Studies on Gamma Dose Rates in Outdoor Environment and Assessment of External Exposure to Public in Stepnogorsk Area, Northern Kazakhstan

Abstract

The present study is based on a pilot study, which showed that the Stepnogorsk area of Northern Kazakhstan represents sources of potential contamination of the living environment. The aim of the study was measurement of outdoor gamma radiation levels, activity concentration in soil samples and assessment of external exposure to the public. According to our analysis, the highest ${\boldsymbol{H}}^{\ast}$(10) values ∼2870 nGy h−1 were detected in the Aqsu school territory, which were slightly higher than the control readings for this region. The average 226Ra, 232Th and 40K activities were 617.8 ± 3.2 Bq kg−1, 188.3 ± 2.9 Bq kg−1 and 731.5 ± 6.2 Bq kg−1, respectively. The annual effective dose received by the Aqsu population ranged from 0.08 to 3.5 mSv y−1, which was found higher by an order of magnitude than the upper annual dose limit. Changes in radiation background are an unfavourable factor for the population and may possibly become potential radiation risks for long-term effects.

Epidemiology of Somatic Diseases and Risk Factors in the Population Living in the Zone of Influence of Uranium Mining Enterprises of Kazakhstan: A Pilot Study

“…The concentration of radon exceeded the maximum permissible level in residential areas of settlements by as much as two times, with it exceeding the maximum permissible level by 10 times in a particular secondary school. For drinking, the population used imported water that meets sanitary and hygienic requirements [ 32 ]. The results of pilot epidemiological studies in the uranium regions of Southern and Northern Kazakhstan exhibited significant differences.…”

Comparative analysis of the radiation situation in the Stepnogorsk district in the Akmola region

“…The purpose of this investigation was to study the radiation situation of the technogenically modified natural environment in the settlements of the Stepnogorsk region in order to understand the sources of pollution and the potential source of radiation hazard. For this, work was carried out to measure the equivalent equilibrium volumetric activity (EEVA) of radon in indoor air and to study the vertical distribution of the activity of the concentration of natural radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th and 40K) in the soil [6]…”