Published 2006 | Version v1
Journal article

Assessment of the environmental contamination with long-lived radionuclides around an operating RBMK reactor station

  • 1. Department of Physics, Kaunas University of Technology, Studentu g. 50, LT-51368 Kaunas (Lithuania)
  • 2. Department of Radiation Physics, Lund University, Malmoe University Hospital, SE-20502 Malmoe (Sweden)
  • 3. Department of Nuclear Physics, Lund University, Box 118, SE-22100 Lund (Sweden)
  • 4. Department of Quarternary Geology, Lund University, Soelvegatan 12, SE-22362 Lund (Sweden)

Description

The presence of man-made gamma emitting radionuclides in the region within 32 km radius of the Ignalina NPP/Lithuania has been investigated during the period 2001-2004, prior to the closure of the first of the two operating RBMK 1500-type reactors. Gamma spectrometric measurements of various terrestrial and aquatic plants as well as of soil samples showed moderate environmental contamination with the fission product 137Cs and with the neutron activation products 6Co and 54Mn. Traces of the activation products 65Zn and 110mAg were found in the nearest vicinity of the NPP. Activity concentrations were inhomogeneously distributed in the area of interest. Moss and algae samples showed the highest uptake of radionuclides. In addition to the gamma spectrometric measurements, the levels of 14C were determined in the same bio-indicator samples using accelerator mass spectrometry

Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.1016/j.jenvrad.2006.06.004;
PII
S0265-931X(06)00097-X;

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Journal of Environmental Radioactivity
Journal Volume
90
Journal Issue
1
Journal Page Range
p. 68-77
ISSN
0265-931X
CODEN
JERAEE

Optional Information

Copyright
Copyright (c) 2006 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.