## 3 Research Results
### The Content of Heavy Metals in Soils and Their Spatial Distribution  
The data analysis reflects local soil contaminations due to mobile forms of heavy metals exceeding the MPC, according to the Hygienic Standards [45]. MPC values (in mg kg\({}^{-1}\)) for the mobile forms of metals are 3.0 for copper, 32.0 for lead, 4.0 for nickel, 23.0 for zinc, 5.0 for cobalt and 2.0 for cadmium. The analysis of the existing standards of the Republic of Kazakhstan for MPC for heavy metals in soils was applied in this assessment to the level of accumulation in the soil, considering their physical properties [46; 47; 48]. The content and the behavior of heavy metals in soils are controlled through various parameters. In an acidic environment, microelements such as lead, cadmium, copper, zinc, manganese, nickel, cobalt, iron and chromium are the most mobile; in alkaline environments, these are arsenic, selenium, uranium and molybdenum. Lithium, rubidium, cesium, fluorine, bromine and boron are mobile in a wide range. The mobility of these elements also depends on granulometric and mineralogical composition and on the degree of humus content. Light and slightly humus soils are usually depleted by heavy metals in comparison with silt and organic matter, while two-layered clay minerals and humus have a high absorption capacity [49]. An amount of copper from 7.1 MPC to 8.6 MPC has been recorded throughout the whole coastal zone of Balkhash Lake. In the rest of the study area, the copper content ranges from 6.1 to 19.4 mg kg\({}^{-1}\). Local soil contamination due to mobile forms of copper, which is clearly expressed in the central and eastern parts of the study area, is up to 12.9 and 16.1 mg kg\({}^{-1}\), respectively (Figure 3a). The copper content in the soils on the left bank of the Iii River is, on average, 8.3 mg kg\({}^{-1}\), which corresponds to 2.8 MPC. Copper values exceed the standards by up to 6.5 MPC in the soil cover of Bakanas village. The same observation of high copper contents was found within the limits of the southwestern Balkhash region in the soils of the dry steppe, the semi-desert zones, by up to 28.5 mg kg\({}^{-1}\)[50]. This fact indicates the anthropogenic impact on soil pollution. Figure 3: _Cont_. Figure 3: Cont. Figure 3: _Cont_. Figure 3: _Cont._  
Zinc values in various directions range from 7.8 to 75.1 mg kg\({}^{-1}\) (Figure 3b). High levels of zinc were founded on the left bank of the Iii River at point No. 5 (Zheltorangy village), up to 25.9 mg kg\({}^{-1}\) (1.1 MPC), and No. 12 (Kuigan village), up to 37.2 mg kg\({}^{-1}\) (1.6 MPC). The maximum level was recorded at point No. 28 (10 km W of the village of Karoi), with up to 75.1 mg kg\({}^{-1}\), and at Kogaly cordon, with up to 46.0 mg kg\({}^{-1}\), reaching 3.3 MPC and 2.0 MPC, respectively. The average zinc level is 13.7 mg kg\({}^{-1}\). An excess quantity of zinc, up to 1.35 MPC, was observed only under the rice fields of Bakbakty village [40]. Figure 3: Metal concentrations of (**a**) copper, (**b**) zinc, (**c**) lead, (**d**) cadmium, (**e**) cobalt and (**f**) nickel in the soil cover in mg kg\({}^{-1}\) (authors [PERSON], [PERSON], [PERSON]). The concentration of lead was lower than the MPC, with a range from 8.0 to 15.9 mg kg\({}^{-1}\). The maximum values were recorded up to 14.0-15.9 mg kg\({}^{-1}\) in the central and eastern parts and also in the coastal zone of Balkhash Lake. The highest lead concentrations in the soil samples could be localized to the rice fields (Bereke village), but they have low average values (Figure 3c) [41]. Cadmium concentrations higher than the standard were recorded throughout the study area, with values from 2.1 to 6.5 mg kg\({}^{-1}\) for locations distributed across the village of Karaoi to the coast of the Balkhash Lake (up to 3.3 MPC), from the central to the southwestern part (up to 3.1 MPC) (Figure 3d). The soils of the northeastern part are less contaminated with cadmium, with a concentration of 0.9 to 2.0 mg kg\({}^{-1}\).