Abstract
Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (INPP) is situated in the Northeastern part of Lithuania close to the borders with Latvia and Belarus at a Lake Druksiai utilized as cooling pond (Fig. 1). The two RBMK-1500 reactor units, Unit 1 and Unit 2, were put into operation in December 1983 and August 1987, respectively. Like Chernobyl NPP, the INPP was equipped by RBMK type reactors, i.e. channel-type, graphite moderated pressure tube boiling water nuclear reactors. The RBMK reactors belong to the thermal neutron reactor category each of a design capacity of 1500 MW(e). Unit 1 was shut down on December 31, 2004 and Unit 2 on December 31, 2009 (http://www.iae.lt). Lake Druksiai is the largest lake in Lithuania and has its eastern margin in Belarus, where the lake is called Drisvyaty. The total volume of water is about 369 × 106 m3 (water level altitude of 141.6 m). The total area of the lake, including nine islands, is 49 km2 (6.7 km2 in Belarus, 42.3 km2 in Lithuania). The greatest depth of the lake is 33.3 m and the average is 7.6 m. The length of the lake is 14.3 km, the maximum width 5.3 km and the perimeter 60.5 km. Drainage area of the lake is only 613 km2. The water regime of Lake Druksiai is formed by interaction of natural and anthropogenic factors. The main natural factors are the climatic conditions of the region which determine the amount of precipitations onto the surface of the water reservoir and natural evaporation from the lake surface and watershed. The anthropogenic factors, which are mainly related with INPP operation, are water discharges by the hydro-engineering complex. The yearly amount of water discharged from INPP is 9 times the volume of the lake and 27 times the natural annual influx of water to the lake. The aim of this study was to evaluate radiological and environmental effects of radioactive, chemical and thermal pollution in cooling pond of INPP (Lake Druksiai). Main efforts were given to assess the presumptive radioactive impact on the lake non-human biota, with special emphasize on macrophytes and fish communities. Macrophytes were selected as
Paper version not known (
Free)
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call