NATURAL RADIONUCLIDES IN SOIL AND WATER AT THE SHURTAN GAS CHEMICAL COMPLEX DURING 2024 AND 2025

Abstract

This analytical review examines reported environmental measurements at the polyethylene-production site of the Shurtan Gas Chemical Complex in Kashkadarya, Uzbekistan. Secondary descriptive analysis used annual summaries for 24 drinking-water samples, 24 wastewater samples, 120 soil samples and 240 gamma-field measurements across 2024–2025. Reported soil activities changed from 16.07 to 15.14 Bq/kg for Ra-226, 14.40 to 14.30 for Th-232 and 389.50 to 385.50 for K-40. Drinking-water and wastewater gross beta activities increased from 0.017 to 0.018 and from 0.021 to 0.026 Bq/L respectively. A table and two-panel chart summarize these different patterns. Small numerical changes do not establish a temporal trend or industrial attribution. The findings support continued site-specific surveillance with traceable sampling and method information.