Radionuclide transport in the Yenisei River

TL;DR

This study analyzes radionuclide pollution in the Yenisei River from industrial reactor cooling, examining contamination levels, radionuclide migration, and natural removal rates over time.

Contribution

It provides detailed data on radionuclide distribution and migration in the Yenisei River, including the self-removal rate of 137Cs after reactor shutdown.

Findings

Radionuclide distribution varies between solid and liquid phases.

The self-removal rate of 137Cs is estimated at 0.19 1/year.

Half purification time for 137Cs is approximately 3.6 years.

Abstract

Data characterizing the pollution of the Yenisei River (water and bottom sediment) by radionuclide resulting from the use of the river water for cooling industrial reactors in the Mining-Chemical Complex are presented. Studies have been made of the contamination of the river during the period when reactors with direct flow cooling were used and after these were shut down. Distinctive features of the migration of radionuclide in the Yenisei are noted, in particular, their distribution between the solid and liquid phases. The amounts of 137Cs, 65Zn, 60Co, 54Mn, and 152Eu in the channel are determined from the effluent discharge site to Dudinka port. The rate of continuous self removal of 137Cs is estimated to be 0.19 1/year, corresponding to a half purification time of 3.6 years for a 600 km long segment of the river bed.