Abstract
The objective of the research is to identify the main patterns of spatial distribution of natural and anthropogenic radionuclides (RN) in Naryan-Mar. Urban soils are formed by means of natural soil transformation with the participation of technogenic sedimentogenesis, which leads to disturbance of natural RN migration processes and contributes to the complex structure of natural and anthropogenic RNs contamination of tundra soils. The specific activity of anthropogenic (134Cs,137Cs) and natural (226Ra,232Th,40K) RNs in Naryan-Mar soil was determined. The local low-intensity anomalies (LLIA) of anthropogenic RNs result from transboundary transfer;134Cs and137Cs are concentrated in soils with a well-shaped vegetable layer.226Ra and232Th LLIAs are confined to regions with stone buildings.40K LLIAs are conditioned by high density of grassland vegetation involving40K in the biological cycle. The statistical manipulation of the acquired data involved correlation and factor analysis techniques. The statistical analysis demonstrated a moderate and salient correlation between the content of232Th and40K in the soils of the areas built up with wooden houses and the soils of the recreation area, respectively. There is a salient correlation between the content of134Cs and40K as well as between134Cs and232Th in the soils of the recreation area. The area occupied by technological buildings demonstrates salient and high negative correlations between the content of226Ra and radionuclides of40K and234Th. The multidirectional nature of the226Ra and232Th accumulation processes can be explained by their different mobility in the environment. A factor analysis of the specific activities of the radionuclides in the soils (based on the varimax method) revealed that the strongest factor (28%) conjointly regulates the134Cs and40K content, which testifies to their affiliation to non-mobile cationogenic elements. The second factor (25%) identified through an analysis of the overall data array may signify that organic matter plays a major role in the137Cs retention.
Highlights
Numerous scientific papers concerning urban soils have been published over the past twenty years
Urban soils are formed by means of both natural soil transformation with participation by active technogenic sedimentogenesis, and of artificial movement of natural soils to substrates excavated during construction activities
As there is no direct source of this RN within the research territory, considering its short half-life and the discovered concentration distribution, it may be assumed that 134Cs was released in Naryan-Mar soils as a result of transboundary transfer, e.g. from enterprises on the Kola Peninsula. 137Cs (T1/2 = 30.17 years) specific activity in the upper soil horizon changes from 0 to 6.2 Bq/kg (Fig.3, c)
Summary
Numerous scientific papers concerning urban soils have been published over the past twenty years. Urban soils are formed by means of both natural soil transformation with participation by active technogenic sedimentogenesis, and of artificial movement of natural soils to substrates excavated during construction activities. For this reason, the origin of urbanised soils determines the subsequent nature of radionuclide (RN) migration and, as a result, shapes the complex structure of soil contamination with natural and anthropogenic RN. In light of the heightened interest by contemporary researchers in the urban ecology, it is very likely that, over time, an urban soil radiation environmental monitoring system will be rolled out to more Russian cities
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