Toxic pollution in Central Kazakhstan: EU-funded project reveals problems and hazards for human health

ASTANA-PRAGUE. KAZINFORM On 7 August 2014, the international conference "Toxics Free Kazakhstan" will be held in Astana with attendance of authorities of all levels and experts, who will search for solutions of existing problems.

New data were collected within project "Empowering the civil society in Kazakhstan in improvement of chemical safety" of Kazakhstani and Czech non-governmental organizations, funded by the EU in the grant amounting EUR 247.834. During coming weeks, group of experts will inform inhabitants of Temirtau, Balkhash Ekibastuz and villages along Nura river on contamination level and measures to protect their health.

"Experience of European countries can help Kazakhstan to implement progressive technologies and to find a balance between economic development and protection of the environment and public health. Access to the relevant information is a first step to understand seriousness of the situation," says Jindrich Petrlik, Director of Czech NGO Arnika - Toxics and Waste Programme.

The conference will take place in the conference room of EU Delegation to Kazakhstan in Astana. Presentations of new data on pollution of the environment will take place in Ekibastuz on July 24, Balkhash on July 31, Nura on August 4, Temirtau on August 6.