Radionuclide transport in the “sediments – water – plants” system of the water bodies at the Semipalatinsk test site

Abstract

This paper provides research data on levels and character of radionuclide contamination distribution in the «sediments– water – plants » system of objects of the Semipalatinsk test site (STS). As the research objects there were chosen water bodies of man-made origin which located at the territory of “Experimental Field”, “Balapan”, “Telkem” and “Sary-Uzen” testing sites. For research the sampling of bottom sediments, water, lakeside and water plants was taken. Collected samples were used to determine concentration of anthropogenic radionuclides 90Sr, 239+240Pu, 241Am, 137Cs. The distribution coefficient (Kd) was calculated as the ratio of the content of radionuclides in the sediments to the content in water, and the concentration ratio (FV) was calculated as the ratio of radionuclide content in plants to the content in sediments or soil.