Assessment Of The Radiation Situation In The Territory Of Settlements Located Near The Syrdarya Uranium Ore Province

Abstract

The territories of Southern Kazakhstan and adjacent territory of Kyrgyzstan are known as unique uranium provinces. Southern Kazakhstan has a long history mining activity viz., uranium and other metals. Uranium mining activities have lots of environmental and health impacts to public. The aims of this study were to characterizing the general radiological situation of the territory of settlements located near the Syrdarya uranium ore province and evaluate internal exposure by ingestion food and drinking water in settlements.

Beyond the sanitary buffer of the Northern Karamuryn uranium deposit the value of dose rate is up to 9 times higher than the local background level. In residential and administrative premises Y. Zhakhaev, Baigekum, Bidaikol, the values ​​of dose rate and EEVA of radon do not exceed the control values.

The total alpha-activity of drinking water from Y.Zhakhaev is 1.8 times higher than the permissible value. In water samples from wells Y. Zhakhaev and Baigekum, the total alpha activity is up to 3 times higher than the standard value. Mass-spectrometric analysis of water from a well 12 meters deep in Bidaikol showed that the concentration of uranium is up to 2 times higher than the intervention level for drinking water.

The internal exposure assumed that the population consumes only food products produced in the territories contaminated with radionuclides. For population living in the territories contaminated with radionuclides and consumed food from this territory the annual dose burden is 18.9*10^-6 mSv/y in Y.Zhakhaev, 12.3*10^-6 mSv/y in Baigekum, 16.1*10^-6 mSv/y in Bidaikol and 0.89*10^-6 mSv/y in Sunakata.