Mechanisms of the formation of radioactive soil contamination in the waterstream zone from the tunnel in the area of underground nuclear tests at the Degelen site, Semipalatinsk test site
Kabdyrakova A.M. Kunduzbayeva A.Y. Mendubayev A.T. Batyrbekov E.G. Lukashenko S.N. Vityuk V.A. Larionova N.V. Kabdrahmanova S.K.
20 October 2025Elsevier B.V.
Science of the Total Environment
2025#1000
This study investigates the distribution of 137Cs, 90Sr, 241Am, and 239+240Pu in soil micro-aggregate fractions of various sizes in a waterstream area emerging through a tunnel cavity at the Degelen site of the Semipalatinsk Test Site, where an underground nuclear test was conducted. The objective was to identify radionuclides distribution patterns in soil micro-aggregate fractions and key mechanisms of radioactive soil contamination resulting from prolonged contact with contaminated water. Results show that radionuclides distribution among soil micro-aggregate fractions is uneven and depends on fraction size and composition. Mineral components (40–1000 μm sand particles) are significantly depleted in radionuclides, while organic matter (partially decomposed plant residues, humus) demonstrates high accumulation, especially of 239+240Pu. A general trend was observed indicating that radionuclides concentration, especially 137Cs, increases with decreasing particle size. However, this pattern is less expressed for 90Sr, 241Am, and 239+240Pu due to their significant enrichment in organic matter. Thus, sorption processes in the “soil-water” system, increasing radionuclide accumulation as particle size decreases, and the formation of organic substances with uniformly high radionuclide content, which tends to level out typical sorption trends, are identified as the main mechanisms shaping radionuclide distribution in soil micro-aggregate fractions. Additionally, the presence of highly radioactive individual particles (“hot” particles) may locally enhance enrichment of particular fractions.
Americium-241 , Cesium-137 , Micro-aggregate fractions , Plutonium-239-240 , Semipalatinsk test site , Strontium-90
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National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kurchatov, Kazakhstan
Branch “Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology” of the RSE NNC RK, Kurchatov, Kazakhstan
Russian Research Institute of Radiology and Agroecology of the National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”, Obninsk, Russian Federation
Satbayev University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Branch “Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology” of the RSE NNC RK
Russian Research Institute of Radiology and Agroecology of the National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”
Satbayev University
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