RESULTS OF LONG-TERM RADIOECOLOGICAL MONITORING OF TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS IN THE OBSERVATION ZONE OF THE ROSTOV NPP

Abstract

The relevance of the study is caused by the need for continuous and independent monitoring of the observation zone of the Rostov NPP. In Russia, the nuclear industry is constantly developing and research related to the study of the radiation situation in the territories located in the immediate vicinity of nuclear fuel cycle enterprises is becoming necessary. The main aim of the study is to evaluate the features of distribution of the equivalent dose of gamma radiation in the control areas of the observation zone of the Rostov NPP. Objects: the territory located in the 30-kilometer observation zone of the Rostov NPP. Methods: dosimetric control by pedestrian gamma-ray shooting throughout the control area; soil sampling by the envelope method (with a side of a square of 10 m) from digs with a depth of 10 cm; instrumental gamma-spectrometric method of radionuclide analysis of soil samples. Results. The paper presents the data on the results of a long-term (2000–2021) study of the equivalent dose rate of gamma radiation in the area where the Rostov NPP is located. The studies were carried out on the control sites established as part of the pre-launch monitoring of this object (definition of «zero background»). Dosimetry of the territories was carried out using search dosimeters-radiometers. It is shown that, on average, the gamma background varies within 0,10–0,14 µSv/h, does not exceed the results of pre-start monitoring of the Rostov NPP observation zone, and depends on the radionuclide composition of the soil cover.

Keywords

• distribution
• equivalent dose rate of gamma radiation
• nuclear power plant (npp)
• monitoring
• radiation