Influence of operation of thermal and fast reactors of the Beloyarsk NPP on the radioecological situation in the cooling pond. Part 1: Surface water and bottom sediments

Abstract

The results of radioecological monitoring of the cooling pond Beloyarsk NPP (Russia) have been presented. The influence of waste technological waters of thermal and fast NPP reactors on the content of artificial radionuclides in surface waters and bottom sediments of the Beloyarsk reservoir has been studied. The long-term dynamics of the specific activity of 60Co, 90Sr, 137Cs and 3H in the main components of the freshwater ecosystem at different distances from the source of radionuclide discharge has been estimated. Critical radionuclides (60Co and 137Cs), routes of their entry and periods of maximum discharge of radioisotopes into the cooling pond have been determined. It is shown that the technology of electricity generation at Beloyarsk NPP, based on fast reactors, has a much smaller effect on the flow of artificial radionuclides into the freshwater ecosystem of the reservoir. During the entire period of monitoring studies, the decrease in the specific activity of radionuclides from NPP origin in surface waters was 4.3–74.5 times, in bottom sediments 10–505 times. The maximum discharge of artificial radionuclides into the reservoir was noted during the period of restoration and decontamination work aimed at eliminating emergencies at the AMB thermal reactors of the first stage of the Beloyarsk NPP.

Keywords

• Nuclear power plant
• LWGR
• FNR
• Surface water
• Bottom sediments
• Radioecological monitoring