Methodic instructions on radioecological researches realization, essential for ecological zoning of Semipalatinsk test site (STS). Chapter 2

Up-to-date status of ecosystems on territory of the former Semipalatinsk test site requests careful and multilateral analysis. Ionizing radiation is important ecological factor in received results in numerous researches in this region, and its influence is principally for all of biogeocenoses components. It is necessary to estimate scale of nuclear catastrophe influence on objects of alive nature including information about regularities of radionuclides behavior within soil-plant-animal-men ecosystem. Before last time radiation situation on whole territory of the site is revealed insufficiently completely and objectively. By data of military specialists on the site there are many places where radioactive substances openly lie after testing. High contamination by cesium-137 radionuclide on so named old traces are observed. Value of contamination density by this radionuclide is make up 0.17 Ci/km2 and higher. Contamination density by strontium-90 on initial traces is vacillating from 0.18 up to 11.98 Ci/km2. The proposed methodic for observation of radiation situation on contaminated territory consists of following stages: 1. Choice of place sample selection; 2. Sample selection; 3. Sample processing; 4. Measuring; 5. Processing and checking of data; 6. Interpretation of results and taking resolution