Radiation situation in the Beshtau mountain area

Abstract

The article presents the outcomes of the dead uranium mine inspection and its impact on the current radiation situation in the Beshtau area, as well as radiation doses to the people using the area as a recreation land. The Beshtau mounting uranium mine was in use from 1940s to 1990s. Several stages of the site remediation were conducted since the 1990s. For these purposes gamma dose rates, density of radon flux from ground surface and its products concentration in the atmospheric air, the content of natural radionuclides in the ground and groundwater were estimated. According to the measurements data it is seen that the area around the main mine facilities located in the southwestern and southern parts of the Beshtau mounting, is the mostly susceptible to radioactive contamination. The water from the springs in this area is not suitable for drinking because the levels of uranium and radon in the water exceed the control safe limits. According to radiation dose estimates in the considered area, it becomes evident that the radiation risk in the area depends mainly on the presence of the gas flows from the tunnel, radiation risk can be higher if the gas flow is not fully extinguished. The tunnels mouths in the study area are not completely extinguished, and the mine air is periodically blown out of them. Due to the current situation, the levels of radon and gamma radiation around the adit mouths exceed the permitted safe limits. If people stay in this area for 4 hours, they can receive radiation dose above 1.0 millisievert (mSv), that exceeds the recommended safe limit. In this regard, it would be advisable to implement measures to prevent or reduce the time people spend in the areas where the former tunnels mouths are located.