RADIATION & RISK
Bulletin of the National Radiation and Epidemiological Registry
since 1992

Uptake and accumulation of radionuclides in berries plants and berries growing in the forest ecosystem in the area adjoining the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site

«Radiation and Risk», 2020, vol. 29, No. 3, pp.71-78

DOI: 10.21870/0131-3878-2020-29-3-71-78

Authors

Shevchenko Yu.S. – Specialist. Contacts: 2 Beybit-Atom Str., Kurchatov, Republic of Kazakhstan, 071100. Tel.: 8 (72251) 2-34-13; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Larionova N.V. – Scientific Secretary, C. Sc., Biol.
Toporova A.V. – Engineer
Aidarkhanov A.O. – Branch Manager, C. Sc., Biol. IRSE NNC RK.

Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology, National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kurchatov, Kazakhstan

Abstract

It is known, that berries plants, components of biosphere, accumulate radionuclides both natural, 40K,226Ra and 232Th and manmade, including 137Cs and 90Sr. he transport of these radionuclides in the biosphere was the result of the intensive use of nuclear energy since the 40s of the 20th century. The article presents findings of the research on levels and parameters of the radionuclides accumu-lation in berries plants and berries growing in the areas adjoining the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, as well as in the zone of radioactive fallouts from the first Soviet nuclear test (29.08.1949). In all samples of berries specific activity of the radionuclides did not exceed the acceptable level. An-nual committed effective dose of internal radiation to the public members consumed berries would be less than 1% of the acceptable level for the public, whereas natural radionuclides would be the greater contributors to the total radiation dose.

Key words
Semipalatinsk Test Site (STS), natural radionuclides (40K, 226Ra, 232Th), artificial radionuclides (241Am, 137Cs, 90Sr, 239+240Pu), berry bushes, transfer factors (Tf).

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Full-text article (in Russian)