The evaluation criteria of the environmental safety of “historical” near-surface radioactive waste storages

The main evaluation criteria of the environmental safety of “historical” near-surface radioactive waste storages are proposed in the work. The state estimate of the near-surface radioactive waste storages according to the geochemical indices of the ground water of the near zone is carried out. The dependence of the specific activity of 137Cs on pH, nitrate ions content and the total salt content of water is revealed. It is determined that the index pH allows to mark the problem areas of the near zone of the near-surface radioactive waste storages which characterize the degree of destructive processes taking place in the engineering barriers of the storages and in the waste dumping ground body.

near-surface radioactive waste storages, engineering barriers, near zone, ground water, specific activity of 137Cs, geochemical situation, evaluation criteria of the environmental safety