Radioecological Studies in the Murmansk Littoral of the Barents Sea as Part of Environmental Monitoring in Radwaste Management

Abstract

The state of the marine environment in Motovskii Zaliv and Kol’skii Zaliv was studied within the framework of the monitoring and assessment of the radiation contamination of the Barents littoral. The indicated bodies of water as well as the Guba Zapadnaya Litsa and the Guba Andreeva as parts of the Motovskii Zaliv are included in the maritime transit shipment routes of spent nuclear fuel. The Guba Andreeva, where a radwaste storage facility is located, is considered to be the main source of radioactive contamination of the Barents littoral. The current radioecological status of the bodies of water used for transit operations is determined and the initial concentration level of radionuclides in the water and bottom deposits is established. It is shown that the radwaste storage facility in Guba Andreeva has the strongest impact on the radioecological state of the marine environment in Motovskii Zaliv. The obtained data can be regarded as necessary information for the development of maritime economic activity and comprehensive management of the littoral zones.