Kinetics of fuel particle weathering and {sup 90}Sr mobility in the Chernobyl 30-km exclusion zone

Journal Article · Mon Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1999 · Health Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-199903000-00006· OSTI ID:330519

Kashparov, V A; Zvarich, S I; Protsak, V P; Levchuk, S E ^[1]; Oughton, D H ^[2]

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1. Ukrainian Inst. of Agricultural Radiology, Kiev (Ukraine)
2. NLH, Aas (Norway). Lab. for Analytical Chemistry

Weathering of fuel particles and the subsequent leaching of radionuclides causes {sup 90}Sr mobility in Chernobyl soils to increase with time after disposition. Studies of {sup 90}Sr speciation in soils collected in 1995 and 1996 from the Chernobyl 30-km exclusion zone have been used to calculate rates of fuel particles dissolution under natural environmental conditions. Results show that the velocity of fuel particle dissolution is primarily dependent on the physico-chemical characteristics of the particles and partially dependent on soil acidity. Compared to other areas, the fuel particle dissolution rate is significantly lower in the contaminated areas to the west of the Chernobyl reactor where deposited particles were presumably not oxidized prior to release. The data have been used to derive mathematical models that describe the rate of radionuclide leaching from fuel particles in the exclusion zone and changes in soil-to-plant transfer as a function of particle type and soil pH.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 330519
• Journal Information: Health Physics, Journal Name: Health Physics Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 76; ISSN HLTPAO; ISSN 0017-9078
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CHERNOBYLSK-4 REACTOR
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
SOILS
STRONTIUM 90