Radioactive particles in the soils of the Semipalatinsk testing site

"Radiation and Risk", 1997, Issue No.9, pp.71-84

Authors

Bakhur A.E., Dubinchuk V.T., Berezina L.A., Manuilova L.I., Malyshev V.I., Berikbolov B.R.¹, Shishkov I.A.¹, Ermilov A.P.²
N.M.Fedorovsky All-Russian Research Institute of Mineral Resources, Moscow; ¹Joint-Stock Company “Volkovgeology”, Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan; ²SPA “VNIIFTRI”, Mendeleyevo, Moscow region

Abstract

The paper presents the results of radioecological examinations in the area of the Semipalatinsk testing site. The studies included measurements of gamma-emitting radionuclides (¹³⁷Cs, ⁴⁰K, ²³⁸U, ²³²Th) at the surface of ground as well as in samples of soil up to the depth of 20 cm with the aim of evaluation of ²³⁸Pu, ²³⁹Pu, ²⁴⁰Pu, ⁹⁰Sr activities. Another task consisted in analysing of forms of technologically originated long-lived radionuclides in the Semipalatinsk testing site soils and their comparison with the global fallout.

Key words
Radioecological survey, Semipalatinsk test site, spectrum, gamma-emitting radionuclides, ¹³⁷Cs, ⁴⁰K, ²³⁸U, ²³², ²³⁸Pu, ²³⁹Pu, ²⁴⁰Pu, ⁹⁰Sr, activity level estimation.

References

1. Malyshev V.I., Bakhur A.E., Manuilova L.I. et al. Spectrometric determination of ²³⁸Pu, ²³⁹+²⁴⁰Pu, ²⁴²Pu isotopes in soils: Instruction СНАМ No.406-YaF. Moscow, 1993.

2. Malyshev V.I., Bakhur A.E., Manuilova L.I. et al. Alpha-spectrometric determination of ²³⁴U and ²³⁸U in soils: Instructions СНАМ No. 433-YaF. Moscow 1994.

3. Berezina L.A., Bakhur A.E., Malyshev V.I. Radiographic study of natural and man-made radionuclides in ecological objects: Methodical instructions SNAM No. 64. Moscow, 1993.

4. Antropov S.Yu., Ermilov AP, Komarov N.A. et al. The specific activity of 90Sr. Beta-spectrometric measurements in environmental objects. Moscow, 1993.

5. Malyshev V.I., Ermilov A.P., Bakhur A.E. Comprehensive study of the radionuclide composition of fuel particles in the soil profile of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant zone. Exploration and protection of mineral resources. 1993. No. 7. PP. 27-30.

Full text article (in Russian)