Radioactive Elements in Natural and Drinking Water in Ukraine

L. N. Puzyrnaya1, O. M. Masko2, G. N. Pshinko1, V. V. Goncharuk1

1A. V. Dumansky Institute of Colloid and Water Chemistry, NAS of Ukraine, 42, Akad. Vernadskoho blvd, Kyiv, 03142, Ukraine
2SE “State Scientific Engineering Center for Control System and Emergency Response”, 64/56, Heroiv Stalinhrada ave., Kyiv, 04213, Ukraine

DOI: doi.org/10.31717/2311-8253.20.1.9

Abstract

The radiation aspects of the quality of natural and drinking water in Ukraine are considered. It has been shown that groundwater radioactivity is mainly a consequence of contamination with natural radionuclides and their decay products: 238U (234U, 226Ra, 210РЬ, 210Ро) and 232Th (228Ra, 222Rn), as well as 40К. The pollution level of artesian wells is determined by such radionuclides as natural U, 222Rn, 226Ra and 228Ra. Surface and groundwater, which are sources of drinking water supply and located in the area where radiation objects are located, must be monitored for the presence of technogenic radionuclides of 90Sr, 137Cs, as well as 3Н.
The hygienic standards for the content of radionuclides in drinking water are compared. The results of a radiological analysis of sources of drinking water supply in Kyiv — Desna and Dnipro rivers, underground wells of the Senoman and Jurassic horizons are presented. It was found that the content of tritium and other standardized radionuclides in drinking water is significantly lower than the maximum permissible concentration and are at the level of background values.
A characteristic of the migration of radionuclides in the environment, taking into account the physicochemical forms of their occurrence, is given. The forms of the presence of 3Н, U(VІ), Th(ІV), 222Rn, 137Сs and 90Sr in an aqueous medium, which determine the mobility of radionuclides and their potential effect on living organisms, are examined in detail. It is shown that the physicochemical forms of the existence of natural and technogenic radionuclides in the aquatic environment determine their migration in the environment, and therefore their potential impact on living organisms.
Based on the analysis of scientific literature data, an assessment of the radiation safety of drinking water supply sources in Ukraine was made in accordance with current regulatory documents for drinking water. The results of a radiological analysis of the surface and underground drinking water sources in Kyiv indicate that all indicators are within acceptable values.

Keywords: radionuclides, migration, sources of drinking water, hygienic standards, environmental safety.

References

1. Panasyuk M. I., Matrosov D. T., Petrosenko Y. I., Levin G. V., Lyushnya P. A., Sizov M. O., Palamar L. A., Onyshchenko I. P. (2018). [Levels of radioactive pollution of lower waters of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant and means of limitation of its distribution]. Problemy bez-peky atomnykh elektrostantsii i Chornobylia [Problems of nuclear power plants’ safety and of Chornobyl], vol. 30, pp. 87-92. (in Ukr.)

2. Fedorenko Z. P., Mykhailovych Yu. Y., Hulak L. O., Horokh Ye. L., Ryzhov A. Yu., Sumkina O. V., Kutsenko L. B. (2018). Morbidity, mortality, indicators of oncology service activity. Bulletin of the National Cancer Registry no. 19. Kyiv: National Cancer Institute, 136 p. Available at: http://www.ncru.inf.ua/publications/BULL_19/PDF/Bull_19full.pdf. (in Ukr.)

3. Pavlotskaya F. I. (1974). Migratsiya radioaktivnykh pro-duktov globalnykh vypadeniy v pochvakh [Migration of radioactive products of global fallout in soils]. Moscow: Atomizdat, 216 p. (in Russ.)

4. Kuznetsov Yu. V., Shchebetkovskiy V. N., Trusov A. G. (1974). Osnovy ochistki vody ot radioaktivnykh zagryaz-neniy [Basics of water purification from radioactive contamination]. Moscow: Atomizdat, 360 p. (in Russ.)

5. Bertha E. L., Choppin G. R. (1978). Interaction of Humic and Fulvic Acids with Eu(III) and Am(III). J. Inorg. Nucl. Chem., vol. 40, pp. 655-658.

6. Moulin V., Moulin C. (2001). Radionuclide speciation in the environment: a review. Radiochim. Acta, vol. 89, pp. 773-778.

7. Pshinko G. N. (2009). [The effect of humic substances on the sorption of radionuclides by montmorillonite]. Khimi-ya i tekhnologiya vody [Chemistry and water technology], vol. 31, no. 3, pp. 286-299. (in Russ.)

8. Kobets S. A., Pshinko G. N., Bogolepov A. A. (2009). Sorption of U(VI) on montmorillonite with aluminum and iron hydroxides deposited on its surface, studied in the presence of citric and oxalic acids. Radiochemistry. vol. 51, no. 4, pp. 378-382.

9. Pshinko G. N., Bogolepov A. A., Kobets S. A., Kosoru-kov A. A. (2009). Effect deposited on the surface of montmorillonite hydroxides of aluminum and iron on the sorption of U(VI). Radiochemistry, vol. 51, no. 2, pp. 211-215.

10. Kobets S. A., Fedorova V. M., Pshinko G. N., Kosoru-kov A. A., Demchenko V. Ya. (2014). Effect of humic acids and iron hydroxides deposited on the surface of clay minerals on the 137Cs immobilization. Radiochemistry, vol. 56, no. 3, pp. 325-331.

11. Pshinko G. N., Bogolepov A. A., Kobets S. A., Goncha-ruk V. V. (2009). [The effect of natural surface modification of clay components of soils on the sorption of U(VI) in the presence of complexing agents]. Dopovidi Natsio-nalnoi akademii nauk Ukrainy [Reports of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine], no. 5, pp. 160-167. (in Russ.)

12. DSTU7525:2014. Drinking water. Requirements and methods of quality control. Kyiv: Ministry of Economic Development of Ukraine, 2014, 36 p. (in Ukr.)

13. DSanPiN2.2.4-171-2010. Hygienic to drinking water intended for human consumption. Ofitsiinyi visnyk Ukrainy. [Official Bulletin of Ukraine], no. 51, p. 99. (in Ukr.)

14. DSTU4808:2007. Drinking Water Sources. Hygienic and environmental requirements for water quality and selection rules. Kyiv: Gospotrebstandart of Ukraine, 2007, 36 p. (in Ukr.)

15. NRBU/D-2000. Radiation Safety Standards of Ukraine: Supplement. Radiation protection against sources of potential exposure. Approved by the Resolution of the Chief State Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine no. 116 dated 12.07.2000. Available at: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/rada/show/v0116488-00.

16. World Health Organization (2011). Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality. Fourth Edition. Recommendation. WHO, 564 p.

17. Odintsov O. O., Khan V. Je., Krasnov V. O., Shherbin V. M. (2016). [Long-term monitoring of unorganized accumulations of liquid radioactive waste from the Shelter]. Problemy bezpeky atomnykh elektrostantsiy i Chornobylya [Problems of nuclear power plants safety and of Chornobyl], no. 27, pp. 43-57. (in Ukr.)

18. Prister B. S., Klyuchnikov A. A., Baryakhtar V. G., Shes-topalov V. M., Kukhar V. P. (2016). Problemy bezopasnosti atomnoy energetiki. Uroki Chernobylya [Safety issues of nuclear energy. Chornobyl lessons]. Chornobyl: ISP NPP, NAS of Ukraine, 356 p. (in Russ.)

19. Krasnov V. O., Nosovskyi A. V., Rudko V. M., Shcherbin V. M. (2016). Obiekt “Ukryttia”: 30 rokiv pislia avarii [Shelter object: 30 years after the accident]. Chornobyl: ISP NPP, NAS of Ukraine, 512 p. (in Ukr.)

20. Baryakhtar V. G. (1995). Chernobylskaya katastrofa [Chornobyl accident]. Kyiv: Naukova dumka, 560 p. (in Russ.)

21. Sobotovich E. V., Bondarenko G. N., Kononenko L. V., Do-lin V. V., Sadol’ko I. V. (2002). Geokhimiya tekhnogennykh radionuklidov [Geochemistry of technogenic radionuclides]. Kyiv: Naukova dumka, 333 p. (in Russ.)

22. Sobotovych E. V., Dolina V. V. (2012). Trytii u biosferi [Tritium in the biosphere]. Kyiv: Naukova dumka, 224 p. (in Ukr.)

23. Vasylchenko V. M., Davydov M. M., Masko O. M., Chernov P. A. (2013). [Monitoring of tritium in natural surface water bodies of Ukraine]. Yaderna enerhetyka ta dovkillya [Nuclear power and the environment], no. 1, pp. 14-21. (in Ukr.)

24. Vitko V. I., Honcharova L. I., Zhehulina Ju. M., Kartashov V. V., Kovalenko G. D. (2016). [The impact of the Rivne NPP on the volumetric activity of tritium in the Styr river]. Yaderna enerhetyka ta dovkillya [Nuclear power and the environment], no. 1, pp. 17-25. (in Ukr.)

25. Drinking Water Directive 98/83/EC dated 03.11.1998. Available at: https://fsvps.ru/fsvps-docs/ru/usefulinf/files/es98-83.pdf.

26. Bazhenov V. A., Buldakov L. A., Vasilenko I. Ya. (1990). Vrednye khimicheskie veshchestva. Radioaktivnye vesh-chestva [Harmful chemicals. Radioactive Substances]. Leningrad: Khimiya, 464 p. (in Russ.)

27. Kovda V. A. (1985). Biokhimiyapochvennogo pokrova [Soil biochemistry]. Moscow: Nauka, 263 p. (in Russ.)

28. Grenthe I. (2003). Chemical thermodynamics of uranium. Paris: OECD publications, 715 p.

29. Pshinko G. N., Timoshenko T. G., Bogolepov A. A. (2009). Effect of fulvic acids on Th(IV) sorption on montmorillon-ite. Radiochemistry, vol. 51, no. 1, pp. 91-95.

30. Kobets S. A., Pshinko G. N. (2014). Factors affecting forms of finding Th(IV) in aqueous solutions. Journal of Water Chemistry and Technology, vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 51-56.

31. Kononenko L. V., Bondarenko M. G., Manichev V. Y., Vlasenko V. I. (2011). [Natural radionuclides in the soils of the influence zone of Tripol TPP]. Tekhnohenno-ekolohichna bezpeka ta tsyvilnyi zakhyst [Technological and environmental safety and civil protection], no. 3, pp. 129-141. (in Russ.)

32. Udalov I. V., Kononenko A. V., Lure A. I. (2018). [Features of radiation risk in the North-East Donbass]. Voprosy atomnoy nauki i tekhniki [Questions of atomic science and technology], vol. 117, no. 5, pp. 149-153. (in Russ.)

33. World Health Organization (2017). Guidelines for drinking-water quality: 4th ed. Geneva: WHO, 628 p.

34. [Monitoring studies. Water consumed by the population of our region]. Kirovograd Regional Laboratory Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine: official web-site. Available at: http://labcentr.kr.ua/?p=86. (in Ukr.)

35. Udalov B. V. (2008). Vplyv “mokroi” konservatsii shakht na ekoloho-radiatsiinyi stan navkolyshnoho pryrodnoho seredovyshcha (naprykladi Luhanskoi oblasti) [Impact of “wet” conservation of mines on the ecological and radiation state of the natural environment (on the example of Lugansk region]. PhD Thesis. Kharkiv, [s. n.], 19 p. (in Ukr.)

36. Vitko V. I., Goncharova L. I., Kartashev V. V. (2003). [Radioecological state of the environment of Kharkov region]. Ukrainskiy metrologicheskiy zhurnal [Ukrainian Metrological Journal], no. 4. pp. 40-49. (in Russ.)

37. Plyushchev V. Ye., Stepin B. D. (1975). Analiticheskaya khimiya rubidiya i tseziya [Analytical chemistry of rubidium and cesium]. Moscow: Nauka, 224 p. (in Russ.)

38. Williams M., Wohlers D. W., Citra M., Diamond G. L., Swarts S. G. (2004). Toxicological Profile for Cesium. Atlanta: ATSDRD, vol. XXI, 244 p.

39. Belyaev I. K., Zhorova Ye. S., Kalistratova V. S., Nisi-mov P. G., Parfenova I. M., Tishchenko G. S. (2012). [Radioactive cesium. Communication 1. Metabolism and biological effects.]. Meditsinskaya radiologiya i radiatsionnaya bezopasnost [Medical radiology and radiation safety], vol. 57, no. 4, pp. 62-70. (in Russ.)

40. Goncharuk V., Pshinko G. (2011). [The role of chemical forms of radionuclides in predicting their behavior in the environment]. Visnyk NAN Ukrainy [Bulletin of the NAS of Ukraine], no. 10, pp. 3-17. (in Ukr.)

41. Poluektov N. S., Mishchenko V. T., Kononenko L. I., Beltyukova S. V. (1978). Analiticheskaya khimiya strontsiya [Analytical chemistry of strontium]. Moscow: Nauka, 223 p. (in Russ.)

42. Vasilenko I. Ya., Vasilenko O. I. (2002). [Radioactive strontium]. Energiya: ekonomika, tekhnika, ekologiya [Energy: economics, technology, ecology], no. 4, pp. 26-32. (in Russ.)

43. Moskalchuk L. N., Baklay A. A., Konoplev A. V., Leonte-va T. G. (2014). [Migration of 90Sr in the system solid phase of the soil — soil solution — plant and ways to reduce it]. Radiokhimiya [Radiochemistry], vol. 56, no. 2, pp. 189-192. (in Russ.)

44. Sanzharova N. I., Sysoeva A. A., Isamov N. N., Alksakh-in R. M., Kuznetsov V. K., Zhigaeva T. L. (2005). [The role of chemistry in the rehabilitation of agricultural land exposed to radioactive contamination]. Rossiyskiy khimiches-kiy zhurnal [Russian Chemical Journal], vol. 49, no. 3, pp. 26-34. (in Russ.)

Full Text (PDF)


Published
2020-02-29

If the article is accepted for publication in the journal «Industrial Heat Engineering» the author must sign an agreement on transfer of copyright. The agreement is sent to the postal (original) or e-mail address (scanned copy) of the journal editions.

Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a  Creative Commons Attribution License International CC-BY that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work’s authorship and initial publication in this journal.

Insert math as
Block
Inline
Additional settings
Formula color
Text color
#333333
Type math using LaTeX
Preview
\({}\)
Nothing to preview
Insert