[The soil content of cesium-137 in the Republic of Altai due to nuclear tests at the Semipalatinsk testing site]

Gig Sanit. 2009 Sep-Oct:(5):54-6.
[Article in Russian]

Abstract

Radioactive fall-outs from the atmospheric nuclear weapon tests carried out at the Semipalatinsk testing site have resulted in local soil pollution with 137Cs in the Republic of Altai. The subjects of the investigations were the main types of soils from North and Central Altai. In the Republic of Altai, the share of 137Cs in the upper (0-5 cm) soil layer has been established to be 54.6% in the Turochaksky district to 92.1% in the Ulagansky district. By taking into account the fact that the major activity of 137Cs has been accumulated in the 0.5-cm surface layer, its may be expected that there will be its rather separation with a fine-dispersed surface material In this connection, 137Cs can enter the organism with inhaled dust due to deflation during soil eolation. The inhalation of 137Cs by the dwellers of the areas that have been exposed to irradiation during nuclear weapon tests at the Semipalatinsk testing site continues to be also important today.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Cesium Radioisotopes / analysis*
  • Environmental Health / methods*
  • Humans
  • Nuclear Weapons*
  • Siberia
  • Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / analysis*

Substances

  • Cesium Radioisotopes
  • Soil Pollutants, Radioactive