Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2022. Vol. 67. № 3
Yu.S. Belskikh, N.K. Shandala, A.V. Titov, D.V. Isaev, М.P. Semenova,
V.А. Seregin, T.A. Doroneva, Yu.V. Gushchina, A.A. Filonova
Current Radiation Situation at the Remedied Dumps of Mine No. 2
of the Lermontov Production Association Almaz
A.I. Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center, Moscow, Russia
Contact person: Yu.S. Belskikh, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: Assessment of the current radiation situation around dumps of mine No. 2 of the Lermontov Production Association Almaz after remediation.
Material and methods: The methods of pedestrian gamma survey using the portable spectrometric complex MKS-01A “Multirad-M”.
Soil sampling was used to measure radionuclide specific activities. Activities of gamma emitting radionuclides were measured by a stationary gamma spectrometer of the CANBERRA Company. Activities of 210Po and 210Pb following radiochemical separation of these radionuclides were measured using the radiometric installation UMF-2000.
Short-term measurements of radon EEC were carried out with aerosol alpha-radiometer RAA-20P2 Poisk.
Results: After remediation, gamma ambient dose equivalent rate does not exceed 0,5 μSv/h at all dumps, with the exception of local areas around tunnels No. 9, 10 and 11.
In the area around tunnel No. 9, gamma ambient dose equivalent rate reaches 0,55 μSv/h, in the area of tunnel No. 10–5 μSv/h and higher, and in the area of tunnel No. 11 – up to 0,9 μSv/h.
In the areas around all tunnels, except for tunnel No.11, soil does not belong to solid radioactive waste. In a small area near tunnel No. 11, the content of radionuclides in the soil exceeds the criteria for classifying as solid radioactive waste.
Radon EEC in the surveyed area generally did not exceed 30 Bq/m3. Increased values up to 200 Bq/m3 were registered in the area of tunnel dumps, the mouths of which were not fully isolated (tunnels No. 6, 7 and 10). Moreover, directly at the mouth of tunnel No. 10, radon EEC values reached 65000±11000 Bq/m3.
Conclusions: At all surveyed remedied dumps, except for dumps of tunnels No. 10 and 11, the radiation situation in some areas does not meet the requirements established in the remediation project in accordance with the “Health Care Rules for the Closure, Conservation and Conversion of Enterprises for the Mining and Milling Radioactive Ores” and stay in these territories does not pose a hazard to the population.
Keywords: gamma radiation, natural radionuclides, dumps, uranium mining and milling facility, radiation survey, remediation
For citation: Belskikh YuS, Shandala NK, Titov AV, Isaev DV, Semenova МP, Seregin VА, Doroneva TA, Gushchina YuV, Filono-
va AA. Current Radiation Situation at the Remedied Dumps of Mine No. 2 of the Lermontov Production Association Almaz. Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2022;67(3):21–25. (In Russian). DOI:10.33266/1024-6177-2022-67-3-21-25
References
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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: 17.01.2022. Accepted for publication: 15.03.2022.