Assessment of radiation safety of fish resources in the area of the confluence of the Ob and Irtysh rivers

«Radiation and Risk», 2026, vol. 35, No. 1, pp.64-74

DOI: 10.21870/0131-3878-2026-35-1-64-74

Authors

Panov A.V. – Acting Director, D. Sc., Biol., Prof. of RAS. IATE MEPhI. Contacts: 1, Studgorodok, Obninsk, Kaluga region, Russia, 249040; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Korzhavin A.V. – Acting Head of Lab., C. Sc., Vet.
Korzhavina T.N. – Sen. Engineer, C. Sc., Ped. IPAE UB RAS.
¹ Obninsk Institute for National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, Obninsk
² Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology of the Ural Branch of the RAS, Yekaterinburg

Abstract

The long-term radiation impact of nuclear fuel cycle enterprises in the Urals and Siberia on the ichthyofauna of the Ob and Irtysh rivers at their confluence was analyzed. In the period 2004-2013, samples of six predatory and five peaceful fish species were collected annually on the created radioecological monitoring network, in which the content of the three most significant artificial isotopes – ⁹⁰Sr, ¹³⁷Cs and ^239,240Pu were assessed. The radiation safety of fish resources in the studied sections of the Ob and Irtysh rivers was confirmed. Thus, the average specific activity of ¹³⁷Cs in the ichthyofauna was 1.6 Bq/kg (81 times lower than the standard of SanPiN 2.3.2.1078-01), ⁹⁰Sr – 14 Bq/kg (7 times lower than the limit level), ^239,240Pu – 0.9 Bq/kg. It was noted that in perch samples from the Irtysh in 2004, the SanPiN standard for ⁹⁰Sr content was exceeded by 1.53 times. This is due to the discharge of radioactive waste by the «Mayak» Production Association in 1949-1951 and the prolonged migration of radioisotopes along the Techa-Iset-Tobol-Irtysh river system, which determines the need to continue radiation monitoring of the fish resources of the above rivers. The dynamics of radionuclide content in fish of the Ob and Irtysh rivers in the area of their confluence is presented. It is shown that during the observation period the specific activity of ¹³⁷Cs in ichthyofauna varied within 0.1-10 Bq/kg, ⁹⁰Sr – in the range of 0.6-153 Bq/kg and ^239,240Pu – within 0.3-4 Bq/kg. The maximum levels of ¹³⁷Cs contamination of fish were noted in the period 2004-2010, ⁹⁰Sr – in 2004-2006. Fish species are distinguished according to the degree of radionuclide accumulation. The maximum accumulation of radioisotopes is noted mainly in predatory fish (perch, ruff, pike), and the minimum in peaceful fish species (peled, bream, roach), which is due to the nutritional characteristics and metabolic processes of ichthyophages and euryphages, as well as their way of life.

Key words
Ob-Irtysh river system, ichthyofauna, artificial radionuclides, specific activity, radioeco-logical monitoring, sanitary and hygienic assessment, radiation safety, radiobiology, environmental health.

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