Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2026. Vol. 71. № 4
DOI:10.33266/1024-6177-2026-71-4-32-37
A.V. Titov1, Iu.S. Belskikh1, N.K. Shandala1, T.A. Doroneva1, M.P. Semenova1, A.A. Shitova1, A.A. Filonova1, S.L. Burtcev1, Dm.M. Alekseev1, D.M. Alekseev1, E.Iu. Zezulina2
RADIO-ECOLOGICAL SITUATION IN THE TERRITORY OF URANIUM DEPOSITS IN KALMYKIA
1 A.I. Burnazyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center, Moscow, Russia
2 Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology № 101, Lermontov, Russia
Contact person: A.V. Titov, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: To assess radio-ecological situation in the territory of uranium deposits in Kalmykia (Buratinskoye and Yashkulskoye) upon completion of geological and exploration activities.
Material and methods: To measure the ambient dose equivalent rate the method of automobile and pedestrian gamma survey was used with the help of portable spectrometric complex MKS-01A Multirad-M and dosimeter-radiometer MKS-AT6101. The activity of gamma-emitting radionuclides in soil samples was measured using a stationary gamma spectrometer from CANBERRA (USA). The activities of 210Po and 210Pb were measured using a radiometric installation UMF-2000 following their radiochemical separation from samples. Volumetric activity and equilibrium equivalent volumetric activity of radon were measured with an aerosol alpha radiometer for radon and thoron RAA-20P2 Poisk.
Results: The average value of ambient dose equivalent rate in the territory of Yashkulskoye and Buratinskoye deposits (excluding the location of the geological team) is 0.11±0.01 µSv/h, and in the territory of the nearest settlements (Verkhniy Yashkul and Orgakin villages), this value is 0.10±0.01 µSv/h. In the territory of Buratinskoye deposit (excluding the location of the geological team) and at the Yashkulskoye deposit, the specific activities of natural radionuclides in soil are the same as those in the nearest settlements (Orgakin and Verkhniy Yashkul villages) and correspond to their contents in the surface 20 cm layer of light chestnut soils in Kalmykia. At the site of the former waste storage facility (Buratinskoye deposit). the specific activity values of 238U, 235U, 226Ra, 210Pb and 210Po radionuclides in soil are 3580±30, 170±20, 2080±100, 1240±20 and 1480±190 Bq/kg, respectively. And the specific activity values of 232Th and 40K are not different from the contents in the rest of the area.
Conclusions: The radiation situation in the territory of the deposits and in the nearest settlements corresponds in general to the natural background in Kalmykia. No additional radiation impact from geological exploration on the population involved in the economic activities in the deposit areas or on the environment has been revealed. The exception is a small area of the Buratinskoye deposit near the former location of the geological team at the site of waste storage facility (core storage facility).
Keywords: radio-ecological survey, natural radionuclides, radon, the specific activity, uranium deposit, Kalmykia
For citation: Titov AV, Belskikh IuS, Shandala NK, Doroneva TA, Semenova MP, Shitova AA, Filonova AA, Burtcev SL, Alekseev DmM, Alekseev DM, Zezulina EIu. Radio-ecological Situation in the Territory of Uranium Deposits in Kalmykia. Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2026;71(4):32–37. DOI:10.33266/1024-6177-2026-71-4-32-37
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Conflict of interest.The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Financing. The work was financed under the State Contract as part of the Federal Target Program «Nuclear and Radiation Safety for 2016-2020 and for the period until 2030».
Contribution. Article was prepared with equal participation of the authors.
Article received: 20.03.2026. Accepted for publication: 25.04.2026.