Assessment of contamination of natural waters with radionuclides and heavy metals the case of Karabulak creek at the Semipalatinsk Test Site

Dyussembayeva M. Aidarkhanova A. Tashekova A. Shakenov Y. Kolbin V. Merkel A. Zhamaldinov F. Larionova N. Gorlachev I. Kharkin P. Lukashenko S. Yevlampiyeva Y.
February 2025 Public Library of Science

PLoS ONE
2025 #20 Issue 2 February

This paper presents research data on water contamination levels of artificial radionuclides and heavy metals in Karabulak Creek at the Semipalatinsk Test Site. The uranium isotopic composition has been studied (²³⁵U and ²³⁸U). Priority contaminants and the most ‘contaminated’ sections of the Karabulak creek were identified, and water quality-related indicators were also estimated. The environmental situation around Karabulak Creek at the «Degelen» site—at which underground nuclear tests have been conducted—was found to be unique and attributed to the combined effect of man-made radiation and natural factors and, in particular, to geochemical features of the region. Copyright:

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Department of Monitoring and Ecological Analytical Research, Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology, National Nuclear Center RK, Kurchatov, Kazakhstan
Laboratory of Low-Background Measurements, The Center for Integrated Environmental Research, Institute of Nuclear Physics, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Center for Integrated Environmental Research, Institute of Nuclear Physics, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Laboratory of Radiochemistry and Analytical Chemistry, Russian Institute of Radiology and Agroecology, Obninsk, Russian Federation
Scientific Activities Management Department, Shakarim University, Semey, Kazakhstan

Department of Monitoring and Ecological Analytical Research
Laboratory of Low-Background Measurements
Center for Integrated Environmental Research
Laboratory of Radiochemistry and Analytical Chemistry
Scientific Activities Management Department

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