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Assessing The Impact Of Mercury Contamination To Lake Balkyldak In Kazakhstan
Citation:
Ilyushchenko, M., P. RANDALL, T. Tanton, AND G. Uskov. Assessing The Impact Of Mercury Contamination To Lake Balkyldak In Kazakhstan. Presented at Battelle 2011 Sediemtns Conference, New Orleans, LA, February 02 - 07, 2011.
Impact/Purpose:
To discuss the site characterization efforts to date, the impact of the mercury contamination on Lake Balkyldak and the discussion of containment measures.
Description:
Adjacent to Lake Balkyldak in Kazakhstan, there is a large wastewater holding pond from a former mercury cell chloralkali plant which contains high levels of mercury-contamination. The holding pond capacity is 74 million m3 with a water-surface area of 18 km2. The maximum depth of the holding pond is 10 m and has been in operation since 1971. It has been estimated that between 1971-1993, approximately ten(10) tons of mercury has been released to the wastewater holding pond. For many years, the mercury in the wastewater holding pond and other wastewater overflows have seeped into Lake Balkyldak creating a serious mercury contamination issue. Efforts by the Kazakhstan government and other international groups have provided assistance in developing containment measures such as cuttoff walls and capping of the primary mercury sources. Site characterization efforts have consisted of mapping the sediment cercury contamination (maximal mercury concentration in sediment is 1 g/kg), mercury content in water (maximal total mercury concentration in water is 350 ng/L and maximal dissolved mercury concentration - 10ng/L) estimating the mass of mercury in the sediment (i.e., about 135.3 tons), and determing the mercury concentration in fish and other aquatic life and biota. This poster will discuss the site characterization efforts to date, the impact of the mercury contamination on Lake Balkyldak and the discussion of containment measures. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT ROGER B. YEARDLEY, JR., LAND REMEDIATION AND POLLUTION CONTROL DIVISION, 513-569-7548.