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Relevance of this work is attributed to the fact that no activities were carried out to assess the content of the chemical composition in environmental components including heavy metals and toxicants along the «Vostochny» fallout plume identified by the radioecological survey of areas adjacent to the Semipalatinsk Test Site. A concurrent survey of air aerosol particulate matter and soil composition at the «Opytnoe pole» site, at which atmospheric/aboveground-air nuclear tests were conducted, will provide a complete picture on potential sources of a radionuclide and chemical composition of environmental components formed in the «Vostochny» trace as well as of migration pathways of some elements and radionuclides incorporated in air aerosols. The survey of the north-eastern test site part, along the passing fallout trace, including settlements with agricultural activities, is especially topical to the population living there. The objective of this paper is to evaluate accumulation levels of radionuclides and chemical elements in soil cover of the impact zone of the «Vostochny» trace at the Semipalatinsk Test Site as well as to reveal a possible input of certain chemical elements and radionuclides from the Semipalatinsk Test Site territory to adjacent areas along the «Vostochny» plume profile. Objects: soil, air aerosol particulate matter. Techniques. Samples were analyzed by alpha-, beta- and gamma-spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma atomic-emission spectrometry, by radiochemistry and scanning electronic microscopy; statistical processing of analytical results on the main environmental components of interest; assessment of the dynamics of spatial distribution of the content of radionuclides and chemical elements in samples of soil and air aerosol particulate matter in the study area. Results. Chemical compositions (radionuclide and elemental) of soil cover in the profile of the «Vostochny» trace and 2,5 µm air aerosol particulate matter and total suspended particles, collected from areas located close to boundaries of the Semipalatinsk Test Site «Opytnoe pole» site, were studied. A spatial distribution of concentrations of chemical element groups under study and radionuclides in soil cover was identified in the «Vostochny» fallout trace. The correlation analysis of the content of elements in air samples allowed identification of associations of elements being characteristic of both fine particles (PM-2,5) and total suspended air particles at the Semipalatinsk Test Site «Opytnoe pole» testing site. The content of almost all chemical elements of interest incorporated in air aerosol particulate matter does not exceed permissible levels – maximum permissible concentrations.

The relevance of this work is caused by the fact that there is a question of research to identify the content of chemical elements on one of the main traces of the «Vostochny» at Semipalatinsk Test Site and the surrounding area, including some small settlements, through the study of particulate matter of air aerosols. On the example of the villages Dolon, Beskaragay and Kanonerka the study of the elemental composition of particulate aerosols will give the most complete picture of the air quality of small settlements with similar climatic conditions. These settlements are located in the «Vostochny» trace and are not far from the conventionally marked boundaries of the Semipalatinsk Test Site. Among them, a particularly urgent issue is the study of the qualitative composition of the atmospheric air of the landfill itself and its surrounding areas. Particular interest is caused by chemical composition of solid aerosol particles (PM-2.5 – Particulate matter – solid aerosol particles with diameter less than 2,5 µm, PM-10 – Particulate matter – solid aerosol particles with diameter less than 10 µm, TSP – Total suspended particles) containing radioactive elements and heavy metals. Suspended matter smaller than 10 µm spreads over long distances and is a potential contaminant of major components of nature. Objective: to determine the sources of chemical elements in the atmosphere of the settlements in the zone of impact of the «Vostochny» trace of radioactive fallout adjacent to the Semipalatinsk Test Site territory on the example of the villages Dolon, Beskaragay and Kanonerka, as well as to assess the quality of atmospheric air. Objects: air aerosol particulate matter, soil. Techniques: samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), and scanning electron microscopy; internal quality control procedures were performed (comparison of results obtained by different methods of analysis); statistical processing of the results of the analysis of the main components of the environment studied; seasonal dynamics of element content distribution in solid particles of aerosol air of small settlements studied. Results. The chemical (elemental) composition of 2,5 µm air aerosol particulate matter as well as soils of small settlements were studied. Seasonal dynamics of distribution of concentrations of chemical element groups under study was revealed. The analysis of seasonal variation in the chemical composition of air aerosols allowed their sources of entry to be revealed. No excess of MPC of the average daily content of standardized chemical elements including the group of heavy metals in air aerosol particulate matter was detected.