The analysis of the radiation state in the sanitary protection zone and the observation zone of the nuclear research reactor of the Institute for Nuclear Research of NAS of Ukraine in 2021

Abstract

The results of the analysis of the radiation state of environmental objects in the sanitary protection zone (SPZ) and surveillance zone (SZ) of the research nuclear reactor (RNR) WWR-M of the Institute for Nuclear Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (INR) for 2021 are analyzed and compared with the data for previous years (from 2016 to 2020). The levels of total beta activity of sedimentary dust and atmospheric precipitation and wastewater from the main reservoirs of INR, the concentration of beta-active aerosols in the surface layer of atmospheric air, as well as the content of 137Cs radionuclide in soil and vegetation samples, were studied. The research was conducted in the laboratory of the Center for Ecological Problems of Atomic Energy of INR. The obtained results show that in 2021 there was no excess of the values of controlled parameters compared to previous years. There was also no significant difference in the specific activity of the radionuclide 137Cs in soil and vegetation samples from SPZ and ZS. Studies conducted in the period from 2016 to 2021, allowed to accumulate significant factual material on the radiation situation in the sanitary protection zone and surveillance zone and to substantiate the conclusion about the absence of man-made radioactive contamination of the environment due to the operation of RNR WWR-M of INR of NAS of Ukraine.

Keywords

• research nuclear reactor
• radiation state
• radionuclides
• sanitary protection zone
• observation zone
• environment.