Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: The paper provides data from the comprehensive studies of the levels and distribution pattern of radionuclide contamination in the ‘bottom sediments/soil-to-water-to-plants’ of water bodies at the Telkem site of the Semipalatinsk Test Site (STS). Research objects were water-filled craters Telkem-1 and Telekm-2 that resulted from excavation explosions. As part of these studies, sediments, soil, water, plants were duplicately sampled, in which the content of manmade 90Sr, 239+240Pu and g-emitting radionuclides were determined. As a result, a high level of radioactive contamination is currently found to persist in the ecosystem of water bodies at the Telkem site both for sediments ( 137Cs, 241Am, 90Sr and 239+240Pu) and water ( 90Sr). Based upon findings, the distribution coefficient (Kd) for the ‘sediments-to-water’ system and the concentration ratio (CRs-b) were calculated for the ‘sediments/soil-to-plants’ system. The distribution coefficient Kd for 90Sr averages 10, for 239+240Pu – 3.7·105 . Plants’ capacity to accumulate from sediments and soil of aquatic ecosystems at the Telkem site, with respect to man-made radionuclides, decreases in the series CRs-b 90Sr > CRs-b 60Co > CRs-b 137Cs > CRs-b 152Eu > CRs-b 241Am > CRs-b 239+240Pu.
Source: NNC RK Bulletin
Language: English
Subfield: Global and Planetary Change
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4406804076