Ivanova, Kremena and Stojanovska, Zdenka and Badulin, Viktor and Kunovska, Bistra and Yovcheva, M (2015) Radiological impact of surface water and sediment near uranium mining sites. Journal of Radiological Protection (35). pp. 819-834. ISSN 1361-6498
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Abstract
The aim of this study is to assess the radiological impact of surface water and
sediment around uranium mining sites 20 years after their closing. The areas
under observations are 31 former classical underground uranium mining and
exploratory sites in Bulgaria, named as objects. The extraction and processing
of uranium ores in the Republic of Bulgaria were ended in 1992. To assess
the radiological impact of radionuclides field expeditions were performed to
sample water and bottom sediment. The migration of uranium through surface
water was examined as one of the major pathways for contamination spread.
The range of uranium concentration in water flowing from the mining sites
was from 0.012 to 6.8 mgU l
−1
with a geometric mean of 0.192 mgU l
.
The uranium concentrations in water downstream the mining sites were
approximately 3 times higher than the background value (upstream). The
concentrations of U
nat
,
226
Ra,
210
Pb, and
232
Th in the sediment of downstream
river were higher than those upstream by 3.4, 2.6, 2, and 1.7 times, respectively.
The distribution coefficient of uranium reflects its high mobility in most of the
sites. In order to evaluate the impact on people as well as site prioritization for
more detailed assessment and water management, screening dose assessments
were done.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | Natural sciences > Physical sciences |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Medical Science |
| Depositing User: | Zdenka Stojanovska |
| Date Deposited: | 20 Jan 2016 15:36 |
| Last Modified: | 20 Jan 2016 15:36 |
| URI: | https://eprints.ugd.edu.mk/id/eprint/14831 |
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