Express estimation of soil pollution density by planting isotopes of Chernobyl origin

Yu. Khomutinin, Sviatoslav Levchuk, Valerii Kashparov
Abstract

The article considers an approach of finding a rapid estimate of soil contamination density of plutonium isotopes in a radiological survey of agricultural lands on the south-western trace of Chernobyl radioactive fallout outside the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. An algorithm based on a linear correlation between values of 90Sr and 238,239,240Pu activity in soil samples was developed. The algorithm was tested during a radiological field survey of abandoned lands in Narodychi district. The results of the approbation showed a satisfactory convergence of obtained estimates of soil contamination with plutonium isotopes of Chernobyl origin with experimental results. The proposed algorithm may be a part of the decision-making system at reviewing the boundaries of radioactive contamination zones and returning in the use agricultural lands that were abandoned after the Chernobyl accident

Keywords

density of radioactive contamination, 90Sr, 238Pu, 239,240Pu, Chernobyl accident

Suggested citation
Khomutinin, Yu., Levchuk, S., & Kashparov, V. (2022). Express estimation of soil pollution density by planting isotopes of Chernobyl origin. Scientific Reports of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, 18(4). https://doi.org/dopovidi2022.04.001
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