Air pollution by radioactive matters

What is it about?

The article describes Cs-137 transportation with aerosols on short and long distances. Airborne concentration of 137Cs produced by the combustion of forest fuel materials with different contamination density can exceed the permissible activity levels of Cs-137 in air. During the large wildfires on the territories with high values of radioactive contamination density, the airborne concentration of radionuclides may be three or four times higher than the background values

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Photo by Matt Palmer on Unsplash

Photo by Matt Palmer on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The methodological approach of estimation of radionuclides release from fire source allowed to use the empirical data for annual effective dose calculation for firefighters and for local population at the medium range distance. Prediction of doses for firefighters and amount of radionuclides that potentially can migrate with air masses outside of fire location are the main actions of the project in the framework of Belorussian State Program of scientific research 2016–2018. It is necessary to develop scientific recommendations to improve the efficiency of wildfires prevention at the territories contaminated by radionuclides (especially for territories near large cities with more or less low levels of contamination density). The outcomes data are also of great importance to inform the population and reducing of social and psychological stress in the society caused by the influence of mass media and the lack of scientifically based models of wildfire and radionuclides release.