METHANE FORMATION AND DISTRIBUTION IN WATER AND BOTTOM SEDIMENTS POLLUTED BY THE PULP MILL EFFLUENTS (LAKE LADOGA AS AN EXAMPLE)

Yu. A. Fedorov and N. S. Tambieva

The methane content in skerry areas of Lake Ladoga that receive untreated pulp mill effluents reaches 490 µl/l in water and 250 µg/g in wet silt. An apparent increase in methane concentration in the skerries compared to the open part of the lake is observed. A close correlation between the content of anthropogenic organic matter and methane is observed in bottom sediments. The existence of physicochemical and geochemical barriers caused by thin oil film on the water surface of some skerries is identified by the change of methane content in water and by the change of physicochemical and hydrodynamic characteristics of anthropogenic substance transformation.