofleadzincoreminingonvaygachisland