Migration Forms of Anthropogenic Radionuclides in Tunnel Waters at the Degelen Mountains, Semipalatinsk Test Site

Abstract — The paper discusses the forms of anthropogenic radionuclides in natural waters at radiation-contaminated territories. The data were obtained using techniques of cascade filtration and flow field flow fractionation coupled with multi-detector analysis. The size and nature of the colloid and suspended particles in the tunnel waters were determined in the range of 1 to 10 000 nm. The average hydrodynamic diagram of the colloid particles was evaluated. The distribution of anthropogenic radionuclides ( 137 Cs, 90 Sr, 239 + 240 Pu, and 241 Am) between the suspended matter, colloid particles of different size, and dissolved forms was estimated. The fraction of colloid forms of 239 + 240 Pu in the tunnel waters of the mountain massif was typical of each object, differs from one tunnel to another, and does not show any common trends at given geochemical parameters. The migration of radionuclides outside the Degelen Mountains is controlled by the most mobile fraction: particles smaller than 3 nm.