BIOGEOCHEMICAL FEATURES OF SOILS AND VEGETATION IN THE AREA OF THE ATOMIC LAKE OF THE FORMER SEMIPALA-TINSK NUCLEAR TEST SITE

Abstract

This article presents the results of a comprehensive study on the elemental composition of soils and vegetation in the area of the Atomic Lake, located within the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site. The main objective of the research was to assess the concentrations and distribution patterns of chemical elements in soils and local plant species, with a particular focus on understanding the biogeochemical characteristics shaped by prolonged anthropogenic impact and radiation exposure. Fieldwork was conducted to collect representative samples of soil and vegetation, which were subsequently analyzed in the laboratory using modern analytical techniques. The obtained data underwent thorough statistical processing to identify distribution patterns of elements and to examine the relationships between elemental concentrations in soils and their uptake by plants. A comparative analysis was carried out between the concentrations of trace elements in the studied plants and those in a reference plant species. Additionally, the concentrations of trace elements in the soils were compared with the Clarke values of the upper continental crust. Special attention was given to the calculation of biological absorption coefficients, which provided valuable insights into the ability of different plant species to selectively accumulate elements. These coefficients enabled the evaluation of adaptive mechanisms developed by vegetation in response to chronic radiation stress. The findings highlight the significance of biogeochemical research for assessing environmental risks associated with nuclear contamination.