The influence of sol–gel processes in the Lake Ladoga Basin on the medical–environmental situation in the territories of the catchment basin of the lake

Abstract

This article contains the experimental results of studying the dynamics of sol–gel processes in freshwater bodies of the Lake Ladoga basin. A set of specific profiles of the distribution of potentially hazardous nanoparticles and nanosized metal associates in water ecosystems of the Ladoga basin was obtained for the first time with account for standards on the content of metals in surface waters, the geochemical traits of the catchment basin territories, and hydrodynamic and seasonal changes. The ecosystem of Lake Ladoga is characterized by an expressed specificity of the inherent sol–gel processes; most likely, this is an important cause of morbidity among the population of St. Petersburg, the Republic of Karelia, and Novgorod oblast. Analysis of nanoscale measurements shows that the spectrum of water dispersion is unique for each tributary of Lake Ladoga and, hence, can serve as an identification feature.