Regulatory radiation risks for the population and natural objects within the semipalatinsk test site

¹ Russian Institute of Agricultural Radiology and Agroecology, 249032 Obninsk, Russia
² National Nuclear Center of Kazakhstan, 071100 Kurchatov, Kazakhstan

Abstract

Advisability of using risks as indicators for estimating radiation impacts on environmental objects and humans has been justified. Results are presented from identification of dose burdens distribution to various cohorts of the population living within the Semipalatinsk Test Site (STS) and consuming contaminated farm products. Parameters of dose burden distributions are estimated for areas of livestock grazing and the most contaminated sectors within these areas. Dose distributions to meadow plants for the above areas have been found. Regulatory radiation risks for the STS population and meadow ecosystem components have been calculated. Based on the parameters estimated, levels of radiation exposure of the population and herbaceous plants have been compared.