Distribution of radionuclides in modern sediments of the rivers flowing into the Dnieper-Bug Estuary

Abstract

The article presents the results of large-scale studies of the content and distribution of natural and man-made radionuclides in the sediments of the rivers flowing into the Dnieper-Bug estuary. The article also presents the results of the granulometric analysis of the surveyed water bodies. The data about natural radioactive elements in the sediments rivers flowing into the Dnieper-Bug estuary obtained in this research are demonstrated moderate specific activity, which, however, clearly correlates with the granulometric composition of sediments. The 137Cs determined by us is contained in the sediments of all studied water bodies and the places of it greatest concentration coincide with the areas in which the sediment is represented mainly by the pelitic fraction. The data obtained in this research can serve as a baseline data in natural radionuclides concentration in sediments rivers flowing into the Dnieper-Bug estuary. The obtained data can also be used for further monitoring of the specific activity of man-made radionuclides, in particular 137Cs.