Atyrau residents are suffocating from a pungent smell: ANPZ awaits inspection
"Are they poisoning us while we sleep?"
The first complaints about a sharp odor emerged on September 5 and 6. However, the situation escalated on the night of September 7, as reports of foul smells and worsening air quality began coming in from multiple Atyrau neighborhoods at once.
One resident shared on social media that she woke up from a powerful stench despite her apartment windows being closed.
"I woke up from a caustic smell, went to open the window and was simply terrified by what I saw; at first I didn't quite understand, I thought: a leak! The windows are closed, but the smell is felt inside the house; I can't imagine what it's like outside. Are they poisoning us while we sleep?" she wrote.
In the comments, other residents also reported feeling unwell, with some complaining of coughing and headaches.
Screenshots from threads.com
According to the local publication "Ak Zhaik," reports of the pungent odor on the night of September 7 came from Akshagala, Zhilgorodok, Nursaya, and Avangard. In Akshagala around 4:00 AM, AirKZ showed a hydrogen sulfide concentration of 24.6 micrograms per cubic meter, against a maximum permissible concentration (MPC) of 8 micrograms—roughly 3.1 times the limit.
In Zhilgorodok at approximately 5:00 AM, the reading reached 96.7 micrograms per cubic meter, more than 12 times the norm. In Avangard, residents posted data showing concentrations of up to 60 micrograms.
Authorities launch investigation
Following the residents' complaints, the Akim (Governor) of the Atyrau region, Bolat Akchulakov, ordered relevant agencies to identify the source of pollution and conduct additional inspections.
Specialists inspected potential emission sources. The Akim also visited the "Tukhlaya Balka" evaporation ponds and the steaming station of the Atyrau Oil Refinery. Furthermore, authorities decided to develop a project for a regional air quality monitoring system.
Department of Ecology response
The Department of Ecology for the Atyrau region reported that on September 1–2, specialists analyzed 108 air samples in the Orken, Balykshi, Nursaya, and Samal micro-districts. No exceedances of maximum permissible concentrations of pollutants were detected at that time.
After residents began contacting the "109" emergency service on September 5, specialists conducted additional measurements across several city locations. These included Post No. 23, the intersection of Kabdolov and Akyn Sara streets in Khimposyolok, Post No. 109 "Vostok" near Victory Park, the "Samal" post at 169 Azattyk Avenue, the "Torgovaya Baza" area in Nursaya, as well as Post No. 13 "Akshagala" located outside the Atyrau Refinery's sanitary protection zone, and Post No. 2 "Proparka" on the refinery's grounds.
Ecologists tested the air for hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide. A total of 126 samples were analyzed, and these initial measurements also showed no MPC exceedances.
"According to monitoring results conducted during the nights of September 5–6 and 6–7, air samples taken in the city's residential areas near the 'Vostok' air quality control station, as well as in the Khimposyolok and Privokzalny micro-districts, revealed exceedances of hygienic standards for isopropylbenzene, diethylbenzene, and carbon monoxide by several times," the department stated.
During these measurements, the wind was blowing from the south and southwest. The Atyrau Oil Refinery is located in exactly that direction.
Askar Zhusupov, head of the Atyrau Region Department of Ecology, also stated that from August 31 to September 7, the city experienced consistent southeasterly and southerly winds.
"One of the pollution sources located in that direction is the Atyrau Oil Refinery," he stated.
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Atyrau Refinery to face audit with independent experts
As reported by the Department of Ecology, work is currently underway to authorize a comprehensive audit of Atyrau Oil Refinery LLP involving independent experts.
Air quality monitoring efforts will continue.