The Republic of Kazakhstan has a long history of mining activities, viz., gold and uranium. Mining activities represent sources of potential naturally occurring radionuclides contamination of the environment and human health of population. The aim of this study was to investigate the radiation situation of industrially modified environment in Stepnogorsk areas of Kazakhstan to understand the sources of contamination. Quite high values of ambient equivalent dose rates in air ~2.87 μSv h−1 were found in the Aqsu gold-mining site. The radon equivalent equilibrium volume activity (indoor) were in the range of 313–858 Bq m−3 in the study area buildings. The high values of activity concentration of natural radionuclides found in Aqsu soil samples were 226Ra-4060, 232Th-1170 and 40K-4080 Bq kg−1, respectively. However, our comprehensive surveys implied that the increased natural radiation background caused by the radionuclide transport from the tailing area did not have an impact, while evaluation of its potential radiation risks and remediation of the territories of the former gold mining should be needed.

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 increase in uranium mining in Kazakhstan has brought with it a number of problems. Reducing the negative impact of radiation-toxic factors on the health of workers and the population in uranium mining regions is one of them. This article presents a pilot population health study in which we developed approaches to support residents living near an operating uranium mining enterprise. The purpose of the current study was to assess the impact of technogenic factors on the health of those living near the Syrdarya uranium ore province. Data collected from 5605 residents from the village of Bidaykol (the main group)—which is located 4 km from the uranium mining enterprise—and the village of Sunakata (the control group), which is located in the Kyzylorda region, were analyzed. A bidirectional cohort study was conducted. The prevalence of acute and chronic diseases among the residents of Bidaykol was 1.3 times higher than that in the control group. The structure of morbidity was dominated by pathologies of the genitourinary system (27%), the circulatory system (14.4%), and the respiratory system (11.9%). Relative risks (RR > 1) were identified for most classes of diseases, the highest being for diseases of the blood (RR = 2.6), skin (RR = 2.3), and genitourinary system (RR = 1.9). In the main group, renal pathologies were the most frequent class in the age group of 30–40 years, occurring mainly in women. In addition, they had a direct dependence on the duration of residence in the territory of the uranium ore province. Further studies into the interaction between the technogenic factors associated with uranium mining enterprises and the development of diseases of the urinary system are needed. This will make it possible to determine ways to prevent these pathologies in the population.

Northern Kazakhstan is considered a field of uranium, gold mining, copper–molybdenum ore, and other metals. The aims of the current work were to monitor the indoor radon levels in a school and a kindergarten and to determine the levels of teacher and student exposure to radon. High radon concentrations were detected in the school on the first floor at ca. 9600 Bq/m3, on the second floor at ca. 6800 Bq/m3, on the third floor at ca. 4900 Bq/m3, and in the kindergarten, the concentration was ca. 9500 Bq/m3. The annual effective dose of the students and teachers of the school and kindergarten varied from 4 mSv/y to 9 mSv/y, which is an order of magnitude higher than the upper annual dose limit. The excess lifetime cancer risk was 14–20% for students, 31.1% for school and kindergarten staff, and 34.9% for kindergarten children. The indoor radon concentrations varied with weather conditions, and it was evident that ventilation had a significant effect on the reduction in the concentration. At these premises, positive correlations between the radon concentrations, outside temperature, and relative humidity were obtained, showing that the concentration of radon is influenced by meteorological parameters. This study will help to identify buildings where continuous monitoring is needed in order to reduce indoor radon levels.

A pilot study was carried out to measure indoor radon concentrations in a uranium mining area of northern Kazakstan. A total of 80 places at kindergartens, elementary schools, and dwellings were selected in Aqsu village and Astana city as the uranium mining area and background area for comparison, respectively. In Astana and Aqsu, the 3-month radon concentrations from late summer to autumn in 2022 were measured using the RADUET passive radon detectors. Radon concentrations ranged from 4 to >2,000 Bq m−3 (mean ± standard deviation: 290 ± 173 Bq m−3) throughout the study areas. The concentrations were higher in Aqsu, and 70% of the dwellings there exceeded 300 Bq m−3, whereas only 5% of them exceeded 300 Bq m−3 in Astana. Accordingly, the new dose conversion factor for radon recommended by ICRP Publication 137 was applied to calculate the annual effective dose. The annual effective dose from the inhalation of radon was estimated to be 3.6 ± 4.6 mSv y−1 for Astana and 23.7 ± 15.6 mSv y−1, for Aqsu, which are both higher than the world average value of 2.5 mSv y−1.