Development of Options for Damage Limitation and Environmental Rest oration of the Mercury-Contaminated Areas in North-Central Kazakhstan
Country: EU Projects
Start Date:   1/2/1997         Duration: 24 months         Project Type: RTD
Contract Number: IC15960110
Organisation Type:  EC Project
Topics: 
Contaminated land-->Contaminants-->Contaminants overview
Diffuse pollution-->Contaminants-->Contaminants overview
Diffuse pollution-->Processes
Soil-->Soil quality
Project objectives: 
The objectives of the proposed research programme are :   
   
(i) to study the distribution of mercury and the mechanisms by which it is transported   
(ii) to develop a model capable of predicting the spread of pollution and simulating the effect of different interventions   
(iii) to identify a set of economically feasible technical options and management strategies for damage limitation and for remediation of the polluted 
area.
Project Summary: 
Accidental release of mercury from the acetaldehyde plant AO Karbide in the Karaganda region of north-central Kazakhstan has resulted in serious contamination 
of the surrounding region. Mercury is highly toxic at very low concentrations, due to its ability to accumulate in the food chain. Soluble mercury has been measured 
at 20 times maximum permitted levels in the water of the river Nura, and 30 times in the soil of the city of Temirtau. This has immediate serious implications for 
the health of the people of the region. In the long term it also poses a threat to the unique ecology of the lakes of the Kurgaldzhinskaya nature reserve.   
   
Preliminary investigations suggest there are approximately 130 tonnes of mercury in the river bed near Temirtau. In most areas the contamination decreases 
with depth, but in the region of the plant it increases sharply, suggesting that substantial quantities of mercury were deposited during earlier periods of 
operation. The total quantity of mercury in the vicinity of Termitau is believed to be on the order of 1000 tonnes.
Achieved Objectives:
Product Descriptions: 
Ullrich, S., Ilyushchenko, M., Uskov, G., & Tanton, T. (2007). Mercury distribution and transport in a contaminated river system in Kazakhstan and associated 
impacts on aquatic biota. Applied Geochemistry, 22(12), 2706-2734.. DOI: 10.1016/j.apgeochem.2007.07.005   
   
Heaven, S., Ilyushchenko, M. A., Tanton, T. W., Ullrich, S. M., & Yanin, E. P. (2000). Mercury in the river Nura and its floodplain, central Kazakhstan I: river 
sediments and water. Science of Total Environment, 260(1-3), 35-44. DOI: 10.1016/S0048-9697(00)00540-4   
   
Heaven, S., Ilyushchenko, M. A., Kamberov, I. M., Politikov, M. I., Tanton, T. W., Ullrich, S. M., & Yanin, E. P. (2000). Mercury in the river Nura and its floodplain, 
central Kazakhstan II: floodplain soils and riverbank silt deposits. Science of Total Environment, 260(1-3), 45-55. DOI: 10.1016/S0048-9697(00)00566-0 
  
   
See:
Additional Information:
Project Resources:

Development of options for damage limitation and environmental restoration of mercury-contaminated areas in north-central Kazakhstan

Mercury in the river Nura and its floodplain, central Kazakhstan II: floodplain soils and riverbank silt deposits
Weblink:
http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/35428_en.html
Funding Programme(s): 
Specific research
Link to Organisations:
Submitted by: EUGRIS Team Professor Paul Bardos  Who does what?  27/11/2017 23:03:00
Updated by: EUGRIS Team Professor Paul Bardos  Who does what?  28/11/2017 13:38:00