Radionuclides in Surface Waters, Bottom Sediments, and Hydrobionts in the Neman River

Abstract

The specific/volumetric activity of radionuclides has been determined at global background levels in surface waters, bottom sediments, and hydrobionts at the site of the planned hydrotechnical facilities of the Baltic nuclear power plant (NPP). The presence of Sr⁹⁰ and Cs^l37 in the water medium due to global processes of the formation of radioactivity in the natural environment and the content of ³H have been studied. It is established that the background values of the specific/volumetric activity of radionuclides are significantly lower than the admissible values according to NRB-99/2009, being at the level of the previous years (2009–2014). The results of these studies will serve as a basis for precision instrumental estimates of the effect of the Baltic NPP operation on the environment and will also be used to establish the background values of environmental parameters in the nuclear power site.