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• Data of automatic monitoring stations
• Environmental satellite monitoring system for Baikal natural area
• State environmental monitoring of Lake Baikal for the year 2012
• State environmental monitoring of Lake Baikal for the year 2015

Radiation situation

Data is provided by FGBU Irkutsk CGMS-R of the Irkutsk Administration for Hydrometeorological and Environmental Monitoring of Rosgidromet; the Trans-Baikal Administration for Hydrometeorological and Environmental Monitoring of Rosgidromet; the Buryat Center for Hydrometeorological and Environmental Monitoring, a branch of  FGBU Trans-Baikal Administration for Hydrometeorological and Environmental Monitoring

Irkutsk Region. In 2012, the following indicators were used to monitor the radiation situation in the Irkutsk Region part of the Baikal Natural Area:

- exposure dose of gamma radiation (EDR): at eighteen stations (Angarsk, Baikalsk, Bayanday, B. Golustnoye, Bokhan, Davsha, Irkutsk, Inga, Istok Angary, Kachug, Patrony, Sarma, Usoliye-Sibirskoye, Ust-Ordynsky, Khomutovo, Shelekhov and Cheremkhovo);

- total beta activity of atmospheric deposition: at eight stations (Angarsk, Bayanday, Bokhan, Irkutsk, Kachug, Usoliye-Sibirskoye, Ust-Ordynsky and Khomutovo); and

- concentration of radioactive aerosols in the atmospheric ground layer: at one station (Irkutsk Hydrometeorological Station).

In inhabited localities of the Baikal Natural Area, EDR was within the normal range and did not exceed the reference level (60 μR/h). The average annual gamma-ray background (13 μR/h) was stable, fluctuating within the range from 8 to 24 μR/h and matching the regional background level (12 μR/h). The peak EDR values (24 μR/h) recorded at Sarma station on September 18 and December 11 did not reach the critical level for this station (29 μR/h).

Total beta activity of atmospheric deposition. Monitoring of the total beta activity of atmospheric deposition in the Baikal Natural Area in 2012 has shown significant fluctuations in the content of radioactive products. The annual total of beta-active atmospheric deposition varied within the range from 541.2 to 1079.3 Bq/m2×year. The average annual density of long-lived beta activity in atmospheric deposition ranged from 1.9 to 3.0 Bq/m2×day. The annual weighted average at these stations was 2.6 Bq/m2×day, i.e. within the regional background level of 2.6 Bq/m2×day.

The peak beta activity of 14.9 Bq/m2xday recorded at Ust-Ordynsky station on January 14 did not reach the high contamination level of 23 Bq/m2xday (high contamination is registered at a tenfold increase in the total beta activity in radioactive deposition from the average level).

Gamma-spectrometric analysis of the atmospheric deposition has shown no man-made radionuclides. The average annual concentrations of natural radionuclides were as follows: for 226Ra – 87.21E-5Bq/kg (with the peak of 203.59Е-5Bq/kg registered in April); for 7Ве – 69.76E-5Bq/m3 (with the peak of 157.46E-5Bq/m3 registered in July); and for 40K – 2.49E-5Bq/m3 (with the peak of 4.13E-5Bq/m3 registered in June).

In radioactive aerosols, the average monthly concentrations of long-lived beta activity varied within the range of 25-85∙10-5Bq/m3. The peak of radioactive substance concentration of 217∙10-5Bq/m3 was observed on February 1 (3.3 times as much as the average daily concentration in the previous month) without reaching the high contamination level (high contamination is registered at a fivefold increase in the concentration of radioactive aerosols in the air from the average level).

Gamma-spectrometric analysis of atmospheric aerosols (for the observation period from April to December 2012) has shown the highest average monthly volumetric activity for 7Ве (270.00E-5Bq/m3), ranging from 136.00E-5Bq/m3 (in December) to 380.00E-5Bq/m3 (in June). The lowest average monthly volumetric activity was registered for 22Na (0.04E-5Bq/m3), ranging from 0.01E-5Bq/m3 (in December) to 0.08E-5Bq/m3 (in May). Air pollution is mainly caused by natural radionuclides. The only man-made radionuclide found in aerosol samples was 137Cs, with the average monthly volumetric activity of 0.03E-5Bq/m3, ranging from 0.02E-5 Bq/m3 (in October) to 0.04E-5Bq/m3 (in May).

Radiation monitoring shows that in 2012, the radiation situation in the Baikal Natural Area was stable and matched the natural background level.

Republic of Buryatia. In 2012, the radiation situation in the Buryatia Republic part of the Baikal Natural Area was monitored by measurements of EDR and total beta activity of atmospheric deposition at 26 meteorological stations.

In inhabited localities of the Republic of Buryatia in the Baikal Natural Area, EDR varied from 8 μR/h (Goryachinsk village) to 21 μR/h (Mukhorshibir village). The average annual background radiation was 14 μR/h, which is in line with the long-term average values for the Republic of Buryatia.

The largest fluctuations in background radiation were registered in Mukhorshibir: between 12 μR/h (in March and April) and 21 μR/h (in July and August). The highest EDR of 26 μR/h was registered in July. The highest average annual EDR of 17 μR/h was registered in this locality, too.

In Ulan-Ude, background radiation varied from 14 μR/h to 16 μR/h during the year. The peak of 19 μR/h was observed in August.

Total beta activity of atmospheric deposition. Total beta activity of atmospheric deposition was measured at three stations: in Barguzin, Nizhneangarsk and Ulan-Ude. The average annual total beta activity of atmospheric deposition in the Baikal Natural Area was 1.2 Bq/m2×day, a 1.5 times decrease from the previous year (1.8 Bq/m2×day). The highest daily value of 8.0 Bq/m2×day was registered in Nizhneangarsk village on May 21, but without reaching the critical level of environmental radioactive contamination (13.0 Bq/m2×day).

Thus, the areas of the Republic of Buryatia covered by monitoring observations are safe in terms of both gamma-ray background and total beta activity.

Trans-Baikal Territory. In 2012, the Trans-Baikal Territory part of the Baikal Natural Area had 5 radiation monitoring stations to measure exposure dose of gamma radiation (in Krasny Chikoy, Menza, Mogzon, Petrovsky Zavod and Khilok). Atmospheric deposition samples were collected by one station (in Khilok).

EDR. In 2012, the average monthly EDR varied from 12 μR/h (Menza village) to 18 μR/h (Petrovsk-Zabaikalsky). The average annual EDR was 15 μR/h, which is somewhat higher than in Trans-Baikal Territory (14 μR/h). The highest average annual EDR of 16 μR/h was registered in Petrovsk-Zabaikalsky. In inhabited localities of the Baikal Natural Area, EDR has twice reached the peak of 27 μR/h in Mogzon village on September 4 and 22.

Total beta activity of atmospheric deposition. During the year, total beta activity of atmospheric deposition in Khilok varied from 0.7 Bq/m2×day to 1.4 Bq/m2×day, with the average annual value being 1.1 Bq/m2×day, which is 1.4 times below the average for 2011. The highest daily value of 5.8 Bq/m2×day was registered on July 8 without reaching the critical level (13.0 Bq/m2×day).

Changes in radiation situation in BNA in 2011-2012

Notes: variations are show in colors as follows: yellow: within 10%,

green: decrease by more than 10%, orange: increase by more than 10%.

Based on the indicators measured, the radiation situation in the Baikal Natural Area in 2012 did not exceed critical levels and remained about the same as in 2011.

Source: The State Report “On the State of the Lake Baikal and Measures for Its Protection in 2012”, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation