Explore the vast range of titles available.

The development of railway infrastructure is considered a key driver of vegetation cover transformation, particularly in ecologically sensitive regions. This study aims to quantify the spatio-temporal impact of the Presnogorkovskaya–Zhanaesil railway corridor in Northern Kazakhstan over the period 1985–2024. Using Landsat imagery and a gradient method of comparative analysis with a control area, an innovative coefficient B was developed to assess changes across various vegetation categories. Multiple linear regression was used to determine the influence of natural factors, including precipitation, temperature, and elevation. The results indicate that while some categories (e.g., dense vegetation or wet areas) show consistent degradation near the railway, the observed patterns are also modulated by environmental gradients. Compared to the control area, buffer zones along the railway exhibit an increased presence of degraded land types (≈309 km2 vs. ≈72 km2 in the control) and a reduction in productive vegetation cover (over 100 km2 loss), especially in recent years. The study concludes that the proposed method allows for a differentiated understanding of anthropogenic and natural drivers of vegetation change, offering a replicable approach for assessing the impact of linear infrastructure in other geographical contexts.

Safe water supply is one of the important Millennium Goals. For development of market water supply services, the willingness of consumers to pay is essential. The consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for piped water supply using the contingent valuation (CV) method with different starting point bids was investigated for the Pavlodar Region, Kazakhstan. The results showed that households with access to groundwater (well or borehole water users) perceived this as of good quality. Consumers without access to groundwater used open-source, standpipe or delivered water for which they had to travel and spend time or to pay. Open source water and standpipe water quality was perceived as bad or satisfactory. More than 90% of the consumers were willing to pay for better water quality and regular water supply. The mean WTP was estimated to be about 1120 in bids and about 1590 KZT per household per month in open-ended question format (150 KZT is ~1 USD as of January 2012). The results can be used to better identify the proper technological choice and the level of service to be provided making rural water projects both sustainable and replicable at a larger scale.

Background and Aim: The radiation emitted from cell phones has various deleterious effects on human health. The article considers the problem of the effects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) of cell phones on the behavior of animals. The use of mobile phones is continually increasing throughout the world. All of the world population uses mobile phones widely; thus, having strong and daily effect on the brain. There is no restriction on the use of mobile phones. Getting more advantages and convenience of mobile communication, the population is trying not to hear the information about possible risks to their health, there is no element of self-restraint. The aim of this work was to study behavioral patterns in response to the influence of cell phones. Materials and Methods: The experiments were carried out on 90 white outbred rats weighing 250-300 g. Experiments were carried out and the effect of EMR from Samsung Galaxy J1 mini and Xiaomi Redmi S2 phones on animal behavior was studied. Behavioral reactions were studied using the open field method. Results: By the quality of the act of locomotion in the second experimental group is reduced by 30% and also in this group by the time of the act is 23% lower than in the control data. Vertical motor activity, a support stand, is also suppressed in the second experimental group: 61% lower in number and 47.2% lower in act time compared to the control group. Based on the data, we can conclude that the EMR of the phone Samsung Galaxy J1 Mini affects the behavior of animals to a greater extent than Xiaomi Redmi S2. By the frequency of the act, sniffing is 26% lower; by the time of the act, it remained at the level of control data in the second group. In the third group of the animals, the number and time of the act are 15% lower than the control data. The support stands as an indicator of research activity. In the second group the act of stand with support – by number was lower by 57% than the control data, this indicates that research activity is being suppressed. Conclusion: According to the above changes under the action of EMR from the Samsung Galaxy J1 Mini and Xiaomi Redmi S2 phones, the motor component of behavior is suppressed. The research component of behavior in all groups of animals is enhanced due to high rates of sniffing. It is possible that in animals under stress, the motivation to interact with the environment decreases, leading to an excessive self-accentuation of the animal.

One of the main issues of environmental protection is the quality of atmospheric air. These problems are especially acute in industrialized regions, where the level of anthropogenic impact is increasing; in Kazakhstan, Central Kazakhstan belongs to such regions. The purpose of this study is to study the relationship between diseases of the population and air pollutants from industrial sources. The research methodology was the use of ArcGIS tools and the construction of a correlation between two parameters: pollution and morbidity in the region. Analysis of mortality rates of the population by main classes of causes of death for 2017–2020 in the regional context in the Republic of Kazakhstan revealed that the mortality rate in 2020 increased by 20.2%. When analyzing the causes of death of the population, diseases associated with the negative impact of the environment were selected. It was noted that, in general, in the Republic of Kazakhstan from 2017 to 2020, there was a downward trend, but in the Karaganda region, in 2020, it increased by 8.7%. In Astana, this indicator also tended to decrease, but as a result, a very strong correlation was found between the incidence of malignant neoplasms in Astana and nitrogen dioxide pollution (Pearson index 0.95).

The relationship between precipitation and evapotranspiration (ET) is critical to understanding water cycle related dynamics in ecosystems, including crops. Existing studies of bioenergy crops have primarily focused on annual or seasonal ET rates, with less attention given to the immediate ET response following precipitation events. This study examines the variation in ET rates in the days subsequent to precipitation events across various bioenergy crops—corn, switchgrass, and prairies—utilizing 13 years (2010–2022) of growing season data. Meteorological and eddy covariance flux data were collected from seven eddy covariance flux towers as part of the GLBRC scale-up experiment at the Kellogg Biological Station Long Term Ecological Research sites. The analysis revealed that average ET peaked the day after precipitation and declined linearly over the following days, with a statistically significant relationship ( p -value = 0.00027, R 2 = 0.96). Neither the type of biofuel vegetation nor the historical land use significantly influenced ET post-precipitation events ( p -values = 0.53 and 0.153, respectively). Key predictors of ET following precipitation events include shortwave radiation, season, day of the year, ambient temperature, vapor pressure deficit (VPD), long-wave radiation, precipitation amount, soil moisture, and annual variability. These findings enhance our comprehension of ET responses in bioenergy crop systems, with implications for water management in sustainable agriculture.

Drinking water quality in rural areas is impacted by industrial and agricultural runoff, water treatment infrastructure, and household economic conditions. This study explores the relationship between drinking water quality, water sources, and land cover types in northeastern Kazakhstan. The Water Quality Index (WQI) was calculated for each household and village using the Horton Equation. Land cover was mapped using Sentinel-2 Level-2A imagery. Statistical differences among villages were analyzed through one-way ANOVA and t-tests. A Structural Equation Model (SEM) was built using Maximum Likelihood estimators, with significance set at p < 0.05. Significant variations in manganese, hydrocarbonates, and chlorides were observed based on the distance from the Irtysh River and water sources. Grasslands had the greatest influence on water parameters (−14.89), followed by croplands (5.96), urban lands (2.15), and other land types (2), with forests having the least effect. Biological indicators, such as Actinomycetes sp., were significantly correlated with forests (2.32) and other land cover types. Grasslands reduce mineral content in groundwater, while croplands and forests contribute to mineral enrichment, particularly nitrates from croplands. Urban areas increase chemical loads in groundwater, and manganese levels decrease with distance from the Irtysh River. Chlorides and hydrocarbonates are highest near the river. Rural water treatment infrastructure should be improved, stricter pollution controls should be enforced, and sustainable land use practices should be promoted to reduce agricultural and urban runoff. Additionally, economic incentives for household filtration, regular water quality monitoring, and a coordinated watershed management approach can enhance long-term water security.

Water quality in rural areas of developing countries is a notable problem. In this article, drinking water quality from eleven villages in the Pavlodar and the Akmola region of Kazakhstan was analyzed. Questionnaires of village respondents and chemical components of drinking water were analyzed to identify the quality of drinking water. In each of the villages, the chemical content varied depending on the source of drinking water. In the rural Pavlodar region, we observed that some cations and anions exceed the MPC. Respondents’ perceptions of water quality are associated with water sources and physical components. For example, respondents’ satisfaction by inside tap of central water systems’ water was high, the answers of those whose water source was private wells showed more mixed satisfaction levels. The drinking water physical quality indicators are closely related to water mineralization and general hardness. The total microbial count of drinking water has a significant relationship with respondents’ complaints about unpleasant taste, odor, and salinity. The relationship between perceived and physical water quality is a critical aspect of water resource management. By bridging the gap between scientific assessments and public perceptions, we can enhance public health, build trust in water management systems, and promote sustainability of water use.

The railway sector is the largest branch of the economy in Kazakhstan. Nevertheless, environmental safety issues and the reduction and prevention of harmful impacts are not given sufficient attention. There is very little research on the impact of the railway sector of Kazakhstan on the natural environment, which hinders the further development of the railway sector and thus necessitates the addressal of environment issues. This study aimed to show possible environmentally hazardous sections of the country’s railway infrastructure. The criteria chosen for the analysis were soil cover, water resources, rainfall, protected natural areas, and population. A map of environmentally sensitive areas was created to determine which areas require priority protection from the environmental hazards posed by the country’s railway infrastructure. The map was developed in a GIS environment using the weighted overlay, expert assessment, and snowball methods. Additionally, a model for the Kazakhstan segment of the International Northern Railway Corridor was constructed in this article to identify integral indices that assess the susceptibility of the territory to environmental hazards. The data and results presented in the article can be used to solve current and future environmental issues concerning the country’s railway communications and can be implemented in many practical applications.

Environmental influence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons observed not only on the general state of the organism, but also the influence on the nervous system in particular. Also consider compensation mechanisms when exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Anabolic agents through restorative and bio-stimulating effect, can have a beneficial effect in the treatment of almost any disease, and therefore the range of medical indications for the use of anabolic steroids is constantly expanding.

Microalgae in planktonic communities are the main producers of biomass in lake ecosystems; however, their stability is influenced by many environmental factors. This study aims to assess the ecological state of Lake Maybalyk, located in Astana (Kazakhstan), based on the study of the taxonomic diversity and structure of phytoplankton, zooplankton, and the physico-chemical properties of the water. From 2019 to 2021, samples were taken for phytoplankton analysis, hydrochemical analysis of the water, zooplankton, and saprobiological analysis of the algocenosis. The study also investigated the main morphometric parameters of the lake, as well as the composition of hydrobionts, such as zooplankton, zoobenthos, and ichthyofauna. The analysis of phytoplankton revealed the presence of 97 species and intraspecific taxa of microalgae, with 71 types of microalgal indicators indicating water saprobity. The planktonic algoflora in Lake Maybalyk is predominantly composed of diatoms (Bacillariophyta) and green algae (Chlorophyta), which play a vital role in oxygen production and the food chain within the reservoir. Based on the Pantle–Buck saprobity index (2.15–2.5), the water quality in Lake Maybalyk is classified as moderately polluted. The assessment of the water quality, considering the number and composition of indicator phytoplankton species, places Lake Maybalyk in class III (β-mesosaprobic). The hydrochemical indicators align with the hydrobiological indicators, confirming the water quality as class III. The trophic status of the reservoir, during the study period, can be described as average. The obtained data on both the hydrobiological and hydrochemical indicators correlate, suggesting satisfactory water quality and the ability of the reservoir to purify itself. This study contributes to the sustainable management of water resources, by providing essential data on the ecological state of Lake Maybalyk. The results underscore the importance of continuous biomonitoring, with microalgae as indicators of water quality, which is crucial for developing effective ecosystem conservation strategies.