FEATURES OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE ACTIVITY OF NATURAL RADIONUCLIDES IN THE LOCATION AREA OF THE CENTRAL PART OF THE KAHOVKA RESERVOIR

Abstract

The environmental situation that has arisen after the explosion of the Kakhovka HPP dam in the area of the former water area of the reservoir of the same name and its coastal areas needs to be studied in order to determine the best ways to respond to existing and potential threats and risks. Within the framework of the Research Program “Development of Recommendations on the Expediency of Rehabilitation of Hydraulic Structures of the Kakhovka Hydrosystem and Filling of the Kakhovka Reservoir to Ensure Reliable Operation of Municipal and Industrial Water Intakes and Restoration of the Ecological Status and Biodiversity of the Lower Dnipro”, comprehensive radioecological, hydrochemical and geochemical studies of soils and bottom sediments, as well as surface and underground water bodies in the area of the central part of the Kakhovka Water Reservoir were conducted. The article presents the interpretation of the results of radioecological measurements performed in September 2023. The article presents the interpretation of the results of radiological measurements performed in September 23: equivalent gamma radiation dose rate; alpha radon-222 flux density from the soil surface (sediments); integrated specific gamma activity of soil and sediment samples; gamma spectrometric studies of soil and sediment samples; alpha and beta radiometry of soil and sediment samples. To visualize the results, maps of the spatial distribution of the measured indicators were constructed. The generalized results of the comprehensive environmental studies are presented in the form of a research report. This article is devoted to the coverage of the main results obtained in terms of radioecology. It is shown that at the time of the research there are no grounds for concern in terms of radioecological threats.