Tritium content in water bodies in regions of peaceful nuclear explosions

Sites of peaceful nuclear explosions pose a potential radiation hazard to the territories of the Russian Federation, primarily due to the possible release of radioactivity from the explosion cavity into aquifers and onto the earth's surface. Therefore, it is essential to conduct regular monitoring of anthropogenic radionuclides in drinking water sources in settlements located near the sites of peaceful nuclear explosions. Tritium serves as an indicator of the potential release of other anthropogenic radionuclides. Monitoring its levels in water bodies in regions where peaceful nuclear explosions were perfomed, and comparing this data with that from Roshydromet across the Russian Federation, allows for an assessment of the reliability of the engineering barriers between the central explosion zone and the environment with respect to preventing radionuclide migration into aquifers. One method for evaluating the reliability of these barriers is the assessment of tritium specific activity in drinking water sources. This article presents results of the study involving 220 water samples collected from drinking water sources (wells, boreholes, springs, central water supply systems) and surface waters within 167 settlements across 17 subjects of the Russian Federation, where 50 peaceful nuclear explosions were conducted between 1965 and 1988. The samples were collected between May and September 2024 in the settlements within a 30 km radius of a peaceful nuclear explosion site. Measurements of tritium specific activity were performed using the Quantulus 1220-003 alpha-beta spectrometric radiometer. The research revealed that the specific activity of tritium in underground water sources is significantly lower (Student's test p<0,05) than in surface waters. The average specific activity levels of tritium in boreholes, rivers, and lakes were 3.0, 3.45, and 4.31 Bq/kg, respectively. The specific activity of tritium in drinking water sources within the regions of peaceful nuclear explosions was found to be at the background levels recorded by Roshydromet, ranging from 1.1 to 5 Bq/kg.

1. Logachev VA, ed. Nuclear explosions in the USSR and their impact on the health of the population of the Russian Federation. Moscow: IzdAT Publisher; 2008. 470 p. (In Russian).

2. Kasatkin W, Ilyichev VA, Kamnev EN, Kasatkin AV, Samorodova TS. Geological and radioecological problems of the objects formed by peaceful nuclear explosions - special radwaste repositories. Atomnaya energiya = Atomic Energy. 2012;113(5): 289-293. (In Russian).

3. Kasatkin W, Ilyichev VA, Myasnikov K, Klishin VI. The state of radiation safety of industrial nuclear explosions facilities conducted at fuel and energy complex enterprises in the Russian Federation. In: Proceedings of the International Conference "Problems of ensuring radiation safety in the fuel and energy complex". St. Petersburg; 2003. P. 231-237. (In Russian).

4. Lopatin W, Ilyichev VA, Kasatkin W. Protective measures to eliminate the consequences of the accident at the Globus-1 underground nuclear explosion facility in the Ivanovo region. In: Proceedings of the International Conference "Radioactivity after nuclear explosions and accidents": volume. 2. Radioactive pollution of the environment after nuclear explosions and accidents. Monitoring, databases, pollution fields and their dynamics. St. Petersburg: Hydrometeoizdat; 2006. P. 221-224. (In Russian).

5. Kasatkin W, Akhunov VD, Mamonovo BP, Ilyichev VA. Dynamics of contamination of the Taiga underground nuclear explosion facility and protective measures for radiation safety. In: Proceedings of the International Conference "Radioactivity after nuclear explosions and accidents": volume 2. Radioactive pollution of the environment after nuclear explosions and accidents. Monitoring, databases, pollution fields and their dynamics. St. Petersburg: Hydrometeoizdat; 2006. P. 223-225. (In Russian).

6. Vasiliev AP, Dubasov YuV, Ilyichev VA, Kasatkin W, Myasnikov KV, Prihodko NK, et al. Nuclear explosive technologies: experiments and industrial applications. Snezhinsk: RFNCVNITF; 2017. 508 p. (In Russian).

7. Prikhodko NK, Ilyichev VA, Kasatkin W. Patterns of migration of radionuclides in rock massifs. Gornyi zhurnal = Mining journal. 2003;4-5; 112— 114. (In Russian).

8. Artamonova SYu. Geotechnogenic systems of underground nuclear explosions on the territory of Yakutia (1974-1987): geoecological models and features of the transfer of radionuclides and related elements. Dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences. Tomsk; 2015. 339 p. (In Russian).

9. Repin VS, Ramzaev VP, Biblin AM, Varfolomeeva KV, Zelentsova SV, Sednev K.A, et al. Estimation of the protected zone sizes for peaceful nuclear explosions based on quantitative patterns of the Earth’s interior deformation. Radiatsionnaya Gygiena = Radiation Hygiene. 2023;16(4): 134-147. DOI: 10.21514/1998-426X-2023-16-4-134-147. (In Russian).

10. Bondareva LG, Chebotina MYa, Artamonova IG, Tananaev IG. Tritium. Theory, practice, consequences. Monograph. Apatity: Publishing house of the Kola Scientific Center; 2024. 359 p. (In Russian).

11. Murzadilov TD. Principles of mercury-metric tomography of the borders of underground nuclear explosions induced fracture regions. Vestnik NYaTs RK = NNC RK Bulletin. 2020;(3): 113-121. (In Russian).

12. Rikhvanov LP. Radioactive elements in the environment and problems of radioecology. Textbook. Tomsk: STT; 2009. P. 430. (In Russian).

13. Apenko AV, Romanov AM, Tokaev DN, Frolov Z.N. Distribution of gaseous tritium at underground nuclear explosion sites of Semipalatinsk test site. Vestnik NYaTs RK = NNC RK Bulletin. 2019;(2): 75-80. DOI: 10.52676/1729-7885-20192-75-80. (In Russian).

14. Kasatkin W, Kasatkin AV, Ilyichev VA, Sedov NS, Samorodova TS. Stages for reclassifying Globus-1 peaceful nuclear explosion object as a site for preserving special radwastes. Atomnaya energiya = Atomic Energy. 2014; 116(3): 157-161. (In Russian) DOI: 10.1007/s10512-014-9841-0.

15. Golubov BN, Sapozhnikov YuA. “Globus-1” Underground Nuclear Explosion and Its Radionuclides Long-Range Migration to the Underground Drinking Water Sources in Kineshma District of Ivanovo Region. Elektronnoe nauchnoe izdanie Аl’manah Prostranstvo i Vremya = Electronic Scientific Edition Almanac Space and Time. 2016; 13(1): 22. Available from: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=28796042 (Accessed: 31.03.2024). (In Russian).

16. Logachev VA, ed. Modern Radioecological Situation in Areas of Peaceful Nuclear Explosions on the Territory of the Russian Federation. Moscow: IzdAT Publisher; 2005. 256 p. (In Russian).

17. Ramzaev VP, Biblin AM, Repin VS, Khramtsov EV, Varfolomeeva KV. Tritium contamination of surface and ground waters at the “Dnepr” peaceful underground nuclear explosions site. Radiatsionnaya Gygiena = Radiation Hygiene. 2022;15(1): 6-26. DOI: 10.21514/1998-426X-2022-15-1-6-26. (In Russian).

18. Golubev B. Migration of radionuclides from the cavities of the underground thermonuclear release "Kristall" into a diamond mining quarry "Successful". In: Sapozhnikov Yu, Goralchuk A. Collection of reports and abstracts of the Republican Scientific and Practical Institute of Conference "Radiation safety of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)". Yakutsk; 2004. P. 182-192. URL: https://disk.yandex.ru/i/FHfq-PGFGybsXA (Accessed: 14.06.2023). (In Russian).

19. Artamonova SYu, Bondareva LG, Melgunov MS, Simonova GV. Modern radioecological situation at the technological site of the peaceful underground nuclear explosion "Kristall" and radionuclides in the surface waters of the adjacent territory (Western Yakutia). Radiochimiya = Radiochemistry. 2023;65(5): 482-500. DOI: 10.31857/S0033831123050118. (In Russian).

20. Ramzaev V, Mishin A, Golikov V, Argunova T, Ushnitski V, Zhuravskaya A, et al. Radioecological studies at the Kraton-3 underground nuclear explosion site in 1978-2007: a review. Journal of environmental radioactivity. 2009; 100(12): 10921099. DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2009.04.002. Epub 2009 May 17. PMID: 19446936.

21. Khramtsov EV. Radiation situation on the territory of the peaceful nuclear explosion «Globus-1» after performing the rehabilitation works. Radiatsionnaya Gygiena = Radiation Hygiene. 2019;12(3): 58-68. DOI: 10.21514/1998-426X-2019-12-3-58-68. (In Russian).

22. Khramtsov EV, Repin VS, Biblin AM, Varfolomeeva KV, Ivanov SA. Radiation-hygienic characteristic of the protected zones of peaceful nuclear explosions in the Arkhangelsk region. Radiatsionnaya Gygiena = Radiation Hygiene. 2021; 14(1): 111-123. DOI: 10.21514/1998-426X-2021-14-1-111-123. (In Russian).

23. Ramzaev V, Repin V, Medvedev A, Khramtsov E, Timofeeva M, Yakovlev V. Radiological investigations at the “Taiga” nuclear explosion site: Site description and in situ measurements. Journal of environmental radioactivity. 2011;102: 672-680.

24. Biblin AM, Khramtsov EV, Repin VS, Ivanov SA, Varfolomeeva KV, Sednev KA, et al. Radiation situation at the “Pint” peaceful underground nuclear explosion site. Radiatsionnaya Gygiena = Radiation Hygiene. 2022;5(4): 149-161. (In Russian) DOI: 10.21514/1998-426X-2022-15-4-149-161.

25. Biblin AM, Varfolomeeva KV, Sednev KA, Ivanov SA, Repin VS, Georgieva AG. Modern radiation-hygienic state of the territories of the Globus-4 and Gorizont-1 peaceful nuclear explosions in the Komi Republic. Radiatsionnaya Gygiena = Radiation Hygiene. 2024; 17(1): 121-130. (In Russian) DOI: 10.21514/1998-426X-2024-17-1-121-130.

26. Titov AV, Shandala NK, Isaev DV, Belskikh IS, Semenova MP, Doronieva TA, et al. Radiation Survey in the Area of Peaceful Nuclear Explosion «Takhta-Kugulta». Meditsinskaya radiologiya i radiatsionnaya bezopasnost = Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2021;66(2): 13-22. DOI: 10.12737/1024-6177-2021-66-2-13-22. (In Russian).

27. Kasatkin AV, Ilyichev VA, Kasatkin W, Larina Al. Ensuring radiation safety at objects of peaceful nuclear explosions. Gornyi zhurnal = Mining journal. 2021 ;3: 80-85. (In Russian).

28. Titov AV, Shandala NK, Belskikh IS, Isaev DV, Gushchina JV, Doronieva TA, et al. The Radiation Situation in the Area of the Meteorit-5 Peaceful Nuclear Explosion. Radioaktivnye otkhody = Radioactive Waste. 2021 ;16: 94-102. DOI: 10.25283/2587-9707-2021-3-94-102. (In Russian).

29. Ramzaev VP, Travnikova IG, Basalaeva LN, BrukGYa, Golikov VYu, Mishin AS, et al. On influence of the underground nuclear explosions Crystal and Kraton-3 on radiological situation in the nearest settlements. Radiatsionnaya Gygiena = Radiation Hygiene. 2008; 1(2): 14-19. (In Russian).

30. Ershov W. Possible effects on the ecological and hydrological situation of the territories of underground nuclear explosions. Razvedka i okhrana nedr = Prospect and protection o! mineral resources. 2023;3: 37-42. DOI: 10.53085/0034-026X_2023_04_37. (In Russian).

31. Aktayev M, Subbotin S, Aidarkhanov A, Aidarkhanova A, Timonova L, Larionova N. Characterization of geological and lithological features in the area proximal to tritiumcontami-nated groundwater at the Semipalatinsk test site. PLoS ONE. 2024; 19(3): e0300971. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300971.

32. Aktaev MR, Aidarkhanov AO, Aidarkhanova AK, Pronin SS, Iskenov AO. Monitoring of tritium pollution of the waters of the Shagan River. Vestnik Nacional’noj akademii nauk Respubliki Kazahstan = Bulletin of the National Research Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 2021 ;2: 25-29. DOI: 10.52676/1729-7885-2021-2-25-29. (In Russian).

33. Dasher D, Hanson W, Read S, Faller SH, Farmer D, EfurdW, et al. An assessment of the reported leakage of anthropogenic radionuclides from the underground nuclear test sites at Amchitka Island, Alaska, USA to the surface environment. 2002;60(1). DOI: 10.1016/S0265-931X(01)00102-3. (In Russian).

34. Radiation situation on the territory of Russia and neighboring countries in 2022. Yearbook. NPO “Typhoon”. Obninsk, 2023. Available from: https://www.rpatyphoon.ru/upload/medialibrary/ezhegodniki/ro/ezhegodnik_ro_2022.pdf (Accessed 08.07.2024). (In Russian).