Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

THE LEVEL OF SOIL CONTAMINATION WITH HEAVY METALS IN ALMATY, KAZAKHSTAN

Olzhas E. Zholdassov Bakhytzhan K. Yelikbayev, Nukhtar A. Umbetaliyev and Osman Erol

Abstract

Almaty is the largest metropolitan city in Kazakhstan and is included among the most important financial, cultural and scientific centers of Central Asia. During the recent years, because of the high rate of urbanization and increasing traffic flow, the issues concerning the detrimental effect of the automobile transport on the megalopolis environment becomes particularly important. Several studies were carried out in this area, which have suggested d ways to solve the problem. Though, the soil of the megalopolis, as an integral environmental component, and the level of its contamination by heavy metals (pollutants) is investigated still insufficiently. Therefore, we have conducted studies to determine the level of soil contamination with heavy metals. The research has shown that the amount of heavy metals in the soil of Almaty does not yet exceed permissible limits, though their amount in the soil continue to grow.