RADIATION & RISK
Bulletin of the National Radiation and Epidemiological Registry
since 1992
About the Journal : 2014 : vol. 23, No. 3 : Comparative analysis of main mechanisms of tritium transfer from the Semipalatinsk Test Site to atmosphere

Comparative analysis of main mechanisms of tritium transfer from the Semipalatinsk Test Site to atmosphere

«Radiation and Risk», 2014, vol. 23, No. 3, pp.43-56

Authors

Lyakhova O.N.1 – Head of Lab., C. Sc., Biol., Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology (IRSE), Kurchatov, Kazakhstan. Contacts: 2 Krasnoarmeyskaya str., Kurchatov, Republic of Kazakhstan, 071100. Tel.: 8 777 670 98 02; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Lukashenko S.N.1,2 – Director of IRSE; Deputy Director of NNC RK, Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology (IRSE), Kurchatov, Kazakhstan, National Nuclear Center of Kazakhstan (NNC RK), Kurchatov, Kazakhstan.
Larionova N.V.1 – Head of Lab., C. Sc., Biol., Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology (IRSE), Kurchatov, Kazakhstan.
Yakovenko Yu.Yu.1 – Head of Group, Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology (IRSE), Kurchatov, Kazakhstan.
Tur E.S.2 – Leading Engineer, National Nuclear Center of Kazakhstan (NNC RK), Kurchatov, Kazakhstan.

Abstract

Tritium like cesium-137, strontium-90, americium-241 and plutonium 239+240 was produced during nuclear tests. It was accumulated in the environment in large amounts. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the total amount of the radionuclide in the air transferred from the test areas, which were the most contaminated as a result of nuclear tests. In all calculations experimental data were used. It was suggested that tritium presented in water was the main contributor to air pollution. Though the number of tests performed on main sites were relatively similar, the types of explosions were different. In this connection the amount of tritium and its distribution in the vicinity of a specific test area may differ. The paper presents estimates of the radionuclide content in air transferred from the Degelen site, its surroundings and the Shagan river channel between the "Atomic" lake and the inflow to the Irtysh river. Comparative analysis of the contribution of various mechanisms of tritium transfer to air from Semipalatinsk Test Site was performed.

Key words
Semipalatinsk Test Site, "Degelen" site, Shagan River, atmospheric tritium, transpiration, emanation, evaporation, nuclear tests.

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Full-text article (in Russian)