{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,24]],"date-time":"2026-09-24T03:26:56Z","timestamp":1790220416249,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,2]],"date-time":"2025-05-02T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1746144000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Committee of Science of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan","award":["IRN AP22786933"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["IRN AP22786933"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Among the Central Asian countries, Kazakhstan is experiencing significant growth in uranium production and plays a key role in the mining industry. The aim of this study was to assess environmental gamma radiation levels and indoor radon concentrations in the settlements of Aqsu, Saumalkol, and Arykbalyk\u2014situated in regions with a history of uranium mining activities\u2014to evaluate potential radiation exposure risks to the local population. Measurements of ambient gamma radiation dose rates indicated that Saumalkol exhibited the highest variability, with recorded values reaching up to 0.56 \u00b1 0.19 \u00b5Sv\/h, suggesting potential influence from abandoned mining areas. The equivalent equilibrium volume activity of radon revealed severe contamination in Aqsu (mean: 303 \u00b1 57 Bq\/m3, max: 4974 Bq\/m3) and Saumalkol (mean: 658 \u00b1 114 Bq\/m3, max: 2470 Bq\/m3). These findings underscore the need for immediate intervention measures such as improved ventilation and radon mitigation strategies to reduce exposure risks and protect residents from radiation-induced health hazards. This study presents a screening method to identify areas with potential radon risks. However, radon dose assessment requires long-term measurements for accurate evaluation of exposure levels and health risks, with extended monitoring needed for comprehensive assessment.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph22050723","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,4]],"date-time":"2025-05-04T20:42:37Z","timestamp":1746391357000},"page":"723","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Radon Concentration Survey in Settlements Located in Uranium Mining Territory in Northern Kazakhstan"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"22","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6095-459X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yerlan","family":"Kashkinbayev","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"International Research Institute of Radiobiology and Radiation Protection, nJSC Astana Medical University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1640-1728","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Danara","family":"Ibrayeva","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"International Research Institute of Radiobiology and Radiation Protection, nJSC Astana Medical University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Moldir","family":"Aumalikova","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"International Research Institute of Radiobiology and Radiation Protection, nJSC Astana Medical University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1791-0137","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Elena","family":"Saifulina","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"International Research Institute of Radiobiology and Radiation Protection, nJSC Astana Medical University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dinara","family":"Bizhanova","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"International Research Institute of Radiobiology and Radiation Protection, nJSC Astana Medical University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8012-2590","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Elvira","family":"Mussayeva","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"International Research Institute of Radiobiology and Radiation Protection, nJSC Astana Medical University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6081-9494","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Aigerim","family":"Shokabayeva","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"International Research Institute of Radiobiology and Radiation Protection, nJSC Astana Medical University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Madina","family":"Kairullova","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"International Research Institute of Radiobiology and Radiation Protection, nJSC Astana Medical University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-1231-2946","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Anel","family":"Lesbek","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"International Research Institute of Radiobiology and Radiation Protection, nJSC Astana Medical University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Baglan","family":"Kazhiyakhmetova","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"International Research Institute of Radiobiology and Radiation Protection, nJSC Astana Medical University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Meirat","family":"Bakhtin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"International Research Institute of Radiobiology and Radiation Protection, nJSC Astana Medical University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,2]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"ICRP, 65 (1993). 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