Abstract:
The main purpose is determine and evaluate uranium concentration in urine of the inhabitants of nearby
settlement of uranium mining sites and workers of uranium processing sites. As uranium enterprises
working in Stepnogorsk of Akmola Region and its exploitation could be a risk of radiation exposure for
the workers as well as for the local population, monitoring of biosamples could allow information about
the exposure to uranium for the workers and inhabitants. Workers and inhabitants of male genders
were asked to collect 24 h-urine samples. The concentration of uranium in urine was measured in mass
spectrometry (ICP-MS). Uranium concentration in urine samples from workers values ranged from 0.05
to 12.5 µgL−1
, for Akmola region inhabitants values ranged from 0.10 to 0.60 µgL−1
. The results of
concentrations of uranium in the urine of inhabitants living near SMCC were comparable to values
reported in other studies. The concentration of uranium in the urine of the workers had slightly elevated
values, comparable to the conditional norm of 0.9 µg/L.
