Characteristics of the manifestation of transboundary pollutants transfer on the territory of Altai

A rationale is given to the current importance of studying the consequences of the longterm pollutants transfer from industrial centers of East Kazakhstan. Available data on the pollution of the environmental components by elements of polymetallic ores are presented. An additional study was made of the characteristics of the distribution of 50 chemical elements in the snow cover and in the leaves of black poplar on the territory of Altai neighboring the East Kazakhstan region. A weak acid character of atmospheric precipitation, caused by increased sulfur content, is revealed. Annual flows of sulfur and nitrogen are estimated for the territory of the region. Distribution trends for chemical composition parameters of snowmelt and dust on the territory of Altai are determined. Two main groups of chemical elements in the natural environments studied are identified, namely the rock group represented by rock-forming elements, and the ore group dominated by polymetallic ores. It is found that the territory of the region polluted by these elements looks like a tongue-shaped halo with the area of 30 thou km2 extended along the northeastern direction over more than 400 km, with an average width of 100–120 km. Within the halo there is an increase in content of all the elements under study when approaching the territory of the East Kazakhstan region. It was also found that the chemical composition of snow dust on the territory of Altai is similar to the composition in the emissions from Kazzinc Metallurgical Complex in Ust’-Kamenogorsk which is supposedly one of the main sources of pollutants transferred to Altai.