INTEGRAL CONTAMINATION INDICATOR AND ITS LONG-TERM DYNAMICS AS APPLIED TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION BY TECHNOGENIC RADIONUCLIDES IN THE AREAS OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE FACILITIES

The article evaluates the radioecological situation based on the long-term monitoring data available on the areas of radioactive waste storage facilities (Smolensk NPP, Bilibino NPP, Beloyarsk NPP) and radiochemical plants (Mining and Chemical Combine (MCC), Mayak Production Association and Siberian Chemical Combine (SCC)). Monitoring data presented in the Yearbook: The Radiation Situation in Russia and its Neighboring Countries, environmental reports of the enterprises, as well as open scientific press provided input information for this research. To assess the radiation safety of the environment in the areas of radioactive waste storage facilities, integral contamination indicators (ICI) were calculated as the sums of ratios for radionuclide concentrations observed in an environmental component to the corresponding reference levels. To provide favorable environment and the environmental safety, the minimum value calculated according to radiation (in accordance with the Standards of Radiation Safety (NRB-99/2009), the Basic Sanitary Rules (OSPORB-99/2010), the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1069 of October 19, 2012) and environmental (R 52.18.853–2016, R 52.18.913-2021) criteria is selected as the reference radionuclide level for an environmental component. The radiation safety of the environment is provided at ICI of less than 1. Long term monitoring data show that in the considered areas of radioactive waste storage facilities, the ICI were much lower than 1 for all environmental components found within their sanitary protection zones (atmospheric air, water bodies, soil). This indicates that environmentally sound levels of impact on wildlife are not exceeded.

Keywords: integral contamination indicator, radionuclides, radioactive waste, environment, radiation situation, radioecological monitoring, wildlife objects.

Kryshev I. I., Pavlova N. N., Kosykh I. V., Buryakova A. A., Anikina N. A., Gaziev I. Ya., Panchenko S. V., Vedernikova M. V. Integral contamination indicator and its long-term dynamics as applied to the environmental contamination by technogenic radionuclides in the areas of radioactive waste storage facilities. Radioactive Waste, 2025, no. 4 (33), pp. 75—85. DOI: 10.25283/2587-9707-2025-4-75-85. (In Russian).