Environmental and Health Impacts of Technogenic and Microbiological Pollution in the Mailuu-Suu River Basin, Kyrgyzstan: A Comprehensive Assessment for Sustainable Water Management
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63666/ejsmr.1694-9013.1.I.2025.17Keywords:
Mailuu-Suu River, microbiological quality, technogenic pollution, radionuclides, KyrgyzstanAbstract
The Mailuu-Suu River in Kyrgyzstan, a critical water resource in a region historically impacted by uranium mining, faces severe environmental and public health challenges due to technogenic and microbiological pollution. This review synthesizes findings from microbiological analyses of water quality, assessments of radionuclide and trace element contamination, and their combined effects on human health and ecosystems. Microbiological studies reveal elevated levels of lactose-positive Escherichia coli (LPC), exceeding sanitary norms by 2–4 times, indicative of fecal contamination from untreated sewage and industrial discharges. Concurrently, technogenic pollution assessments identify concentrations of uranium (U), selenium (Se), and heavy metals (Al, Fe, Mn, Hg, Pb, Cd) far exceeding Maximum Permissible Concentrations (MPCs), linked to legacy uranium tailings and waste dumps. Health data correlate poor water quality with increased morbidity, including acute intestinal infections, respiratory diseases, and cancer, particularly in downstream communities like Kok-Tash. Vegetation and soil analyses further highlight the unsuitability of floodplain areas for agriculture due to radionuclide accumulation. This review underscores the urgent need for a multidisciplinary water protection program, integrating regular monitoring, advanced treatment technologies, and transboundary cooperation to mitigate pollution and safeguard sustainable development in the Mailuu-Suu region.
References
1. Egemberdieva, A.D., Kamchybekova, K.D. (2024). Assessment of technogenic pollution of environmental objects in the conditions of Mailuu-Suu (Kyrgyzstan). E3S Web of Conferences, 537, 03005.
2. Egemberdieva, A.D., Kamchybekova, K.D (2024). Microbiological quality research of water along the Mailuu-Suu River (Kyrgyzstan). E3S Web of Conferences.
3. Corcho Alvarado, J.A., Balsiger, B., Röllin, S., Jakob, A., Burger, M. (2014). Radioactive and chemical contamination of the water resources in the former uranium mining and milling sites of Mailuu Suu (Kyrgyzstan). Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 138, 1–10.
4. Vandenhove, H., Sweeck, L., Mallants, D., et al. (2006). Assessment of radiation exposure in the uranium mining and milling area of Mailuu Suu, Kyrgyzstan. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 88(2), 118–139.
5. Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. (2006). Methodological recommendations No. 24 FTS/6289: Methods for determining coliform bacteria, E. coli using "Petrifilm" plates.
6. World Health Organization. (2011). Guidelines for drinking-water quality, 4th ed.
7. Lind, O.C., Stegnar, P., Tolongutov, B., et al. (2013). Environmental impact assessment of radionuclide and metal contamination at the former U site at Kadji Sai, Kyrgyzstan. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 123, 37–49.
8. Ushakova, I.G., Geselko, A.M., Shirochenko, O.V., Anisimova, S.A. (2013). Sanitary-bacteriological studies of water quality. Earth Sciences.
9. Sanitary Rules and Norms for the Protection of Surface Water from Pollution (SPNOPV), No. 4630-88, Kyrgyzstan.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Eurasian Journal of Scientific and Multidisciplinary Research
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
