The Influence of Rocket Hydrocarbon Fuel on the Activity of Soil Microbial Communities in Areas of Launch Vehicle Operation in Kazakhstan
Kalizhanova A. Utegenova A. Bekeshev Y. Zhumabekova Z. Stepanova Y. Jumagaziyeva A.
February 2026Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Microorganisms
2026#14Issue 2
Hydrocarbon-based rocket fuels, particularly kerosene grades T-1 and RG-1 used during launch vehicle operations, represent a persistent source of soil contamination in areas impacted by rocket stages. This study quantitatively evaluates the response and recovery dynamics of soil microbial communities in Calcisol (Loamic) soils from the U-25 impact area near the “Baikonur” Cosmodrome (Kazakhstan) under controlled kerosene contamination. Eleven soil samples were monitored over 90 days, including one uncontaminated control and ten samples exposed to increasing concentrations of T-1 or RG-1 (100–15,000 mg/kg). Microbial indicators included total microbial count, actinomycetes, microscopic fungi, and spore-forming bacteria, expressed as CFU/g (mean ± SD, n = 3). Acute exposure caused significant reductions in total microbial abundance (28–58%) and microscopic fungi (43–75%, p ≤ 0.05), indicating pronounced short-term toxicity. By Day 90, bacterial and actinomycete populations exhibited partial to complete recovery, with some treatments exceeding control values, suggesting metabolic adaptation and hydrocarbon utilization. In contrast, fungal populations remained consistently suppressed throughout the experiment, indicating prolonged ecological stress. No strict dose–response relationship was observed, highlighting the influence of soil physicochemical properties on microbial resilience and hydrocarbon bioavailability. These findings identify microscopic fungi as the most sensitive indicators of kerosene contamination, suggesting that indigenous bacterial and actinomycete communities play a key role in natural attenuation. The results provide quantitative thresholds relevant for environmental monitoring and support the development of microbiologically informed bioremediation strategies in areas impacted by rocket launches.
biodegradation , bioremediation , hydrocarbon contamination , kerosene , microbial communities , soil microbiology , “Baikonur” Cosmodrome
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Institute of Information and Computational Technologies, Almaty, 050010, Kazakhstan
Almaty University of Power Engineering and Telecommunications Named After Gumarbek Daukeyev, Almaty, 050046, Kazakhstan
Branch Office of the Republican State Enterprise «Infracos», Almaty, 050046, Kazakhstan
NJSC “S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University”, Almaty, 050012, Kazakhstan
Institute of Information and Computational Technologies
Almaty University of Power Engineering and Telecommunications Named After Gumarbek Daukeyev
Branch Office of the Republican State Enterprise «Infracos»
NJSC “S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University”
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Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026