Mercury in the Katun River Basin: A Case Study of a Naturally Polluted System

The particularities of mercury pollution of the Katun river basin (West Sibiria) are summarised. On the base of natural data the amount of different forms of mercury transported by the river was calculated. It is concluded that suspended sediments play the main role in the mercury transport and at present time the Katun river hydrochemical conditions hinder the process of mercury accumulation in the biota.