Composition of Radioactive Aerosols in the Shelter Construction of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 2000–2015

Abstract

The results of the physicochemical studies of radioactive aerosols inside and outside the Shelter construction at the Arch construction stage of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP) in 2000–2015 were presented. The dominant isotopes were shown to be cesium, strontium, americium, plutonium, and uranium. They are carried by disperse particles of 2–7 μm. In subreactor rooms, in particular, 012/7, the composition of aerosols is affected by the erosion of the fuel-containing mass formed in 1986. Submicron cesium carrier aerosols appear as a result of evaporation and condensation during fires and welding works. Radiocesium is a well-soluble component of aerosols, while plutonium isotopes are not readily soluble components. In several rooms, the contents of radon, thoron, and their daughter products exceeded the permissible values. In April–June 2011, the intake of radionuclides from the accident at the Japanese Fukushima-1 NPP, which had AMAD of ~0.5 μm, was detected and tracked using Petryanov multilayer filters. The productivity of filtration units under the dusty conditions in the exclusion zone of ChNPP and in fogs and haze was investigated. Hydrophilic prefilters with 7–10 μm fibers were recommended.