Microelements in bottom sediments may enter different compounds; however, of greatest interest are their mobile forms as the most bioavailable. The microelements speciation in the pore water and solid phase of bottom sediments were studied in the cooling reservoir of the Kalinin NPP (lakes Udomlya and Pesvo).

The interaction between inorganic pollutants and higher aquatic plants was studied. Experimental data demonstrated toxic effects from a mixture of heavy metals (Cu, Fe3+, Ni, Fe2+, Zn, Cr6+, Pb, Cd) on Chara fragilis and Callitriche palustris macrophyte species. The experiments were carried out in freshwater microcosms at temperature 12–19°C. Phytotoxicity of the tested mixtures of heavy metals to the macrophytes was revealed. Shoots of C. fragilis and C. palustris plants showed some common signs of phytotoxicity. The new results contribute to the development of water purification phytotechnologies, as well as to elucidation of the range of conditions for applicability of the investigated species in phytoremediation.

Surface water is contaminated by trace elements in mining areas. A complex study was carried out on the state of water and bottom sediments of two rivers in the area of the tailings of Urupsky’s mining plant. The impact of tailings on the content of elements in the water, suspensions and bottom sediments was estimated. The main pollutants of the surface water and bottom sediments and also their element’s forms were revealed.

Surface waters are subject to intense contamination with trace elements in ore mining areas. A complex study was performed for the state of waters and bottom sediments from the Bogachukha and Urup Rivers in the area of the abandoned tailing dump of the Urupsky Ore Mining. The impact exerted by the tailing dump on the concentration of elements in the water, suspended particulate matter, and bottom sediments of the rivers is evaluated. The major contaminants of surface waters and bottom sediments, as well as the forms of their element distribution are revealed.

Copper and lead are among the most important chemical pollutants of the environment including hydrosphere. Interaction of these heavy metals with biomass of aquatic plant organisms including algae is an area of active research in ecological chemistry. We investigated the interaction of the biomass of unique extremophilic (thermophilic) algae Galdieria sulphuraria with these heavy metals in aquatic environment using stripping voltammetry. Biosorption of copper by the studied biomass from aquatic medium has been discovered; however, no biosorption of another heavy metal from aquatic environment with the biomass has been detected. The experiments with the mortmass of Galdieria sulphuraria have revealed no sorption of the heavy metals as measured by stripping voltammetry. The difference in the interaction of copper and lead with the algal biomass is important for deeper understanding of the biosorption phenomenon. The new data stimulated further interest to the concept of biogenic migration of chemical elements that was proposed by V.I. Vernadskii. The results contributed to the scientific basis for innovative biotechnology to decontaminate water.

Interactions of metals with the biomass of plant organisms, including algae, are of interest for biology, biogeochemistry and biotechnology. This work studies the interactions of the unique thermophilic red algae Galdieria sulphuraria (Class: Rhodophyta; Family: Cyanidiaceae) with copper and lead in the aquatic environment. This extremophilic, acidophilic organism is found in such ecosystems as hot springs and geothermal habitats. This paper presents the results of experiments with the biomass and mortmass of this organism. The results indicate that the biomass of this organism immobilises copper after incubation in aquatic medium with heavy metals. Lead was also added to the incubation environment, but no immobilisation of lead from the aquatic environment was observed. The mortmass of G. sulphuraria immobilised neither copper nor lead.