Ala Lombolo
- One of Sweden's most polluted lakes

The high degree of pollution and the occasionally anoxic conditions have created a harsh environment for the biological life in Ala Lombolo. The vegetation and the benthic fauna is limited, and the previously rich fish stocks are extinct (Kiruna kommun, 2013).

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The pollutant resistant Chironomid larvae is most common, but a considerable percentage of the population in Ala Lombolo exhibits malformation of the mouth parts. These benthic animals ingest the pollutants in the sediments and pass it further up in the food chain. For instance, fish caught near Jukkasjärvi, just downstream from where the Luossajoki stream flows into the Torne Älv river, exhibit elevated levels of mercury. Although the mercury levels have halved since LKAB stopped using mercury salt in the ore analyzes in 1993, the Jukkasjarvi fish still show elevated levels compared with fish caught upstream and pregnant women and children are still advised not to consume it. (Sveriges Radio Norrbotten, 2006, 23 April)

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The extreme pollution of Ala Lombolo will be a source of spreading of pollutants into the Luossajoki creek and onwards into Torne Älv water system for a very long time to come. Currently, about 60-100 g mercury leaves Ala Lombolo each year. The spreading seem to occur mainly in events of strong wind currents and extreme water flows, which cause the sediment particles carrying the pollutants to be stirred up and discharged into Luossajoki stream. However, during periods of calm conditions and normal flow, a sedimentation of particles binding mercury and other pollutants takes place in Ala Lombolo. (Kiruna kommun, 2013)

 

The spreading of pollutants from Ala Lombolo might increase if the current flow conditions changes, which is why the ongoing fracture propagation caused by the continued mining is of major concern. The fractures may create new paths of water flow and it could lead water from the Luossajärvi lake towards the mine and possibly into the groundwater. (Kiruna kommun, 2013)

 

To prevent water from entering the mine, LKAB wants to drain the southern parts of Luossajärvi. In the short run, this will increase the flow through Ala Lombolo and raise the amount of sediments leaving the lake. In the long run, this will reduce the inflow to Ala Lombolo, with a lowering in water level as a result. In turn, that would expose parts of the bottom sediments to oxygen, causing mercury to be released and prone to contaminate both terrestrial and aquatic environments in the region. (Sveriges Radio Norrbotten, 2010, 7 December)

 

Sveriges Radio Norrbotten (2005, 14 October) writes that even a small decrease in water inflow would have serious consequences, since Ala Lombolo is only 24 hectares and has an average depth of 1.5 m.

 

The high degree of contamination and its connectivity to the Torne Älv water system makes Ala Lombolo a risk class 1-object and one of the highest prioritised remediation projects in Sweden. Torne Älv is a Natura 2000-area and it is important to prevent contamination of the river and damage on the ecosystems. (Naturvårdsverket, 2014, 11 September)

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