More than 470 samples in 52 cores from the Novaya Zemlya, Voronin and St. Anna Troughs, Kara Sea, taken during 1965 were evaluated for heavy metals/metalloids contents. Samples lower in section than would be affected by bioturbation of anthopogenic-contaminated sediment were used to establish the natural background values that follow:

Heavy Metals/Metalloids - As=22 ppm; Cd=<0.5 ppm*; Co=23 ppm; Cr=112 ppm; Cu=30 ppm; Fe=4.7 %; Hg=310 ppb; Mn=0.1 % Mo=3 ppm**; Ni=51 ppm; Pb=17 ppm; Sb=1.8 ppm; Sc=16 ppm; Th=8.3 ppm; Ti=0.42 ppm; U=2.4 ppm; V=187 ppm; Zn=96 ppm; Associated Elements - Al=7.6 %; Ba=514 ppm; Ca=0.8 %; Hf=5 ppm; K=2.2 %; Mg=1.3 %; Na=2.0 %; P=0.083%; Rb=100 ppm; Sr=144 ppm.

These values are likely background contents for provenance areas (e.g., Western Siberian Shield and Eastern Urals). The data serve as a starting point to assess metal pollution risk to Kara Sea ecosystems and juxtaposed arctic terrestrial ecosystems post-1965. They are essential 1) to determine if pollution exists; 2) to measure pollution intensity; 3)to reveal changes with time in pollution intrusion of an ecosystem; and 4) to recognize a decrease in pollution risk (from legislated environmental controls at source(s). *373 of >470 samples were below the 0.5 ppm detection limit. **139 of >470 samples were below the 2 ppm detection limit. Se, Sn, Ag and Bi were below detection limits (3 ppm, 0.01%; 0.4 ppm and 5 ppm, respectively) in all samples.