Comparative analysis of main mechanisms of tritium transfer from the Semipalatinsk test site to atmosphere

Tritium like cesium-137, strontium-90, americium-241 and plutonium 239+240 was produced during nuclear tests. It was accumulated in the environment in large amounts. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the total amount of the radionuclide in the air transferred from the test areas, which were the most contaminated as a result of nuclear tests. In all calculations experimental data were used. It was suggested that tritium presented in water was the main contributor to air pollution. Though the number of tests performed on main sites were relatively similar, the types of explosions were different. In this connection the amount of tritium and its distribution in the vicinity of a specific test area may differ. The paper presents estimates of the radionuclide content in air transferred from the Degelen site, its surroundings and the Shagan river channel between the “Atomic” lake and the inflow to the Irtysh river. Comparative analysis of the contribution of various mechanisms of tritium transfer to air from Semipalatinsk Test Site was performed.