ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATION OF THE AGRICULTURAL FIELDS IN THE KAMYSTY DISTRICT USING THE ICP-OES METHOD

Abstract

This article focuses on assessing the content of heavy metals (HM) in the soils of agricultural lands in the Kamysty district of the Kostanay region, Republic of Kazakhstan. The relevance of this study stems from the fact that heavy metal contamination of arable land poses a long-term environmental threat due to their accumulation in the soil. The primary objective of the agrochemical survey was to obtain reliable data on the content of priority pollutants - Cd, Pb, As, Cr, Zn and Ni - in the soils of the agricultural lands adjacent to the Altynsarin village. The study focused primarily on the dark chestnut soils of the district, characteristic of the steppe zone of Northern Kazakhstan. Potential sources of heavy metal (HM) input included both anthropogenic factors - the systematic application of fertilizers, which is one of the main sources of HM accumulation in the arable horizon - and natural-technogenic factors: wind-borne transport of mine dust and weathering products from tailings ponds (in particular, the Krasnooktyabrsky Mine) over distances of up to 20–70 km. Background soil samples were collected in the area near the Altynsarin village. The results obtained can serve as a basis for developing measures to reduce environmental risks and ensure the safety of agricultural products in the region.