Abstract:
This study aimed at determining the levels of total mercury in water samples
collected in the vicinity of the Lake-reservoir Balkyldak in Pavlodar, Kazakhstan. Legacy of
the chloralkali process in Pavlodar which involved the mercury cell method while producing a
chlorine-free sodium hydroxide leads to serious environmental problems. At the time of the
unit continuous operation in between 1971-1993 approximately 1000 metric tons of metallic
mercury has been released into the wastewater holding pond at the chemical plant. For many
years, mercury collected in the wastewater pond was a subject of the Kazakhstan sharply
continental climate fluctuation and overflow to the Balkyldak Lake-reservoir, creating a
significant mercury contamination issue for the whole region. Mercury emitted from industrial
eluents in environment carries predominantly anthropogenic pollutants. Due to its natural cycle
through atmosphere, water and soil in different forms prompts the widespread global mercury
pollution. In present investigation, samples collected in a close proximity of the Balkyldak
Lake were analyzed in respect to the geological location of collection.