Environmental and Health Impacts of Technogenic and Microbiological Pollution in the Mailuu-Suu River Basin, Kyrgyzstan: A Comprehensive Assessment for Sustainable Water Management

The Mailuu-Suu River in Kyrgyzstan, a critical water resource in a region historically impacted by uranium mining, faces severe environmental and public health challenges due to technogenic and microbiological pollution. This review synthesizes findings from microbiological analyses of water quality, assessments of radionuclide and trace element contamination, and their combined effects on human health and ecosystems. Microbiological studies reveal elevated levels of lactose-positive Escherichia coli (LPC), exceeding sanitary norms by 2–4 times, indicative of fecal contamination from untreated sewage and industrial discharges. Concurrently, technogenic pollution assessments identify concentrations of uranium (U), selenium (Se), and heavy metals (Al, Fe, Mn, Hg, Pb, Cd) far exceeding Maximum Permissible Concentrations (MPCs), linked to legacy uranium tailings and waste dumps. Health data correlate poor water quality with increased morbidity, including acute intestinal infections, respiratory diseases, and cancer, particularly in downstream communities like Kok-Tash. Vegetation and soil analyses further highlight the unsuitability of floodplain areas for agriculture due to radionuclide accumulation. This review underscores the urgent need for a multidisciplinary water protection program, integrating regular monitoring, advanced treatment technologies, and transboundary cooperation to mitigate pollution and safeguard sustainable development in the Mailuu-Suu region.