Determination of Technogenic Uranium Content in Soil Using Method of Gamma-Spectrometry and Quantitative Health Risk Assessment for Population Residing in the Vicinity of the Area Exposed to Uranium Radiation. M. N. Voloshina, I. I. Kostenko, and L. I. Shibarshov, Russian Federal Nuclear Center - All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Technical Physics, P.O.Box 245, Snezhinsk, Chelyabinsk Region, Russia, 456770
The paper shows that method of gamma-spectrometry enables to detect technogenic uranium in several minutes, thus revealing nuclear activities. If uranium amount exceeds safe standard, then using appropriate software it is possible to assess risk for health of people working at the contaminated sites or in their vicinity. Method of gamma-spectrometry is of special value if clandestine nuclear weapons activities are considered. In this case it is important to assess risk for the health of people residing close by and being not aware of research with the use of uranium. In particular, at the test site of All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Technical Physics uranium was measured in soil with portable spectrometric workstation InSpector manufactured by CANBERRA company. The measurements showed uranium content equal to 102 mg/kg of soil, that is 25 times greater than maximum permissible concentration of uranium in soils of the Ural region where the Institute is situated. Potential people health risk caused by this contamination was assessed using MMSOILS code in assumption that people reside in the vicinity of the test site. Total region, Russia, 456770. The paper shows that method of gamma-spectrometry enables to detect technogenic uranium in several minutes, thus revealing nuclear activities. If uranium amount exceeds safe standard, then . . . . . . . . . . . [RiskWorld Note: Submitted abstract incomplete]