This study investigated the elemental composition of soils in Kyzylorda and Turkestan (southern Kazakhstan), an area rich in natural resources but facing potential environmental threats from industry and agriculture. The goal was to establish baseline geochemical values and assess soil contamination risks. Soil samples were collected from across the region and analyzed using ICP-MS and INAA techniques, providing a comprehensive profile of 72 elements. Statistical analysis revealed significant variations in elemental concentrations, with enrichments observed for specific elements when compared with reference values. Notably, both regions shared a core set of elements including rare earth elements (yttrium series: holmium, erbium, thulium), noble metals (gold, platinum, ruthenium, palladium), and tungsten. Enrichment patterns, however, provided distinct insights. Rare earth element enrichments likely reflect the region’s geology, while elevated radioactive elements necessitate further investigation to understand potential environmental and health risks. Enrichment of iron group elements might be linked to a combination of geological factors and anthropogenic activities like mining or industrial processes. A significantly higher number of elements exceeded background levels in Kyzylorda compared with Turkestan, suggesting greater element accumulation in Kyzylorda’s soil. This difference could be attributed to variations in regional geology or historical anthropogenic activities. The established geochemical baseline for 72 elements and the identified areas of potential contamination will inform land management practices, guide future environmental monitoring efforts, and ultimately contribute to the safeguarding of public health in southern Kazakhstan.

The study is conditioned to the need to obtain data on natural and natural-anthropogenic geochemical processes occurring in the conditions of urbanization and industrial development, including uranium mining. Anthropogenic transformations of territories cause an uneven supply of elements in biogeochemical cycles, which leads to various physiological disorders in living systems, including the human body. To assess this income, the study of the elemental composition of human hair has proven itself well. Purpose: to assess the levels of accumulation of chemical elements in the hair of residents living in the territory of South Kazakhstan, under the influence of technogenesis. Research methods: instrumental neutron activation analysis, which was carried out based on a research nuclear reactor of the National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University. 28 chemical elements were identified (Na, Ca, Sc, Cr, Fe, Co, Zn, As, Br, Rb, Sr, Ag, Sb, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Yb, Lu, Hf, Ta, Au, Th, U). Results. The content of 28 chemical elements in the hair of the population in the territory of South Kazakhstan was estimated. The regional specificity of the elemental composition of hair has been established, which is reflected in the accumulation of such elements as strontium, barium, cerium. Key words: elemental analysis, technogenic impact, instrumental neutron activation analysis, biosubstrate, bioindication.

The article examines the specific features of the formation of the elemental composition of the population living within the impact zone of the gold mining enterprise JSC “Altyntau Kokshetau” (Konysbay village, Akmola region). The concentration of chemical elements in human hair was determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP - MS), which enabled the assessment of a wide spectrum of trace, minor, and potentially toxic elements. The relevance of this research is driven by the high concentration of mining enterprises in Kazakhstan and the environmental risks associated with their activities, including the accumulation of potentially toxic elements in environmental compartments and biological substrates of the exposed population. Hair was used as an informative biomarker reflecting long-term exposure to both natural geochemical conditions and anthropogenic pollution sources. Statistical processing of the obtained data was performed, and the results were compared with reference data from other regions of Kazakhstan as well as with the noosphere Clarke values. The study revealed localized anomalies in the accumulation of several heavy metals and trace elements including elevated concentrations of Cr, As, Hg, and Zn. These findings indicate the combined influence of regional geochemical background and technogenic pressure associated with gold mining activities, highlighting the importance of biomonitoring in environmentally stressed mining areas.

ELEMENTAL COMPOSITION OF THE ASH OF POPLAR LEAVES AS AN INDICATOR OF TECHNOGENESIS ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE TERRITORY OF SOUTH KAZAKHSTAN One of the most important problems facing the community is the progressive pollution of the environment by technogenic factors. To obtain a general picture of pollution and the degree of impact on the environment, an integrated approach is required when studying the ecological state of the territory of Southern Kazakhstan. The article presents original data on the ecological and geochemical characteristics of the distribution of chemical elements in the ash of leaves of pyramidal poplar (Populus nigra f. pyramidalis), since this substrate accumulates pollutants from the environment. Analytical studies were carried out in the laboratory of Tomsk Polytechnic University using the INAA method (instrumental neutron activation analysis). Statistical parameters showed that Ca, Rb, Sr have a normal distribution, uneven distribution is typical for: As, Ag, Nd, Tb, Yb, Cr, Br, Sb, Cs, Ba, Sm, Eu, Lu, Ta, Au. The conducted cluster analysis showed 7 significant associations of chemical elements. In order to identify regional specifics, geochemical series were built relative to the clark of the noosphere, the relative average composition of living matter and literature data. The results of the analysis showed that the specific elements in the ashes of the pyramidal poplar leaves collected in the territory of South Kazakhstan are Na, Ca, As, Sr, Ag, Sb, Ba, Ta, U. Key words: elemental composition, South Kazakhstan, bioindicator, pyramidal poplar leaf ash (Populus nigra f. pyramidalis), instrumental neutron activation analysis.

High levels of carotenoids and gluten are the most important traits for seed quality and colour of semolina produced from durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.). Rapid methods based on colourimetry with three coordinates L*a*b* and SDS sedimentation produce indirect measurements of carotenoids and gluten, respectively. In contrast, traditional and accurate biochemical methods with n-butanol extraction of carotenoids and a Glutomatic-2200 instrument system for gluten are more complicated approaches requiring specific equipment and much more time. The aim of this study was to test and compare rapid and traditional methods for carotenoid and gluten quality in 8 durum wheat cultivars used as parents and 10 F₃-F₄ hybrids, which were very diverse in their composition. Genotyping of the TdPsy-B1 and TdGlu-B1 genes using SNP-based ASQ markers was consistent with carotenoid content and gluten quality in the parental lines and hybrids. Strong associations were found in the comparison between rapid measurements and traditional methods for carotenoid and gluten quality. Therefore, colourimetric and SDS sedimentation methods can be used for approximate assessment of carotenoid and gluten quality in durum wheat, but their practical value lies primarily in the ability to rapidly rank and select genotypes for subsequent detailed analysis.

The article shows the results of radioactive elements (U, Th) research in drinking water salt formationson the territory of Northern and Southern Kazakhstan. The results were obtained by inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry (ICP-MS) and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) using the TPU IRT-T research nuclear reactor. The research of radioactive elements on the scale of drinking water is currently relevant. Uranium is of particular interest to the public because of its complex behavior in the natural water system. Large uranium deposits are located in the studied territories, which are being actively developed today. As a result of the research, it has been found out that the accumulation of uranium and thorium in salt formations of drinking water on the territory of Northern and Southern Kazakhstan is being formed mainly due to the peculiarities of the geological structure of the studied region, the Th/U ratio also confirms this fact. The increased content of thorium in the village of Saryagash in the Turkestan region is of interest, since the territory is the center of sanatorium treatment, and requires further more detailed study