SEASONAL DYNAMICS OF THE CONTENT OF CHEMICAL ELEMENTS IN PARTICULATE AEROSOLS IN THE AIR OF SMALL SETTLEMENTS LOCATED IN THE ZONE OF INFLUENCE OF THE «VOSTOCHNY » TRACE OF RADIOACTIVE FALLOUT FROM THE SEMIPALATINSK TEST SITE

Abstract

The relevance of this work is caused by the fact that there is a question of research to identify the content of chemical elements on one of the main traces of the «Vostochny» at Semipalatinsk Test Site and the surrounding area, including some small settlements, through the study of particulate matter of air aerosols. On the example of the villages Dolon, Beskaragay and Kanonerka the study of the elemental composition of particulate aerosols will give the most complete picture of the air quality of small settlements with similar climatic conditions. These settlements are located in the «Vostochny» trace and are not far from the conventionally marked boundaries of the Semipalatinsk Test Site. Among them, a particularly urgent issue is the study of the qualitative composition of the atmospheric air of the landfill itself and its surrounding areas. Particular interest is caused by chemical composition of solid aerosol particles (PM-2.5 – Particulate matter – solid aerosol particles with diameter less than 2,5 µm, PM-10 – Particulate matter – solid aerosol particles with diameter less than 10 µm, TSP – Total suspended particles) containing radioactive elements and heavy metals. Suspended matter smaller than 10 µm spreads over long distances and is a potential contaminant of major components of nature. Objective: to determine the sources of chemical elements in the atmosphere of the settlements in the zone of impact of the «Vostochny» trace of radioactive fallout adjacent to the Semipalatinsk Test Site territory on the example of the villages Dolon, Beskaragay and Kanonerka, as well as to assess the quality of atmospheric air. Objects: air aerosol particulate matter, soil. Techniques: samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), and scanning electron microscopy; internal quality control procedures were performed (comparison of results obtained by different methods of analysis); statistical processing of the results of the analysis of the main components of the environment studied; seasonal dynamics of element content distribution in solid particles of aerosol air of small settlements studied. Results. The chemical (elemental) composition of 2,5 µm air aerosol particulate matter as well as soils of small settlements were studied. Seasonal dynamics of distribution of concentrations of chemical element groups under study was revealed. The analysis of seasonal variation in the chemical composition of air aerosols allowed their sources of entry to be revealed. No excess of MPC of the average daily content of standardized chemical elements including the group of heavy metals in air aerosol particulate matter was detected.

Keywords

• air aerosol particulate matter
• soil
• inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer
• naturally occurring radionuclides
• heavy metals