Radionuclides in soil and plants in the Ignalina NPP region

Since 1992 the radioecological investigations of the terrestrial ecosystem in the INPP region were carried out. The radionuclide concentrations were measured in top soil (150 samples) and plants (25 samples). From radioecological point of view four areas of the INPP region were compared. In the first area (radioactive waste storage territory) the diversity of radionuclide sources was established, vertical penetrating by soil pores and fissures of radionuclides were characterized. In the second area (quarry of mud from Visaginas town and INPP waste water treatment plant) the source of radionuclides was technogenic mud, containing following radionuclides: 137Cs, 134Cs, 54Mn and 60Co. In the third area (monitoring station) also the short-lived radionuclides were found. They were dispersed from INPP to the direction of the prevailing wind. In the fourth area (monitoring station) the peculiarities of distribution of fallout radionuclides were studied. The most part of 137Cs was determined as Chernobyl accident fallout, because no short-lived radionuclides were registered here