Radiogeochemical studies of the features of radionuclide distribution at the sites of dumping of radioactive wastes of the Novaya Zemlya Archipelago

Abstract

This paper presents the results of the studies performed from aboard the R/V Akademik Boris Petrov of the Vernadsky Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, in 2002–2004 aimed at surveying the sites of dumping of potentially dangerous objects in Stepovoy, Abrosimov, and Tsivol’ka bays of the Kara Sea. These studies coupled the instrumental facilities of acoustic survey with the visual examination of the objects recovered and also included sampling of the bottom sediments and near-bottom water in the vicinity of the objects and away from them. Subsequently, the samples collected were analyzed using direct gamma spectrometry and radiochemical concentrating selected radionuclides. This allowed us to obtain a statistically reliable database on the specific concentrations of radionuclides (cesium, strontium, cobalt, and plutonium) in the water column and in the bottom sediments. In selected parts of Stepovoy and Abrosimov bays, at the sites where containers were located, local areas with contaminated bottom sediments were registered in the immediate vicinity of the objects, in which significant concentrations of Cs-137 were detected. We also carried out experiments with the samples of the collected bottom sediments on the determination of the kinetic parameters of sorption in the sediment-solution system using the method of radioactive indicators. Taking into account the hydrological conditions, the results obtained allow one to explain particular features of radioactivity distribution in selected aquatic areas. Based on a comparison between the results of the studies performed in 1992–1994 and 2002–2004, we estimated the dynamics of the changes in the mean level of specific concentrations of radionuclides in the regions of the location of sunken objects in shallow-water bays of the Novaya Zemlya Archipelago. The registration of elevated concentrations of corrosive elements in the surface layers of the bottom sediments in these zones suggests a necessity of a multidisciplinary study consisting of regular repeated measurements at reference points in different areas aimed at before-the-fact prevention of possible leakages of radioactive substances from the sunken objects, which might result in a significant contamination of the environment.