A prognostic estimation of the area contaminated with alpha-emitting transuranium isotopes in Belarus following the Chernobyl accident

Title: A prognostic estimation of the area contaminated with alpha-emitting transuranium isotopes in Belarus following the Chernobyl accident

Author: V.A. Knatko, V.D. Asimova, A.E. Yanush, Yu.N. Golikov, I.I. Ivashkevich, L.A. Kouzmina, Yu.I. Bondar

Reference: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volume 83, Issue 1, 2005, Pages 49-59

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2004.07.005

Keywords:Chernobyl accident;^238,239,240Pu and ²⁴¹Am;Belarus

Abstract: As a result of the Chernobyl accident, some regions of Belarus have been contaminated with the plutonium isotopes ^{238,239,240,241}Pu. Considering the importance of the environmental impact of the alpha-emitting radionuclides we have carried out a prognostic estimation of the area contaminated with ^238,239,240Pu and ²⁴¹Am (the latter being a decay product of ²⁴¹Pu) in Belarus. The calculations were made using measurements of ^238,239,240Pu activity concentrations in soil samples from about 600 settlements in the affected region, together with the estimated activity ratio A(²⁴¹Am)/A(^238,239,240Pu). The area contaminated with alpha-emitting transuranium isotopes predicted for the year 2006 has been compared with that estimated for 1986.The results show that by 2006, the area of inhabited districts where contamination with ^238,239,240Pu and ²⁴¹Am exceeds the threshold level of 740 Bq/m², will be 3.7 times larger, reaching approximately 3.5 × 10³ km². Of this, almost 20% will have a contamination level of 1850–3700 Bq/m².

URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0265931X05000640

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