Assessment of contamination of natural waters with radionuclides and heavy metals the case of Karabulak creek at the Semipalatinsk Test Site
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.
Authors
- A. Zh. Tashekova (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2367-6498)
- А. К. Айдарханова (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3737-7111)
- С. Н. Лукашенко (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-2052-1183)
- Н. В. Ларионова (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4690-4414)
- Pavel Kharkin
- Yelena Yevlampiyeva (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1953-3686)
- M. Dyussembayeva (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4671-2866)
- I. Gorlachev (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9296-0257)
- F. F. Zhamaldinov (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9177-7015)
- V. V. Kolbin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0447-1187)
- A. I. Merkel
- Yerbol Shakenov (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5707-8955)
Institutions
- All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Radiology and AgroEcology (RU)
- National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan (KZ)
- Shakarim University (KZ)
Publication Details
- Journal
- PLoS ONE
- Published
- 2025-02-06
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0310833
- Citations
- 4
- Primary Topic
- Radioactivity and Radon Measurements
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 4.62
Funders
- Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan