Water Quality Problems Analysis and Assessment of the Ecological Security Level of the Transboundary Ural-Caspian Basin of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Abstract

Both the insufficiency of water resources and the contamination of even transboundary water bodies are serious problems. Water quality analyses of the transboundary (between Russia and Kazakhstan) Ural River and the Kazakh sector of the Caspian Sea, and their assessment are the main research questions of this study. It is shown that the Ural River is heavily contaminated by polychlorinated biphenyls, heavy metals, oil contaminants, and pesticides, arising from industrial enterprises and agricultural objects. The results show that these toxicants are not only present in water, but they are also accumulated in the muscular tissues of all fish (Abramis brama, Sander lucioperca, Aspius aspius). The Caspian Sea is heavily contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons due to off shore oil production. A sufficiently high level of accumulation of petroleum hydrocarbons, organochlorine pesticides and heavy metals was determined in the muscles of Caspian fish. All these contaminations lead to the loss of biodiversity and bio-productivity of the Caspian Sea. The authors propose a methodology for a quantitative assessment of the environmental safety level in relation to the Kazakh part of the Caspian Sea, based on bioindication methods. Recommendations, aimed for maintaining acceptable values of water resources quality, are suggested.

Determination of the Heavy Metal Bioaccumulation Patterns in Muscles of Two Species of Mullets from the Southern Caspian Sea

“…Oil production near the Caspian Sea covers extensive areas of the coastal zone, especially on the south coast [ 56 ], which would explain our results. However, the discharge of petroleum products into rivers could be another important source of pollution, since every year 75,000 tons of these products are discharged into the rivers that flow into the Caspian Sea [ 57 ].…”

Characteristics and features of Kazakhstan’s water security policy

“…Several studies reported specific challenges such as land cultivation and transboundary reservoir pollution, highlighting the multifaceted nature of water security issues in Kazakhstan (Sembayeva et al, 2023;Amirgaliev et al, 2022). Additionally, the prioritization of water resources and security by regional countries post-independence reflects the broader significance of this issue (Duzdaban, 2021).…”

Phosphorus-Containing Ionite for Extraction of Chromium (Vi) and Lead Ions From Industrial Waste Water

“…Каспий балықтарының бұлшықеттерінде мұнай көмірсутектерінің, хлорорганикалық пестицидтердің және ауыр металдардың жоғары мөлшері жинақталуы анықталған (Amirgaliev et al, 2022).…”