Biomonitoring of atmospheric depositions of heavy metals and radionuclides in Ιrtysh areas of Κazakhstan

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the data obtained by researching the atmospheric depositions of heavy metals and radionuclides in Irtysh areas of Kazakhstan using the method of moss-biomonitors. This method was applied for the Northeastern and Eastern parts of the Republic of Kazakhstan to assess the environmental situation in these regions. The thirty moss samples were collected in autumn and summer of 2015–2016 growth periods. A total of 42 elements (Na, Mg, Al, Cl, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Co, Zn, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sb, Ba, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Tm, Hf, Ta, W, Au, Th and U) were determined by the epithermal neutron activation analysis, also 14 elements (Ba, Ca, K, Mg, Na, Sr, Cr, Mn, Ni, Co, Zn, Cd, Cu, Pb) were determined by the atomic emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma. Multivariate statistical analysis of the obtained results was used to assess the pollution sources in the studied area (Pavlodar, Ust-Kamenogorsk, and Semey regions).