Organic compounds and bitumen in surface sediments from the Pechora Bay

Detailed geochemical investigations of bottom sediments in the Pechora Bay were carried out under a monitoring regime. The regional geochemical background is characterized. Organic matter of sediments is found to be clastic, formed under the influence of Pechora River run-off, and determined by genetic and lithofacial factors. An application of geochemical methodology is suggested for estimating hydrocarbon contamination of bottom sediments. As an example consequences of the accidental Usinsky oil spill are studied. They are based on analysis of composition of molecular markers. It is shown that increasing technogenic impact on Pechora Bay sediments is fixed only at molecular level and is not disastrous.

本研究在监测框架下对伯朝拉湾（Pechora Bay）的海底沉积物开展了详细的地球化学调查，明确了区域地球化学背景特征。经分析证实，沉积物中的有机质呈碎屑状，其形成受伯朝拉河径流控制，并由成因与岩相因素共同决定。本研究提出采用地球化学方法评估海底沉积物的烃类污染水平，并以乌辛斯克（Usinsky）意外溢油事故的环境影响为案例，基于分子标志物（molecular markers）的组成分析开展了相关研究。结果显示，伯朝拉湾沉积物所受的持续增强的人为活动影响仅可在分子层面被检测到，且未造成灾难性后果。