Modern Radioecological Situation at the Site of the Peaceful Underground Nuclear Explosion “Crystal” and Radionuclides in the Surface Waters of the Adjacent Territory (Western Yakutia)

• Published in: Radiochemistry (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 65; no. 5; pp. 599 - 617
• Main Authors: Artamonova, S. Yu, Bondareva, L. G., Melgunov, M. S., Simonova, G. V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Moscow Pleiades Publishing 01.10.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Cesium 137; Cesium isotopes; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Chemistry/Food Science; Crystals; Drains; Explosions; Gamma rays; Land cover; Nuclear Chemistry; Nuclear explosions; Radioisotopes; River networks; Strontium 90; Surface water; Underground explosions; tritium; Yakutia; radionuclides; underground nuclear explosion; special radioactive waste; underground brines; surface waters; geological environment; radiostrontium
• ISSN: 1066-3622; 1608-3288
• DOI: 10.1134/S1066362223050119

The radioecological situation at the site of the peaceful underground nuclear explosion “Crystal” after removal land cover and installation of the artificial cover of rock from nearby quarry above the epicenter is considered. In 2012 the ambient dose equivalent rate of gamma radiation varied from 0.04 to 0.066 µSv/h, in 2019 the content of radionuclides in soils was (Bq/kg): 90 Sr 2.5–5.3, 239,240 Pu 0.03–25.4, 137 Cs <2.0. In 2018–2020 the activity of radionuclides in surface water was (Bq/dm 3 ): in drains from under the artificial cover 3 H 4–12, 90 Sr 0.004–0.4, 239,240 Pu < 10 –6 , in local river water 3 H 4–10.2, 90 Sr 0.004–0.3. At present, the impact of surface drains from the “Crystal” site on the river network is assessed as insignificant. No more than 1/3 of 3 H in the local river water comes with precipitation, and the rest of 3 H comes from the “Crystal” explosion zone, mainly by an underground route. At least 91–96% of 90 Sr in the local river water is due to the “Crystal” explosion: part of it comes from the explosion zone by an underground route, part is washed off from the surface of landscapes.