Radiological Contamination

2.3. Radiological Contamination

The problem of radiological contamination of soil and contamination of bottom sediments (the latter resulting from erosion) is the problem of the utmost urgency which has potential long-term effects and affects the environmental state of water bodies of the Russian Dnipro basin. The Chernobyl accident resulted in significant radiological contamination of populated centers and agricultural land of 14 subjects of the Russian Federation.

In the 90-ties the highest Cs-137 concentrations were registered in the Briansk, Kaluga and Oriol regions while Kursk and Belgorod regions had lower Cs-137 levels.

At the beginning of 1999 these territories were reported to be contaminated by long-lived elements, namely, cesium-137, strontium-90 and plutonium-239 and 240.

In terms of the size of the area affected the Briansk region remains to be the most contaminated. The overall radiological situation in the Briansk, Kaluga and Oriol regions is still unfavorable.

According to the data provided by the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia, some 2000 ha of agricultural land are contaminated by cesium-137 in excess of 1 ku/km², including some 300 ha contaminated by cesium-137 in excess of 5 ku/km².

Among other things, to improve the environmental status of Dnipro basin water bodies large-scale water protection activities should be carried out. Such activities should be planned while keeping in mind the analysis of environmental conditions in the drainage area and the structure and scope of economic activities in the region. The available results of stationary surveys are insufficient for such an analysis to be conducted. It is not clear what is the nature of the natural component of water quality and what economic activities form the anthropogenous component of river water quality. The available data on the overall contamination level and a list of surface water quality parameters (limits) are contradictory. The impact of economic activities on river biodiversity is still not understood.

In the future it is expected that data on the impact of each above-said factor on water quality will be used for assessing the impact of economic activities on water quality of Dnipro Basin surface water bodies.

Next: Specific Nature of Water Quality Formation on the Examined Territory

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