Hygienic assessment of ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs contamination of water and fish in the lakes of the head part of the peripheral zone of the East Ural radioactive trace

Introduction. The article presents the results of studies of the specific activity of ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs in the water and fish of the Irtyash and Kazhakul lakes located in the peripheral zone of the head of the East Ural Radioactive trace in 2014–2017.

Materials and methods. Determination of the levels of specific ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs in the water and the body of the resource-forming species of Siberian roach (soroga, chebak) Rutilus rutilus lacustris (Linnaeus, 1758) from the studied lakes was carried out over the period of 2012–2017. The measurements were carried out using standardized methods adopted in in the Federal State Budgetary Institution of Health “Central Medical and Sanitary Unit No. 71 of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia” (FGBUZ TsMSCH No. 71 of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia) and the Southern Ural.

Results. The research was carried out over 2014 to 2017. Since the accident at the Mayak enterprise in the fall of 1957, the specific radioactivity of the water in the studied lakes was found to decrease. The concentration of ⁹⁰Sr in the water of Irtyash lake was 0.019±0.008, and ¹³⁷Cs — 0.028±0.009, and in Lake Kazhakul — 0.19±0.06 and 0.14±0.06, respectively. These values are much lower than the level of intervention according to NRB-99/2009. 

The water of the lakes is used to meet household needs. The water of Lake Irtyash is used for drinking water supply of the city of Ozersk. The specific activity of the raw mass of a roach carcass from the Irtyash and Kazhakul lakes for the accumulation of ⁹⁰Sr is 2.7±1.7 and 64.5±19 and ¹³⁷Cs — 1.68±0.8 and 38±33.5Bq/kg, respectively. All the samples studied separately according to ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs had levels of radioactive contamination at or below the regulatory compliance indicator (SanPiN 2.3.2.1078–01). At the same time, taking into account the absolute extended uncertainty (with a coverage factor of k = 2) roach from Kazhakul lake has a significant excess of the limit level of radioactive contamination.

Limitations. Hydrochemical parameters of the aquatic environment in various reservoirs can vary significantly over time and affect the accumulation of radionuclides by hydrobionts. Therefore, the research results are relevant only for the research period. To obtain more reliable results, long-term comprehensive monitoring is necessary.

Conclusion. Over the past 60 years after the accident at the Mayak enterprise in 1957, the levels of radioactive contamination of water and fish in the studied lakes Irtyash and Kozhakul have decreased by more than 10 times. Calculation of doses of ionizing radiation for certain groups of the population of areas contaminated as a result of accidents, living near lakes, is a complex task, for which additional research is needed. 

Compliance with ethical standards. The study does not require the submission of the conclusion of the Biomedical ethics committee or other documents.

Conflict of interest. The author declares no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship.

Received: November 11, 2022 / Accepted: March 24, 2023 / Published: April 20, 2023