Protein indication method in monitoring of pulp mill effluent pollution in Lake Ladoga

The paper presents application of the protein indication method to studies of pollution of Lake Ladoga in the area affected by effluent discharge of the Pitkäranta pulp mill.Analysis of proteins gives new insight into the causes of water quality deterioration in stagnant zones near the mill discharge outlet at Pusunsaari Island. Anomalies in protein concentration coincide spatially with hydrochemical anomalies. Protein anomalies indicate the process of bacterial decomposition of wood fibre accumulated in the stagnant waters, which in turn is reflected in the chemical water quality parameters in the polluted zone.