Assessment of the Environmental Impact of Uranium Mining Sites: A Case Study of a Uranium Deposit in Southern Kazakhstan.
This environmental case study measured soil elements and radionuclides near uranium-mining sites in southern Kazakhstan and found generally acceptable radiological and carcinogenic-risk estimates, although the modeled non-carcinogenic hazard index for children slightly exceeded the screening threshold.
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This environmental case study measured soil elements and radionuclides near uranium-mining sites in southern Kazakhstan and found generally acceptable radiological and carcinogenic-risk estimates, although the modeled non-carcinogenic hazard index for children slightly exceeded the screening threshold.
Research significance
The evidence supports a potential need for child-focused exposure monitoring because the modeled pediatric non-carcinogenic hazard index was 1.3; it can only be inferred—not demonstrated—that targeted environmental mitigation could reduce exposure-related health risks, and the study does not test a pediatric-cancer therapy or prevention intervention.
Source abstract
To assess the environmental impact of uranium mining operations in southern Kazakhstan, the elemental and radionuclide composition of soil samples collected from settlements in the Kyzylorda Region was investigated. The analysis was carried out using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and gamma-ray spectrometry. Mean concentrations and variation ranges were determined for 28 chemical elements, including uranium, lead, antimony, and gamma-emitting radionuclides such as 137Cs, 40K, 232Th, 238U, 226Ra, 210Pb, and 241Am. The analysis of the specific activities of the artificial radionuclides 137Cs and 241Am was carried out in order to assess the influence of the Semipalatinsk Test Site on the soils of the study area. Based on the obtained data, heavy metal pollution indices, ecological risk indices, and radiological parameters were calculated to evaluate the potential environmental and human health impacts. Most elements were present at levels below average crustal abundances, suggesting limited anthropogenic influence. Slight exceedances for uranium, lead, and antimony are likely associated with regional geochemical features. Radiological assessment indicated that the radiation environment remains within internationally accepted limits. The lifetime cancer risk values for exposure of humans to natural radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th, 40K and 137Cs from soil at 1 m above ground level ranged from 0.19 × 10-3 to 0.30 × 10-3, with an average of 0.24 × 10-3. Nearly all sampling points remained below the risk threshold of 0.29 × 10-3, indicating minimal radiological hazard. The carcinogenic risk remained within the acceptable regulatory range for both adults (2.0 × 10-5) and children (4.4 × 10-5), whereas the non-carcinogenic hazard index for children (1.3) slightly exceeded the screening threshold of 1. This finding identifies children as the most sensitive receptor group under the conservative assumptions of the applied screening methodology. The study demonstrates the applicability of combined chemical and radiometric methods for comprehensive environmental assessments in uranium mining regions. The results are of interest both in terms of methodology and in understanding the local geochemical and radiological landscape.