Assessment of Distribution of Potentially Toxic Elements in Different Environmental Media Impacted by a Former Chlor-Alkali Plant

Former industrially contaminated sites are a burden from the past that still pose environmental risks. During second half of 20th century, Pavlodar region in North Kazakhstan had been part Soviet Union’s industrial system operated chlor-alkali plant (CAP). The former CAP discharged approximately 135 t Hg into nearby Lake Balkyldak with total losses to water, soil, and air estimated around 1000 t. Pollution by potentially toxic elements (PTEs) due currently active enterprises is an under-investigated concern region. present study aims provide much-needed update on situation area evaluating contamination other selected PTEs (As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Zn) surrounding environment urban zone. Soil, sediment, surface groundwater samples have collected several sampling campaigns carried out 2018 2019. Several concentrations exceeding maximum permissible (MPC), for soils sediments (in mg/kg; range: 0.0006 24, average: 0.56) water µg/L; 0.004 1340, 93). Critically high were mostly measured vicinity Balkyldak, where majority CAP, indicating persisting pollution studied A comparison soil showed less severe but some elevated values As, Se. inter-elemental relationship between assessed was weak, presence sources independent emitting sources. Further research exact territory needed, detailed human health risk characterization identify potential unacceptable risks strongly recommended.