Radioecological impacts of the Techa River contamination
During the years 1949--1952, the Mayak Production Association (MAYAK), which was processing weapons-grade plutonium, was discharging radioactive wastes into the Techa River. As a result, all components of the river system (water, bottom soils, and flood plains) were exposed to massive radioactive contamination. The protective measures taken in the 1950's resulted in the improvement of the radioecological conditions in the Techa River. After 1952, the radioecological conditions in the area were mostly determined by the long-lived radionuclides {sup 90}Sr and {sup 137}Cs. This article focuses on the dependencies governing the migration of radionuclides along the vertical and horizontal planes in different components of the river system over a 40-y period. Until the 1990's, a decrease in {sup 90}Sr and {sup 137}Cs contents was noted in environmental samples and foodstuffs produced in riverside villages. In the subsequent years, the radioecological situation on the Techa stabilized. The sources of the current contamination of the river are represented by the runoffs from by-pass canals and swampy upper reaches.
- Research Organization:
- Urals Research Center for Radiation Medicine, Chelyabinsk (RU)
- OSTI ID:
- 20080416
- Journal Information:
- Health Physics, Vol. 79, Issue 1; Other Information: PBD: Jul 2000; ISSN 0017-9078
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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