Evaluation of Long-Term Environmental Impact and Radiological Risks at a Former Thorium and Rare Earth Site in North-Eastern Kazakhstan

Zhanat Idrisheva (), Iwona Ostolska, Ewa Skwarek, Gulzhan Daumova, Małgorzata Wiśniewska, Togzhan Toktaganov and Yernat Kozhakhmetov
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Zhanat Idrisheva: School of Geosciences, D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University, Ust-Kamenogorsk 070000, Kazakhstan
Iwona Ostolska: Department of Radiochemistry and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, M. Curie-Sklodowska Sq. 3, 20-031 Lublin, Poland
Ewa Skwarek: Department of Radiochemistry and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, M. Curie-Sklodowska Sq. 3, 20-031 Lublin, Poland
Gulzhan Daumova: School of Geosciences, D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University, Ust-Kamenogorsk 070000, Kazakhstan
Małgorzata Wiśniewska: Department of Radiochemistry and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, M. Curie-Sklodowska Sq. 3, 20-031 Lublin, Poland
Togzhan Toktaganov: School of Geosciences, D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University, Ust-Kamenogorsk 070000, Kazakhstan
Yernat Kozhakhmetov: Center of Excellence “VERITAS”, D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University, Ust-Kamenogorsk 070004, Kazakhstan

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 19, 1-28

Abstract: Kazakhstan holds the global leadership position in natural uranium mining. Nonetheless, the extraction and processing of radioactive ores has the potential to induce instances of radiological contamination. This study aimed to evaluate the radiological soil contamination at a former monazite, tin, and radioactive ore processing facility located in Ust-Kamenogorsk city. Pedestrian gamma–ray measurements revealed dose rates up to 1.00 µSv/h, significantly exceeding the natural background (0.16–0.18 µSv/h). The analysis of the 28 soil profiles demonstrated that deeper soil layers (below 60 cm) were significantly contaminated with radionuclides constituting production waste. Furthermore, the total activity in the superficial soil layer is in the range of 583–5275 Bq/kg (alpha emitters) and 641–1749 Bq/kg (beta radionuclides). The maximum of total radioactivity in the samples collected at the 80–100 cm layer was at the level of 22,482 Bq/kg (α-emitters) and 6845 Bq/kg for gross beta radiation. In consideration of the site’s proximity to public buildings, the calculated radiological hazard indices were calculated, revealing the potential danger for human health. The elevated excess lifetime cancer risk and annual gonadal dose equivalent obtained for the topsoil layer indicate a high level of radiological risk to the local population. The obtained results emphasise the necessity of developing rehabilitation strategies and long-term monitoring of the contaminated site, which is consistent with the global objectives of sustainable development in the field of environmental protection and public health.

Keywords: radioecology; radioactive contamination; rare earth minerals; sustainable development; radiation safety (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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