Assessment of radiation doses to the population and natural objects on the territory adjacent to facility for mining and processing of uranium ores

«Radiation and Risk», 2012, vol. 21, no. 2, pp.46-53

Authors

Karpenko E.I. – Research Assistant, C. Sc., Biol., Russian Institute of Agricultural Radiology and Agroecology, Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Obninsk. Contacts: Kievskoe Sh., 109 km, Obninsk, Kaluga region, Russia, 249032. Tel. (48439) 9-69-68; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Spiridonov S.I. – Head of Laboratory, D. Sc., Biol., Russian Institute of Agricultural Radiology and Agroecology, Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Obninsk.
Sanzharova N.I. – Deputy Director, Corresponding Member of RAAS, Russian Institute of Agricultural Radiology and Agroecology, Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Obninsk.

Abstract

Radiation doses to the population and the biota components in the area of the former uranium mining company LPO “Almaz” are estimated. Maximally exposed is soil mesofauna and aquatic organisms. The contribution of internal exposure to the total dose burden for natural objects is greater than 90 %. Scenarios were developed to assess exposure doses to the population varying in the ways of dose formation. As a result, the calculations revealed that there is a likelihood of exceeding the permissible level of exposure. The main dose-forming radionuclides are 210Po, 210Pb, 226Ra and 230Th.

Key words
Natural radionuclides, galleries, biota, radiation exposure, external and internal exposure.

References

1. Karpenko E.I., Sanzharova N.I., Spiridonov S.I., Serebryakov I.S. Radioecological situation in the vicinity of the location of the former uranium mining enterprise "Almaz". Radiation and Risk. 2009. Vol. 18, No. 4. PP. 73-81.

2. Kryshev I.I., Sazykina T.G. Simulation models of ecosystem dynamics under conditions of anthropogenic impact of thermal power plants and nuclear power plants. Moscow. Energoizdat Publ., 1990. 184 pp.

3. Spiridonov S.I., Fesenko S.V., Geraskin S.A. et al. Evaluation of irradiation doses of woody plants in the remote period after the Chernobyl accident. Radiat. biology. Radioecology. 2008. Vol. 48, No. 4. PP. 432-438.

4. Chambers D.B., Osborne R.V., Garva A.L. Choosing an alpha radiation weighting factor for doses to non–human biota. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity. 2006. Vol. 87, No. 1. PP. 1-14.

5. D–ERICA: An integrated approach to the assessment and management of environmental risks from ionizing radiation. Project number FI6R–CT–2004–508847. Swedish Radiation Protection Authority (2007).

6. Geras’kin S.A., Fesenko S.V., Alexakhin R.M. Effects of non–human species irradiation after the Chernobyl NPP accident. Environment International. 2008. Vol. 34, No. 6. PP. 880-897.

Full-text article