Assessment of the Distribution of Heavy Metals around a Cu Smelter Town, Karabash, South Urals, Russia

Abstract

Technogenic geochemical anomaly was formed as a result of large-scale copper-smelting production run for almost hundred years without any ecological standards in Karabash region. Environmental assessment of the area affected by the Cu smelter plant after the plant's substantial modernization shows that atmospheric emissions remain sufficiently high, and re-vegetation that began emerging during the time the plant was closed has slowed down after the plant reopened. The assessment of contamination of soil, bottom sediments and surface water showed extremely high concentrations of heavy metals.