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Shymkent
Baikonur Cosmodrome
Semipalatinsk Test Site
Ecological Policy
Full text of this report
Home
About this report
Topics
-- Air
-- Water
-- Land
-- Biodiversity
-- Agriculture
-- Transportation
-- Energy
-- Climate Change
-- Waste
The Regions (oblasts)
-- Nur-Sultan
-- Almaty
-- Akmola Oblast
-- Aktobe Oblast
-- Almaty Oblast
-- Atyrau Oblast
-- West Kazakhstan Oblast
-- Jambyl Oblast
-- Karaganda Oblast
-- Kostanay Oblast
-- Kyzylorda Oblast
-- Mangystau Oblast
-- Turkestan Oblast
-- Pavlodar Oblast
-- North Kazakhstan Oblast
-- East Kazakhstan Oblast
-- Shymkent
-- Baikonur Cosmodrome
-- Semipalatinsk Test Site
Ecological Policy
Full text of this report
SEMIPALATINSK TEST SITE
Within the framework of these programs - "Ensuring the Security of the former test site at Semipalatinsk" and "Ensuring Radiation Security on the territory of the Republic
of Kazakhstan" – 2019 saw the National Nuclear Center of Kazakhstan extend its environmental survey of the Semipalatinsk test site.
Seasonal monitoring at the test site took place on the two largest bodies of water
located there – the Shagan River and Lake Kishkensor. The Shagan riverbed was
tested at markers at 5km, 14km, and 110km. In the first two locations, excessive levels
of tritium isotopes were detected. Lake Kishkensor was tested in the sector most
affected by man-made radionuclides – its southern end. In all samples taken, tritium
and strontium isotope levels exceeded safe levels.
To assess the transfer of technogenic radionuclides to waterways located beyond the test site, in
2019, groundwater monitoring was undertaken. Samples taken at 7 wells showed reductions in
tritium levels while 2 showed increases.
Monitoring helped clarify the effect of surface water (precipitation, flooding) on tritium and chemical concentrations identified in
the groundwater. Data collected in further analysis on the processes of ground- and surface-water exchange, particularly at
tritium isotope migration sites, will assist in determining groundwater formation mechanisms in monitored wells and produce
long-term forecasts of the development of the radiation situation at each monitoring site.
Results of the monitoring confirm the
necessity to continue to sample sections
of the Shagan River and of Lake
Kishkensor on a quarterly basis. In
addition, the location for testing the
water of Lake Kishkensor should be
carried out in closer proximity to the
groundwater spring where technogenic
radionuclides concentrations are
typically higher than levels recorded in
subsurface waters.
In 2019, radioactivity levels were taken at
three of the 15 existing wells at the Telkem
industrial site. Results were consistent with
those from previous years - tritium activity in
the groundwater was below detection limits.
According to the results of the survey, it was
proposed to reduce the number of wells near
each body of water to one - Telkem-1 and
Telkem-2. The recommended frequency for
monitoring of the site is once annually.
Monitoring allowed the identification of wells located directly in the migration routes polluted with high concentrations of tritium
and strontium. Recommendations included equipping these wells with a continuous automatic system to monitor changes in the
groundwater pollution levels in order to provide updated hydrological data useful for projecting alterations to the radiation situation
in the control areas.
Completion of an environmental survey of the territory included a comprehensive study of the Degelen and Aktan-Burley sites and a preliminary survey of the Opytnoye Pole
(Experimental Field) and 4a sites.
During the monitoring conducted of the local groundwater, 25 bodies of water (wells, springs,
and streams) were identified as located within the zone potentially affected by sources of
radioactive contamination accessible for use by the civilian population. Simultaneously, no
incidents of tritium or strontium contamination were identified in the territory adjacent to the
Semipalatinsk test site. The specific concentrations of radionuclides in the water were below the
detection limit and did not exceed acceptable levels in food products.
monitoring
conducted of the local groundwater
Air
quality monitoring revealed
Air quality monitoring revealed that at the Semipalatinsk
test site production facilities and in the city of Kurchatov
there were no increased concentrations of technogenic
radionuclides. Unfortunately, the existing system for
monitoring the atmosphere are not equipped to facilitate
long-term forecast of changes in the environmental
situation. The system does not take climatic and
meteorological features of the surface atmosphere into
account, and the number of monitoring posts is insufficient
to provide reliable data on atmospheric radioactive
contamination. The existing monitoring system should be
expanded to include route-designated observation posts
located in the vicinity of contaminated sites and along the
perimeter of radioactively hazardous objects at the test site.
All proposed observation posts should be equipped to
register the full range of climatic and meteorological
parameters.
Monitoring
of the Degelen and Aktan-Burley sites
Observations conducted at the above - a total area
of 1200 square kilometers – at the Degelen and
Aktan-Burley sites revealed that nearly 429 square
kilometers were radioactively contaminated – just
under 36% of the total area.
The principal contaminant identified in local surface
water were the radionuclides tritium and strontium.
Tritium levels in Bytles Creek exceeded permissible
norms by a factor of five. The maximum
concentrations recorded of cesium, plutonium and
strontium in the stream were below limits which
would require preservation and recultivation efforts
at the river. At Karabulak Creek and its watershed,
tritium levels did not exceed allowable levels and
concentrations of the pollutant decreased at
distances further removed from the stream.
Americium and cesium levels in surface water
sediment at the site do not exceed established norms.
In the groundwater survey, 30 test wells up to a depth
of 10 meters were drilled and five existing wells were
cleaned. Analysis failed to identify any exceedances of
allowable limits of the isotopes tritium, strontium,
cesium and americium.
In the bulk of the surveyed area, radionuclide concentrations are at
acceptable levels and no further measures to counteract
environmental effects of nuclear weapon tests at the site are indicated.
However, two areas in the western and north-eastern sections of the
survey area require the removal and subsequent secure disposal of 10
centimeters of topsoil.
Monitoring
of the Opytnoe Pole
(Experimental Field) site
A survey of the territory of the landfill in the Opytnoe Pole
(Experimental Field) site revealed slight exceedances of
acceptable radiation parameters at the main site. However,
central and southern sectors revealed exceedances in
background radiation limits at a factor of two to three times the
allowable limits. This corresponds with trace elements of
radioactive fallout from weapons tests.
Surface water readings taken at the site show
strontium isotope activity does not exceed levels
hazardous for humans. Ground water readings
reveal that concentrations of tritium, cesium,
strontium and plutonium are also within acceptable
levels.
Cesium and americium concentrations in plant life also
did not exceed maximum allowable limits and vegetation
at the site is not a hazard for the local population and is
considered suitable for economic activities, including
livestock grazing. No exceedances of radionuclide activity
were detected in muscle and bone tissue samples taken
from wildlife. The presence of cesium in the muscle tissue
of saigas is 111 times lower than permissible levels in
wildlife tissue.
Monitoring
of
"4a"
site
the
Preliminary soil samples taken at select locations of site "4a" have shown
exceedances of strontium isotope background radioactive contamination. However,
strontium concentrations from samples taken from soil at a depth of 50 centimeters
were 10 times lower than readings taken at the surface.
Groundwater concentrations of tritium, strontium, americium, cesium and plutonium
are all below detectable norms.
Concentrations of tritium, americium and cesium in the vegetation at the site were
below the maximum permissible levels of radioactive contamination of feed
vegetation and poses no hazard or obstacle for exploitation of the territory for
economic purposes. The measured activity of cesium isotopes in the muscle tissue
of wildlife was 250 times lower than allowable levels.
At the “4a” site five radioactively contaminated objects were found – all of which are
attributed to their function as technical structures employed in testing radioactive
substances for military use. At these facilities, elevated values of the equivalent
dose rate and beta particle flux density were recorded.
Atmospheric readings conducted at all the sites in the study reveal that the presence of americium
and cesium in the air did not exceed the allowable norms for the “human settlement” designation.
Concentrations of suspended aerosol particles also did not exceed allowable concentration limits
recommended by the World Health Organization.
The content of cesium, americium, plutonium
and strontium in plant life also did not exceed
the maximum allowable limits. Vegetation does
not pose a risk to the local population and is
suitable for economic activities, including
livestock grazing.
Muscle and bone tissue samples taken from wildlife inhabiting the territory
adjacent to the Degelen site did not reveal elevated levels of technogenic
radionuclides.
This interactive report was created by the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan with the support of the European Commission, the United Nations Environment Programme, and Zoï Environment Network.