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The Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety journal ISSN 1024-6177 was founded in January 1956 (before December 30, 1993 it was entitled Medical Radiology, ISSN 0025-8334). In 2018, the journal received Online ISSN: 2618-9615 and was registered as an electronic online publication in Roskomnadzor on March 29, 2018. It publishes original research articles which cover questions of radiobiology, radiation medicine, radiation safety, radiation therapy, nuclear medicine and scientific reviews. In general the journal has more than 30 headings and it is of interest for specialists working in thefields of medicine¸ radiation biology, epidemiology, medical physics and technology. Since July 01, 2008 the journal has been published by State Research Center - Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of Federal Medical Biological Agency. The founder from 1956 to the present time is the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, and from 2008 to the present time is the Federal Medical Biological Agency.
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Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2023. Vol. 68. № 6
DOI:10.33266/1024-6177-2023-68-6-42-48
L.A. Ilyin , O.A. Kochetkov, A.V. Barabanova, V.G. Barchukov
Health Effects of Onboard Radiation Accidents in the Soviet Nuclear Submarines
A.I. Burnazyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center, Moscow, Russia
Contact person: V.G. Barchukov, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Abstract
Purpose: To analyze the health effects of onboard radiation accidents in the Soviet nuclear submarines.
Results: Over the entire operation period of Soviet nuclear submarines, eight severe accidents occurred related to nuclear power installations. These accidents occurred in a confined space and the associated radiation situation is more complex than in other conditions; therefore, health effects of such accidents are more significant. There were two types of onboard accidents: thermal accidents (five cases) associated with a failure during heat removal from the reactor core; and accidents (three cases) caused by a partial chain reaction. The first type of accidents occurred during the route operation of nuclear submarine, and the second one – during repair work. Thermal accidents were associated with varying degrees of depressurization of the primary circuit of the reactor, which increased the gamma and beta background due to the entry into the compartment of a large amount of radioactive noble gases (hereinafter – RBGs) and radioactive aerosols. It has been shown that in the confined space of nuclear submarines, RBG isotopes (mainly 85Кr, 133Хе, 135Хе) make a significant contribution to the individual dose and the skin is a critical organ.
Conclusion: An analysis of the health effects of thermal onboard accidents showed that radiation injuries were caused by external gamma- and beta-exposure, as well as the ingestion of radioactive aerosols. If accidents are accompanied by prolonged minor leaks leading to entry of RBG into the compartment, the main contribution is made by beta-exposure and the skin is a critical organ. If there is a simultaneous inflow of coolant into the compartment, combined radiation injuries are formed and, in this case, skin lesions aggravate the acute radiation sickness. In accidents induced by a partial chain reaction, the main radiation factor is external γ-n-exposure during an outbreak of a partial chain reaction, and in the case of a thermal explosion, a traumatic factor also affects a person, leading to injuries of varying severity in the victims.
Keywords: radiation accidents, submarines, nuclear power plants, radiation damage, skin, damage in a limited volume
For citation: Ilyin LA, Kochetkov OA, Barabanova AV, Barchukov VG. Health Effects of Onboard Radiation Accidents in the Soviet Nuclear Submarines. Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2023;68(6):42–48. (In Russian). DOI:10.33266/1024-6177-2023-68-6-42-48
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PDF (RUS) Full-text article (in Russian)
Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Financing. The study had no sponsorship.
Contribution. Article was prepared with equal participation of the authors.
Article received: 20.07.2023. Accepted for publication: 27.08.2023.