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Published on: October 21, 2016
Collimated detector technique for measuring a 137Cs deposit in soil under a clean protected layer
A V Chesnokov1, V I Fedin, A P Govorun
1RECOM LTD, Moscow, Russia.
Summary
A new method accurately determines cesium-137 soil deposits, even under clean soil layers. This technique aids in predicting decontamination needs and effectiveness for contaminated sites.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Radiological Sciences
- Geochemistry
Background:
- Cesium-137 (137Cs) soil contamination poses environmental and health risks.
- Accurate in situ quantification of 137Cs is crucial for effective remediation.
- Existing methods may be limited in assessing contamination beneath surface soil layers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a method for determining in situ 137Cs soil deposits.
- To assess the accuracy of the developed method for contaminated land management.
- To map 137Cs contamination and identify secondary contamination sources.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing a collimated, spectrum-sensitive detector to measure count rates in three energy ranges.
- Processing detector data to determine 137Cs soil deposit concentrations.
- Comparing in situ measurements with traditional soil sampling data for validation.
Main Results:
- The developed method achieves a 20% accuracy in determining 137Cs deposits.
- 137Cs contamination maps were generated for areas in Belarus and the Chelyabinsk region.
- Secondary contamination was identified along the banks of the River Techa.
Conclusions:
- The in situ method provides a reliable assessment of 137Cs soil contamination.
- This technique enables prediction of dose rate changes post-decontamination.
- The method supports planning and evaluating the efficiency of land decontamination efforts.
