Abstract
Environmental radiation exposure remains a significant public health concern in Kazakhstan, particularly in regions surrounding legacy uranium mining sites and radioactive waste repositories.This study presents a comprehensive assessment of genomic instability and related health outcomes among affected populations.A multidisciplinary approach was employed, combining radiological monitoring, cytogenetic assays, and molecular genetic profiling.Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) dosimetry of dental enamel indicated elevated cumulative radiation doses exceeding 25-30 rad in exposed individuals.Cytogenetic analyses revealed significantly increased frequencies of micronuclei and chromosomal aberrations, notably dicentric chromosomes (0.61 ± 0.3 per cell), indicating persistent genomic instability.Micronucleus assays of erythrocytes and buccal epithelial cells supported these findings.Genomic DNA analysis using PCR to detect polymorphisms in DNA repair genes (XRCC1, XRCC3, and XPD) revealed distinct allele distributions in the exposed group, suggesting a reduced DNA repair capacity.Correlation analyses demonstrated strong positive associations between ambient radiation dose and chromosomal aberration frequency (r = 0.75), as well as the prevalence of endocrine disorders (r = 0.85), congenital anomalies (r = 0.82), and neurological and respiratory conditions.The study also highlights indirect exposure pathways via