The Stepnogorsk area Northern Kazakhstan has a long history mining activities. Mining activities have lots of environmental and health impacts. The aims of this study were to characterizing the general radiological situation of the area and evaluate radiation exposure by scenarios in settlements. In this study radiological assessment was performed for critical group living in the territory contaminated with radionuclides; working and studying at school located on territory former mining site. The annual dose burden is 2.5 mSv y−1 in Zavodskoy, 1.9 mSv y−1 in Kvartsitka and 3.6 mSv y−1 in Aqsu; and exposure from radon is around 11 mSv y−1 at the ground floor, and for teachers - up to 12 mSv*y−1. At settlements, however, under the hypothesis that all food contaminated with radionuclides and vegetables is cultivated locally in the territories with high background level, exposure from ingestion is 9.1 mSv y−1 in Zavodskoy, 8.3 mSv y−1 in Kvartsitka and 11.5 mSv y−1 in Aqsu. The combined effects of environmental problems have culminated into health problems. There are such possibility of the higher prevalence of cardiovascular, digestive and respiratory systems so it is necessary to evaluate or protect people living in Stepnogorsk area.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of diseases among the population depending on the length of residence in the zone of influence of technogenic factors of radioactive waste storage uranium-processing enterprise in Stepnogorsk. Material and Methods: The article presents the results of an observational epidemiological study on the impact of harmful factors of uranium mining enterprises on the health of the population living near radioactive waste storage facilities. The study covers 1,877 adults of both sexes. Group I primary (N=908) were represented by the population living in the villages of the Factory, Quartzite and Aksu, which are located in the surrounding area of the radioactive waste storage uranium-processing enterprises Hydrometallurgical plant of Stepnogorsk city and 972 constituting the control group. Results: The results revealed a high prevalence of chronic diseases in the population of the main group. Diseases of the circulatory system, respiratory diseases, diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue took the largest share in the structure of morbidity of the population of the main group. The pathology of the cardiovascular system, represented by essential arterial hypertension, as well as respiratory diseases, vertebrogenic lumbalgia and osteochondrosis, was the most characteristic for people living near radioactive waste storage facilities. Conclusion:Living conditions in the zone of influence of radioactive waste repositories determine the wide prevalence among the population of the main group living in the settlements of Zavodskoye and Aksu. The results of the study indicate an almost complete absence of healthy individuals living in the area. Diseases of cardiovascular, respiratory and musculoskeletal systems occupy the first rank places in the structure of disease prevalence among the population of the main group. Length of living near radioactive waste storage affect the formation and character of general somatic morbidity: increase the duration of life in the areas adjacent to the tailings, leading to increased incidence of chronic diseases.

The present study is based on a pilot study, which showed that the Stepnogorsk area of Northern Kazakhstan represents sources of potential contamination of the living environment. The aim of the study was measurement of outdoor gamma radiation levels, activity concentration in soil samples and assessment of external exposure to the public. According to our analysis, the highest ${\boldsymbol{H}}^{\ast}$(10) values ∼2870 nGy h−1 were detected in the Aqsu school territory, which were slightly higher than the control readings for this region. The average 226Ra, 232Th and 40K activities were 617.8 ± 3.2 Bq kg−1, 188.3 ± 2.9 Bq kg−1 and 731.5 ± 6.2 Bq kg−1, respectively. The annual effective dose received by the Aqsu population ranged from 0.08 to 3.5 mSv y−1, which was found higher by an order of magnitude than the upper annual dose limit. Changes in radiation background are an unfavourable factor for the population and may possibly become potential radiation risks for long-term effects.