Natural and anthropogenic mechanisms of the elemental composition formation of the waters in the transboundary Kyrgyzstan-Kazakhstan River Karabalta, Central Asia

Abstract

The work draws attention to the problem of contamination of surface waters of the transboundary Karabalta river basin with molybdenum (Mo), uranium (U), lithium (Li) and other hazardous elements. Two areas of surface water contamination were identified, which, based on the total content of hazardous elements, fall into the “seriously affected” category and may have a negative impact on the quality of irrigation water. In the water bodies located closest to the tailing pool of the Kara-Balta plant, concentration of Mo was revealed at the level 540.95 µg/L. In the Karabala River bed, in direct vicinity with the state border, excess amounts of U (29.40–59.01 µg/L) and Li (28.80–59.20 µg/L) enter surface waters. The hazardous elements most likely present in the river waters due the release of contaminated groundwater.