Research into the current radiological state of air and monitoring observations on STS and the adjacent territory


Turchenko D.V. Aidarkhanov А.О. Aidarkhanova А.К. Aktayev М.R. Dashuk А.L. Kruglykhin A.A.
August 2023Elsevier Ltd

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity
2023#264

The article presents the assessment of levels and the pattern of STS air radioactive contamination. Levels of air radioactive contamination with artificial radionuclides at different distances from ground zeros of nuclear tests (0.08–10 km) were determined. The maximum concentration of 239+240Pu in the air did not exceed 6.5·10−3 Bq/m3 at the crater ridge of the “Atomic Lake”, the one at the P3 technical site, the “Experimental Field”, reached 1.6·10−2 Bq/m3. Based upon monitoring observation data (2016–2021) on the STS territory, 239+240Pu concentration in the air of the “Balapan” and “Degelen” sites varied between 3.0·10−9 and 1.1·10−6 Bq/m3. In settlements adjacent to the STS territory, 239+240Pu concentrations in the air is: Kurchatov t. – 3.0·10−9 to 6.0·10−7 Bq/m3, the Dolon small village – 4.5·10−9 to 5.8·10−6 Bq/m3, the Sarzhal small village – 4.4·10−7 to 1.3·10−6 Bq/m3. Values derived for concentrations of artificial radionuclides at STS observation posts and the adjacent territory are at the level of background values for this region.

Air aerosols , Air monitoring , Background level , Excavation nuclear explosions , Semipalatinsk test site , “Atomic lake”

Text of the article Перейти на текст статьи

Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology NNC RK, Kurchatov, Kazakhstan

Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology NNC RK

10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель

Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026