Radioactive pollution in gorge of the Varzob river.

 

A.A. Juraev, A.A Djuraev, D.A. Abdushukurov, T. Davlatshoev

Physical-technical Institute AS RT. 

Howard D. Passell

Sandia National Laboratories DOE USA.

 

The offered article has been produced by the Physical-technical Institute of Academy of Sciences of Republic of Tajikistan that is participant of the international regional radioecological monitoring experiment "Navruz" (project ISTC Т-1000). The goal of experiment on collateral monitoring of Central Asia aqueous systems is to raise the level of mutual trust of states of region that are preparing to sign ìThe Agreement on zone free from nuclear weaponî. The international Project ìNavruzî responds on requirements of pinch of transparency in area of the nuclear technology usage by states of Central Asia. In addition, the Project demonstrates to common world the scientifically justified approach to establish the transparency in keeping the requirements of Agreement on nuclear weapon nonproliferation.

The scientists of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and Corporate Monitoring Center of Sandian National Laboratories of the Department of Energy of USA (CMC SNL DOE US) take part in experiment. The advanced nuclear - physical analytical procedures /1/ used.

Already right at the beginning of carrying out of experiment "Navruz", the analysts of CMC have detected radioactive isotopes of a technogenic origin (radioactive pollution) in samples of water, ground depositions and coastal ground of the river Varzob /2/. In particular, has been registered the presence of an isotope Cesium - 137 in quantity that is below permissible level. But it is approximately equal to four average levels of the contents in control samples of ground both for Central Asia and for the Rio Grande river, USA.

In the present article has been given the exposition of preliminary operations for detection of a source of pollutions.

The procedure on sampling of bottom sediments and coastal soil has been given.

The basic places of a sampling in mouth of the majority of inflows of the Varzob river are described.

 The tentative data on measuring specific beta - and alpha - activity are given.

And the results of the first gamma - spectrometric investigations for selected samples has been given.

On the basis of the conducted examinations has been made conclusion that the occurrence of radioactive pollutions is caused by radionuclides of a technogenic origin on inclines of gorge of the Varzob river by nuclear-weapon tests 1995 - 1998.

The higher level of pollution, in comparison with other countries of Central Asia, is stipulated by climatic conditions of investigated region.

 

 

1.             

Howard D. Passell, Amir, Mohagheghi, Akram Djuraev and all, ìThe Navruz Project: Transboundary Monitoring for Radionuclides and Metals in Central Asian Rivers. Data Reportî, SAND REPORT, SAND2003-1149, Unlimited Release, Printed April 2003.

 

 

 

 

2.             

Amir H. Mohagheghi, ìA Cooperative Transboundary Water Monitoring Project in Central Asia
The ìNAVRUZî Experimentî, http://www.sandia.gov .