Current state of contamination of soil in the West Kazakhstan Region with toxic chemicals as a result of industrial activities

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences, UNESCO Chair for Sustainable Development, Almaty, Kazakhstan

2 Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Department of Cartography and Geoinformatics, Almaty, Kazakhstan

10.22124/cjes.2025.8572

Abstract

This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the current state of soil contamination in the West Kazakhstan region, resulting from industrial activities such as oil and gas extraction, mining operations, and various industrial processes. The research evaluates the presence and concentrations of heavy metals, including lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and nickel (Ni), in the soil. Results indicate that approximately 70% of the collected samples exceeded permissible limits for lead and cadmium. In comparison, 45% showed elevated levels of mercury, and 90% of samples from mining areas exhibited high arsenic concentrations. Using the ecological risk index (ERI), the environmental hazards posed by these contaminants were assessed. Findings reveal that mining activities are strongly correlated with elevated arsenic levels (r = 0.95, p < 0.001). The study highlights significant contamination levels threatening ecosystem balance and human health across more than 30% of the region's agricultural land. These results underscore the urgent need for remediation strategies, including phytoremediation and stricter regulations on industrial waste management, to mitigate the adverse effects of soil pollution.

Keywords

References

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Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences
Volume 23, Issue 1
January 2025
Pages 173-180

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