Radiation Survey and Radionuclide Analysis of Radioactive Plumes from the Former Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site

The radioactive products (RPs) present within the areas of atmospheric nuclear testing in the territory of the Experimental Field and within the areas of radioactive fallout create a complicated radiation situation at the Semipalatinsk Test Site (STS) that has evolved over time. By virtue of their generation, RPs vary from several microns to 10 cm. By virtue of their size, powdery fractions of radioactive products are capable of being resuspended by the wind and transported far away from the place of origin. The areas with a 137Cs contamination level higher than 1 Ci per km2 occupy about 0.5% of the total STS area. The total 137Cs activity is estimated at 3000 Ci. The total 90Sr activity is estimated at less than 2500 Ci [1, 2].