Monitoring of the tritium concentration in the hydrographic network of the Belarusian NPP construction area

Authors

  • Vladzislav V. Zhuravkov International Sakharov Environmental Institute, Belarusian State University, 23/1 Daйhabrodskaja Street, Minsk 220070, Belarus
  • Sergei S. Pazniak International Sakharov Environmental Institute, Belarusian State University, 23/1 Daйhabrodskaja Street, Minsk 220070, Belarus
  • Anna N. Skibinskaya International Sakharov Environmental Institute, Belarusian State University, 23/1 Daйhabrodskaja Street, Minsk 220070, Belarus

Keywords:

tritium, water radioactivity, measurement methods, average value of specific activity of tritium, dose loads

Abstract

The article presents the generalized data for determining the background levels of tritium in open water bodies in the area of the Belarusian NPP construction, conducted by the International Sakharov Environmental Institute of the Belarusian State University (ISEI BSU). The results were obtained on the basis of developed in the ISEI BSU the unique method for the determination of low tritium activities in water on the liquid-scintillation radiometers of the TRI-CARB and QUANTULUS series [1]. The work was carried out within the framework of the Research work: «Comprehensive environmental monitoring of the Belarusian NPP for the construction period (Determination of tritium content in surface and ground water samples) sponsored by Republican center for hydrometeorology, control of radioactive contamination and environmental monitoring. As a result of the work, the specific activity of tritium in open water bodies in the area of the Belarusian NPP construction was determined. At the same time, for the entire observation cycle, sixty-two surface water samples were taken at sites in the observation zone of the Belarusian NPP, more than 310 direct measurements were made with a duration of 300–500 minutes (no more than 5 % statistical error).

Author Biographies

  • Vladzislav V. Zhuravkov, International Sakharov Environmental Institute, Belarusian State University, 23/1 Daйhabrodskaja Street, Minsk 220070, Belarus

    PhD (biology), docent; dean of the faculty of environmental monitoring

  • Sergei S. Pazniak, International Sakharov Environmental Institute, Belarusian State University, 23/1 Daйhabrodskaja Street, Minsk 220070, Belarus

    doctor of science (agriculture), full professor; deputy director for research

  • Anna N. Skibinskaya, International Sakharov Environmental Institute, Belarusian State University, 23/1 Daйhabrodskaja Street, Minsk 220070, Belarus

    postgraduate student at the department of nuclear and radiation safety

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Published

2019-03-16

Issue

No. 1 (2019): Journal of the Belarusian State University. Ecology

Section

The Study and Rehabilitation of Ecosystems

How to Cite

[1]
Zhuravkov, .V.V. et al. 2019. Monitoring of the tritium concentration in the hydrographic network of the Belarusian NPP construction area. Journal of the Belarusian State University. Ecology. 1 (Mar. 2019), 18–23.