SOME GEOCHEMICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF THE CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR ACCIDENT

Abstract

The Chernobyl nuclear accident took place on 1986-04-26, and resulted in radionuclide pollution of vast regions of Byelorussia. This has raised several geochemical problems: (1) investigation of the distribution and behaviour of radionuclides in the natural and technogenic landscapes (which were examined as a result of a 5-a study); (2) modes of occurence of radioactive elements in the environment; and (3) preliminary estimation of radionuclide migration in the future. As background information, geochemical studies carried out within Byelorussia, as well as landscape investigations in the period 1953–1987 made under the guidance of K.I. Lukashev were very important for solving the above questions. According to the results of these investigations, the lithogeochemical and hydrogeochemical zoning of Byelorussia is understood and the radioactive background of the republic was studied in the 1960s, as well as the distribution and peculiarities of clay minerals, carbonates, FeMn oxides, organic matter, pH-Eh, and the contents of many elements in the surficial deposits of Byelorussia. All these factors are of great importance for understanding the behaviour of radionuclides.