New data on the level of contamination with tritium aerosol fallout in the nearest influence zone of the mining–chemical combine of the Rosatom State Corporation

Abstract

The influence of tritium aerosol transport on radioactive contamination on the territory of the Krasnoyarsk region influenced by the mining–chemical combine of the Rosatom State Corporation was studied. Snow cover, foliage, and needles collected at various distances from the mining–chemical combine were selected as the object of this study. A new methodology of liquid extraction from plant material (leaves and needles) was worked out. As a result, the maximal concentrations of tritium (15 kBk/m³ in snow, 11 and 15 Bk/m² for leaves and pine-tree needles, respectively) were determined. However, the results obtained are not anomalous. Consequently, contamination with tritium may not be accounted for entirely due to the low concentrations.