Metals in Scandinavian surface waters: Effects of acidification, liming, and potential reacidification

TLDR: In this paper, a state-of-the-art review of surface waters of Swedish and Norwegian lakes is presented, focusing on natural and anthropogenic sources, chemical properties and levels, and toxicity mechanisms of these metals to aquatic organisms.

Abstract: This article is a state-of-the-art review about such metals as Al, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Hg, and As in surface waters. It focuses on natural and anthropogenic sources, chemical properties and levels, and toxicity mechanisms of these metals to aquatic organisms, primarily fish and invertebrates. Organisms living in almost anoxic, sulfide-rich evironments are not incorporated into this study. This information is then linked to a Nordic Lake Survey implemented in 1995 on major chemistry and metals in Scandinavian surface waters to scale the problems of metals in Swedish and Norwegian surface waters. Because many acidified Swedish and Norwegian lakes also are limed, we also assess the risk of remobilization of metals because these waters reacidify due to reduced liming activity. The concentrations and chemical properties of metals in lakes relative to the biological effect levels suggest that the potential risks associated to both current and potential reacidified status of limed waters decreases in...