INHALATION OF TRANSURANIC ELEMENTS IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES IN THE EXCLUSION ZONE OF THE CHERNOBYL NPP

Relevance. In the radioactive contamination territory, any work must be carried out with mandatory individual dosimetric monitoring of participants using all the irradiation pathways. However, at present, the control of personnel exposure through the respiratory organs is not carried out due to the lack of methodological and technical support.

Intention. To estimate the irradiation doses of personnel expected as a result of inhalation of transuranic elements during fires in the Belarusian sector of the Chernobyl exclusion zone.

Methodology. The objects of research are aerosol particles containing ¹³⁷Cs, ⁹⁰Sr, ²³⁸Pu, ²³⁹Pu, ²⁴⁰Pu, ²⁴¹Pu and ²⁴¹Am, formed as a result of high temperature sublimation and combustion of forest materials. The subject of research is the irradiation doses of personnel as a result of inhalation intake of ¹³⁷Cs, ⁹⁰Sr, ²⁴¹Am, ²³⁸Pu, ²³⁹Pu, ²⁴⁰Pu and ²⁴¹Pu during fire fighting.

Results and Discussion. The expected doses of internal irradiation in fire extinguishing participants in the Belarusian sector of the Chernobyl exclusion zone due to inhalation of transuranic elements were estimated. The assessments were carried out both by direct measurements of the volume activity of radionuclides in the breathing zone of fire fighting participants and via calculations. It is shown that the contribution of ¹³⁷Cs to the “inhalation” dose of personnel can be only 1 %. It is established that in the Belarusian sector of the Chernobyl exclusion zone the contribution of transuranic elements to the expected effective dose of internal radiation is about 60 %. Radiation doses of personnel expected as a result of inhalation of radionuclides did not exceed 0.1 mSv per year, which is significantly less than the control level established in the Polesye State Radiation Ecological Reserve for personnel (5 mSv per year).

Conclusion. The proposed methods make it possible to conservatively assess the expected inhalation doses in personnel in case of fire fighting in the exclusion zone of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, as well as to ensure their accounting for individual dosimetric control.

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