An Assessment of the Impact of Gypsum Deposit Development on Changes in the Radiation Environment
Source abstract
Abstract
The aim of the conducted research was to assess the impact of gypsum deposit development on changes in the radiation levels of the abiotic components of the environment. For this purpose, a study of the radioactivity of water, bottom sediment, soil, gypsum and loam samples was performed. Ground-based studies of the distribution of the values of the ambient dose equivalent rate of gamma radiation and radon flux density were also carried out. It was shown that due to the high solubility of gypsum, the degree of karstification of the territory increases under the influence of meteoric waters, and as a result of the intensification of anthropogenic impact, the degree of chemical weathering of rocks increases. This leads to a coordinated change in not only the chemical but also the radiation conditions. In particular, radioactive contamination of quarry waters and areas of increased radon flux density in soil air were established. In bottom sediments, the significant correlations of 137Cs, 238U and 234U activity concentrations with carbonates, organic matter and soluble salts contents, as well as Fe, Zn, Cu, Cr, Pb, Ni, Mo, Cd, Co, Ti and V, indicate a significant role of the anthropogenic factor in the accumulation in bottom sediments. This factor is associated with both regional atmospheric transport (137Cs) and the activity of the mining enterprise in the study area (238U and 234U).
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Research context
OpenAlex topics: Radioactivity and Radon Measurements · Nuclear and radioactivity studies · Radioactive contamination and transfer
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
N. Laverov Federal Center for Integrated Arctic Research of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 20 Nikolsky Ave., 163020 Arkhangelsk, Russia
Funding
Ministry of Education and Science of Russia
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