News archive :: Year 2003
31-10-2003 05:03
International Scientific Practical Conference Semipalatinsk Test Site Radiation Legacy and Nonproliferation Issues
International Scientific Practical Conference Semipalatinsk Test Site Radiation Legacy and Nonproliferation Issues was held at the Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology of the National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan in October 7 - 9, 2003.
76 reports were presented at the conference: 33 oral and 43 poster presentations. Presentations of the Kazakhstani, CIS and foreign scientists (Finland, Great Britain, Austria) reflect results for radiation, radioecological and biomedical situation both at the Semipalatinsk Test Site area (STS) and all over Kazakhstan. Results of the infrastructure elimination at STS were analyzed, sealing of tunnel and unused holes are stated to have improved radiological situation at the Balapan and Degelen testing areas.
Issues of the international cooperation in support of regime of non-proliferation of mass destruction weapon were touched upon. A special attention was paid to the results of radiological monitoring carried out by the IRSE specialists between 1996-2003.
Having listened and discussed the presentations, the conference pointed out achievements of IRSE during 10 year activity in the field of radioecology and provision of radiation safety of population of the Semipalatinsk region.
The Institute cooperation with international organizations and scientists from different countries made it possible to contribute to in implementation of resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly sessions on the subject of the problems related to the activity of former STS region.
A number of urgent directions of the further studies were specified for IRSE:
- Present radiation and radioecological assessment of the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
- Identification of radioactively contaminated territories, areas and sites for monitoring including development of recommendations on their rehabilitation and reduction of radiation risk for population.
- Complex radiological survey of the settlements, personnel dosimetry control using radiation spectrometer, radiation dose assessment for the population.
- Completion of medium-/ and micro scale inspection of the STS area and zoning of the STS territory according to the number of radiation and nonradiation factors
- Analysis of the process of secondary radionuclide pollution within and around the STS area (ground and surface water, dust transfer, steppe and wild fire). Development of recommendations on limitation of the secondary radioactive contamination to reduce a radiation risk.
- Ecological-biological studies of soil and vegetation cover of the radiation contaminated areas. Study of radionuclide migration in a "soil-plant" system and food chain as a whole including food stuff. Dose load assessment for population and development of recommendations to reduce dose load.
A high scientific level of the reports, informativeness of excursions held at the Experimental Field, IGR Research Reactor Complex, Atomic Lake, KK Interconnet, STS museum should be noted.
The Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology, Institute of Atomic Energy, Institute of Geophysical Research and other NNC organizations including Degelen Ltd. (Kurchatov) took part in the conference.
N. Chugunova, O. Artem'ev