Environmental modelling of radioactive contamination of floodplains and sorlakes along the Techa and Iset rivers

Aarkrog, A.; Трапезников, А. В.; Молчанова, И. В.; Yushkov, P.I.; Pozolotina, V. N.; Polikarpov, G.G.; Dahlgaard, H.; Nielsen, Sven Poul

doi:10.1016/s0265-931x(99)00122-8

Cited by 10 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Continuous political calls for intensification of production led to uncontrolled discharges of radioactive isotopes into the air, water and earth. Both engineers working in the facility and farmers living outside the zone were exposed to elevated radiation levels (Aarkrog et al 2000; Cochran et al 1993).…”

Section: A Nuclear Beaconmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Nuclear Generator of Clouds: Accidents and Radioactive Contamination Identified on Declassified Satellite Photographs in the Mayak Chemical Combine, Southern Urals

Kiarszys¹

2021

CAJ

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The Mayak Chemical Combine was one of the most secretive places in the Soviet Union. It was built in the southern Urals, close to Kyshtym. The facility produced weapons-grade plutonium and other radioactive isotopes for the Soviet nuclear military programme. Fugitives from behind the Iron Curtain mentioned the site, usually due to accidents and peculiar, unexplained observations. Such reports were often treated in the West as exaggerated or fictional, as they spoke of large-scale disasters, deportations and vast landscape transformations. This paper aims to present the research potential of declassified Cold War intelligence records for archaeological landscape studies of off-limits military sites. To outline a somewhat broader perspective, I will combine those sources with contemporary historical knowledge and modern remote sensing data. The analysis will be focused on the Central Intelligence Agency [CIA] satellite imagery (CORONA and GAMBIT) from the 1960s to the beginning of the 1970s. The discussed sources recorded outcomes of nuclear disasters, hundreds of square kilometres of uninhabited wasteland, abandoned villages, disappearing lakes, dying forests, diverted rivers, and other features related to this clandestine plutonium facility.

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Section: A Nuclear Beaconmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Nuclear Generator of Clouds: Accidents and Radioactive Contamination Identified on Declassified Satellite Photographs in the Mayak Chemical Combine, Southern Urals

Kiarszys¹

2021

CAJ

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“…It is seen from table 3, which gives the data for the whole research period, that the storage of radionuclides in soils decreased farther away from the pollution source. This reduction is well described by the function y=e a x b , where y is contamination density, kBq/m 2 , and x is the distance from the MAYAK enterprise, km Coefficients a and b for various elements were obtained empirically [1]. In the pre-bed flood plain the values 90 Sr/ 137 Cs increase with the distance from the discharge point, and downstream 90 Sr is tire main pollutant.…”

Section: Estimation Of the Storage Of Radionuclides In The Techa Floomentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to calculations[1] based on assumptions and direct measurements of radionuclides concentrations,90 Sr storage in the investigated soils accounted for 7510 12 Bq, that of 137 Cs-19810 12 Bq.…”

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confidence: 99%

⁹⁰Sr and¹³⁷Cs in flood-plain soils of the Techa river

2002

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The Techa river was contaminated in 1949-1956 from the nuclear enterprise "MAYAK". The investigations were carried out in flood plain of the Techa river in 1992-1999. In the upper and middle parts of the river the basic contaminator is I37 Cs; downstream-more active is 90 Sr. Density of contamination of soils with 90 Sr down the river changes from 600 to 200 kBq/m 2 , and that with 137 Cs-from 2,000 to 80 kBq/m 2. Radionuclides content in soils of the central part of the flood plain (30-40 m from the riverbed) also decreases further from the discharge point 1-2 orders. The Techa flood plain may be considered to be a source of secondary radioactive contamination of the water ecosystem. We evaluated the absorption stability and water migration of radionuclides in its soils under experimental conditions. The main quantity of 90 Sr was in exchangeable (41-66 %) form. !37 Cs was in firmly fixed form (80-98 %). The study of radionuclides distribution in the liquid fraction of the soil showed that the main part of 90 Sr (84%) was found in gravitation moisture. 137 Cs (97%) was in a less mobile form of moisture which was connected with soil by capillary and sorption powers.

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“…137 Cs concentrations in floodplain soil and vegetation have been periodically measured in the contaminated area creating an opportunity to assess long-term changes in 137 Cs on the floodplain of a major river in a warmtemperate zone environment. Previous studies of this type have involved cool-temperate zone rivers (Kryshev et al, 1998;Aarkrog et al, 2000;Linnik et al, 2005) or smaller streams (Gladden et al, 1985). The objectives of this study were to evaluate the spatial distribution of 137 Cs on the floodplain and to determine the effective loss-rates for 137 Cs in floodplain soil and vegetation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in 137Cs concentrations in soil and vegetation on the floodplain of the Savannah River over a 30 year period

Paller

Jannik

Fledderman

2008

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

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Environmental modelling of radioactive contamination of floodplains and sorlakes along the Techa and Iset rivers

Cited by 10 publications

References 7 publications

A Nuclear Generator of Clouds: Accidents and Radioactive Contamination Identified on Declassified Satellite Photographs in the Mayak Chemical Combine, Southern Urals

A Nuclear Generator of Clouds: Accidents and Radioactive Contamination Identified on Declassified Satellite Photographs in the Mayak Chemical Combine, Southern Urals

⁹⁰Sr and¹³⁷Cs in flood-plain soils of the Techa river

Changes in 137Cs concentrations in soil and vegetation on the floodplain of the Savannah River over a 30 year period

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Environmental modelling of radioactive contamination of floodplains and sorlakes along the Techa and Iset rivers

Cited by 10 publications

References 7 publications

A Nuclear Generator of Clouds: Accidents and Radioactive Contamination Identified on Declassified Satellite Photographs in the Mayak Chemical Combine, Southern Urals

A Nuclear Generator of Clouds: Accidents and Radioactive Contamination Identified on Declassified Satellite Photographs in the Mayak Chemical Combine, Southern Urals

90Sr and137Cs in flood-plain soils of the Techa river

Changes in 137Cs concentrations in soil and vegetation on the floodplain of the Savannah River over a 30 year period

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⁹⁰Sr and¹³⁷Cs in flood-plain soils of the Techa river