Radiation situation at the “Pirit” peaceful underground nuclear explosion site

The aim of this study was to evaluate radiation situation at the “Pirit” peaceful underground nuclear explosion site. The peaceful underground nuclear explosion “Pirit” with the capacity of 37.6 kt оf TNT equivalent was carried out on May 25, 1981 on the territory of the Kumzhinskoye gas condensate field at a depth of 1.5 km. The field is located near the northern coast of the European part of Russia in the delta of the Pechora River (Nenets Autonomous District). The peaceful underground nuclear explosion “Pirit” was carried out with the aim to stop the uncontrolled gas gushing. Radiation situation is assessed according to the main indicators: dose rate values and content of technogenic radionuclides in soil and water. The radiation survey included determining geographic coordinates of specific landscape elements, measurement and sampling points using satellite navigators, measurement of ambient dose equivalent rate, identification of gamma-emitting radionuclides in situ by field gamma spectrometry, sampling of water, photo and video shooting. On the site of the underground nuclear explosion “Pirit” the values of the ambient dose equivalent rate were in the range of 0.050–0.089 μSv/h, which corresponds to the levels of the natural radiation background. No sites of local radioactive contamination of soil by 137Cs were detected. The tritium content (less than 5 Bq/kg) in water bodies does not exceed the levels of fluctuations of this indicator in other regions of the European territory of Russia. The estimated value of the effective dose due to ingestion of tritium in drinking water in local settlements was 0.044 μSv/year. The radiation situation on the territory of the peaceful nuclear explosion “Pirit” meets the requirements of the Russian Sanitary Regulations and Standards 2.6.1.2819-10 “Ensuring the radiation safety of the population living in the regions of nuclear explosions for peaceful purposes (1965–1988)” and currently does not pose a threat to public health. Due to the potential danger of technogenic radionuclides coming from the epicenter of the explosion to the surface for long-term radiation safety, it is necessary to organize radiation monitoring of the territory adjacent to the explosion site, determine the boundaries of the protected zone and set appropriate information signs warning of radiation danger. 

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