Abstract
The paper shows, that radionuclides from the stony rocks of uranium mines can be leached by atmospheric precipitations. In acid conditions, a degree of leaching is greater. Goal. The aim of this investigation was to study the distribution of radionuclides in uranium minings and their impact on the environmental contamination. Materials and methods. The study was carried out in two stages. In the first stage, a blade of rock was mixed with distilled water in proportions of 0,3 kg of gravel and 1 liter of water. After thirty days of soaking, water was sent to the gamma-spectrometric analysis to Canberra’s spectrometer (USA) with a high-purity germanium detector. In the second stage, we carried out the similar experiment with water, wich was acidified to pH = 3. Contamination levels of areas near the in-situ leaching mine were determined. Intervention levels were used to estimate risk and possible water consumption by the population. Estimations were carried out taking into account the combined presence of several radionuclides in the water. Results. The results of these studies have shown that the distribution of radionuclides from the source of the contamination is about 360 meters during the 30 y period. The stream, along which samples of soil were collected and studied, was formed by the miner waters that flow along small ruts towards a village, thereby increasing the likelihood of water use by the public. Conclusions. The uranium mines are the source of radioactive contamination. Radionuclides are distributed due to the erosion of rocks and leached out of the stony rock by precipitations. The extent of leaching is significantly increased in an acidic environment, which takes place near the in-situ leaching mines.
Highlights
Проблема отходов урановой промышленности является актуальной для всех стран Центральной Азии [1]
The aim of this investigation was to study the distribution of radionuclides in uranium minings and their impact on the environmental contamination
Estimations were carried out taking into account the combined presence of several radionuclides in the water
Summary
Целью настоящего исследования явилось изучение распространения радионуклидов урановых разработок и степень их влияния на загрязнение окружающей среды. Рудники урановых разработок являются источником радиоактивного загрязнения окружающей среды; радионуклиды не только распространяются из-за эрозии породы, но и выщелачиваются из каменистой породы атмосферными осадками. Что загрязнение радионуклидами почвы и донных отложений может наблюдаться на расстоянии до 100 км от мест урановых разработок. Например, уровень активности радионуклида 214Pb в донных отложениях вблизи рудника осенью был в два раза выше, чем весной, при этом в почве изменения активности этого же радионуклида отмечается гораздо больше (до восьми раз), но без сезонных корреляций. Было исследовано распространение радионуклидов вблизи шахты, где проводилось подземное выщелачивание. Цель исследования – изучение распространения радионуклидов урановых разработок и степень их влияния на загрязнение окружающей среды
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