Radiological assessment of radionuclide contents in soils in Lower Silesian Voivodeship in the years 1988-2014

Abstract

Abstract. In 1986, the Chernobyl disaster provoked the uncontrolled release of significant amounts of radioactive substances, which caused surface contamination in Poland through radioactive isotopes. The most affected areas are Opole Voivodeship and part of Lower Silesian Voivoideship. Unfavorable meteorological conditions consisting of strong winds blowing from Chernobyl and local heavy rains favored the spread of a radioactive cloud, its shifting towards Poland and the accumulation of artificial isotopes in the soils of those regions [1]. Samples of the soils surface layers (0 - 10 cm) collected in different regions of Lower Silesian Voivodeship during the period 1988 - 2014 were studied. Changes in concentrations over time were analyzed for the following natural and artificial radionuclides: cesium (137Cs and 134Cs), potassium (40K), radium (226Ra) and actinium (228Ac). Since the disaster, the concentration of 137Cs in the surface layer decreased continuously over time. The mean concentration of 137Cs in the surface layer in Lower Silesian Voivodeship in 2014 was 1.46 kBq/m2, higher than the mean concentration for the whole Poland at 1.33 kBq/m2 [2]. Mean concentrations of other natural radionuclide such as 226Ra, 228Ac and 40K in the soils of Lower Silesian Voivodeship were also found to be higher than for the whole Poland [2].