Introduction

Scientists and specialists of different countries have come to the conclusion that it is wrong to solve environmental problems in one country. Developed countries differ from other ones due to the fact that they use modern technologies in order to recover from air, water and soil pollution, deforestation, littering and accumulate a lot of experience. However, these countries are surrounded by poor neighbors unable to attack ecological problems effectively.

Environmental pollution by fabric and domestic wastes are actual all over the world. Furthermore, this issue is the most significant one in the national action plan protecting Kazakhstan’s nature for stable development of our country.

Todays situation in Kazakhstan demonstrates that environment’s deterioration is dangerous not only for citizens’ wellbeing but also for nation’s health. More than one fourth of our country’s land are inapplicable for living because of the nuclear tests on military firing fields, million tonnes of toxic fabric wastes and soils poisoned by pesticides and fertilizers. Due to the desertification more than a half of pasture land are useless and 75% of irrigated land are saline. In some regions the level of average life expectancy is reduced by 15-20 years in comparison with developed countries like Japan, Germany, France.

Ecologists consider that there are more than 20 billion tonnes of solid industrial enterprises’ wastes in Kazakhstan. Only non-ferrous metallurgy produced more than 5.2 billion tonnes of wastes. Territories belonged to non-ferrous metallurgy plants occupy near 15000 hectares.

Every year this ‘bunch of garbage’ is increasing by 1 billion tonnes. The major part of toxic wastes are arranged in Zhezkazgan region(29.4%), East Kazakhstan region(25.7%), Kostanay region(17%) and Pavlodar region(14.6%). These regions are known for their industrial progress.

Main pollutants

It is not a secret for anyone that large congestion of poisoning wastes are dangerous for the nature and humanity. They pollute air, soil, rivers, lakes, seas and even groundwater. More than 25 years ago magazine “ The UNESCO courier” characterized 8 main biosphere’s pollutants harming human beings as well as flora and fauna:

1. Carbon dioxide

2. Carbon oxide

3. Sulfur dioxide

4. Nitrogen oxides

5. Phosphates

6. Mercury

7. Lead

8. Oil

«Hotspots» of Kazakhstan

Hotspots are the most unfortunate places where people can hardly live. Usually, these are located near places hostilities. Luckily, there is no war in Kazakhstan. Nevertheless, there are some areas with polluted air, poisoned soils and toxic water. Ecologists examined territory of our republic and named Kazakhtan’s hotspots. They are lands located near industrial enterprises specialized on copper mining such as joint-stock companies “Balkhashmed” and “Zhezkazgancvetmed”. There can be found 8 piles of rocks and ores, 4 tailings and 3 piles of dross where these companies put wastes of copper mining industry. Tailings keeping especially dangerous substances are more dangerous for citizens and nature. These objects not only pollute soil and flora, but they are also spread with the help of wind on 10 km around.

There are 14 plants specialized on the production of lead and zink. The most dangerous are: “Achisay polymetallic plant”, “Zhezkent Mining Processing Plant”, “Irtish polymetallic plant”, “Leninogorsk polymetallic plant”, “Tekeli lead-zinc plant”, “Ust’-Kamenogorsk lead-zink plant”, “Shymkent lead plant” ,etc. These enterprises have more than 40 piles and 30 tailings.

Fabrics situated near the river Irtish pollute water sources. For instance, “Zyryanovsk lead plant” damage Bukhtarma reservoir. The bottom stream of pollution reached the dam of hydropower plant Bukhtarma and now dumps in Ust-Kamenogorsk reservoir which is known as fisheries pond. Of course, it continues to pollute further Shul’ba reservoir till the boundary with Omsk region of Russian Federation.

The more region is anhydrous, the more pollution is dangerous. The minimal amount of pollutants is required to seriously harm little rivers.

Besides, factories specialized on mining and processing of rare metals and nickel damage environment as well. “Belogorsk mining processing plant”, “Kairak mining metallurgical plant”, “Ust’-Kamenogorsk titanium-magnesium plant” possess 10 piles as well as tailings dangerous for environment.

The most polluted air in Kazakhstan.

The most damaged areas are Pavlodar, Karagandy, Zhezkazgan regions. The main air pollutant is auto transport. As a perfect example 1994 year might be considered. That year the total discharge of cars was 1.2 million tonnes of fumes consisting of carbon oxide. As a matter of fact, high concentrations of carbon monoxide disturb the balance in atmosphere’s upper layers.

Water sources’ pollution.

The most adverse situation is in Irtysh river basin where the level of polluting of rivers like Glubochanka, Krasnoyarka, Breksy, Ul’ba, Bukhtarma by zink and copper is quite high. What is more, the largest hot spots of groundwater are located near the “Karagandy metallurgic plant”, production association ”Karbid”, Aktobe CHP, “Himprom’s” slurry tanks and settlers . The quality of water for drinking water-supply is rather low especially in Kokshetau, Kizyl-orda and Kostanay regions.

Soil’s pollution.

Kazakhstan’s land resources actively continue worsening: each year 250 000 hectares of land become useless for agricultural industry. Soils are polluted with various dangerous pesticides and poisonous toxic wastes. Industrial plants of Ust’-Kamenogorsk, Zhezkazgan, Shymkent, Karagandy are responsible for this terrible situation. There are lead, copper, zink and cadmium content in soil reaches 10-50 MPC.

Non-peaceful atom.

The level of radiation in regions such as Semipalatinsk, Aktobe where nuclear tests were held is still high. There is located a large amount of uranium anomalies, occurrences and deposits.

Solid wastes.

One more theme cannot but be mentioned is solid wastes. Every town and city faces this problem daily. Due to the collapse of the communist system, abundance in shops and markets appeared. So, the quantity of litter drastically increased. Government in civilized countries are successfully solving the issue by constructing lots of plants specialized on litter recycling. However, these fabrics are not so popular in Kazakhstan. Therefore, each citizen in our country produces 1.3-2.2 cubic meters every day. What is more, solid industrial wastes are even more dangerous for land. East-Kazakhstan region is situated in the central part of Eurasia. It is the most significant area in Kazakhstan specialized on mining and metallurgical industry. Because of social-economic development of this region, it is the most environmentally-unfriendly one. Lots of sulphide polymetallic deposits of Rudny Altay are sources of raw materials for non-ferrous metallurgy , energy industry engineering and construction industry. The composition of ores and scattered sulphide mineralization metal deposits includes such metals as Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Ag, Ba, Au, significant concentrations observed Cd, As, Sb, Tl, Hg, Se , and others . In the oxidation zone of sulfide deposits in a humid climate the oxidation of sulphides and removal of ore matter in groundwater environment. Oxidation of sulfide minerals is followed by the temperature raising, formation of large amounts of sulfuric acid. Aqueous solutions become acidic and high aggressiveness. Mineralization of groundwater because of leaching ores and surrounding rocks in the presence of large amounts of sulfate ion is increased to 1 - 3 g / l or more , the water hardness increases to 15 - 20 mg -eq . / L , the concentration of ore-forming metals and their satellites is increased in ten hundred times above background . The big danger for the environment and, above all , for water areas of deposits’ placing and mining enterprises are pumped out of mines and quarries mine waters , drainage and waste water tailings enrichment plants. The construction of special treatment facilities is required for their disposal and treatment.

Conclusion

To sum up, the quantity of wastes will dramatically rise until the progress in fighting against pollution outweighs the industry. This is the reason why more and more politicians are paying attention at environmental situation in Kazakhstan by taking special measures such as reducing the amount of industrial wastes. It is quite expensive for developing countries and their fabrics as well as enterprises. Luckily, there are some methods encouraging individuals to be environmentally-friendly like:

- The adoption of national policy that recognize all waste classification and aimed to help to implement it ;

- Education about the waste problem and the need to prevent the pollution, starting with primary school up to university programs for engineers and managers;

- Government’s financial support directed to enterprises bringing up new projects to improve environment’s safety;

- High taxes on the production of wastes;