ON THE ISSUE OF CONTROL OF THE BARENTS SEA RADIOECOLOGICAL SITUATION’S
An overview of the results of a survey of the levels of radioactive contamination of seawater, bottom sediments and biota of the regions of the Barents Sea water area with the most significant artificial radionuclides 137Сs and 90Sr obtained over a long period of observations is presented. Estimates of the volumetric activity and concentrations of these radionuclides at different depths for different ranges of time periods are given. The fluxes of 137Сs and 90Sr in the Barents Sea are estimated and the annual balances of these radionuclides are given for a wide range of time periods. The contribution of various sources of pollution to the intake of radionuclides into the Barents Sea was estimated. It was confirmed that the transoceanic transport of radioactive waste from Western European chemical plants remains the main source of pollution of the ecosystems of the Barents Sea with 137Сs and 90Sr. The joint studies of Russian and foreign specialists on the control of the content of technogenic radionuclides in the components of marine and coastal ecosystems at sea and coastal stations, as well as the results of expeditionary work to assess the possible intake of radionuclides into the marine environment from sunken nuclear submarines, are described. The need for a unified approach to radioecological monitoring by specialists from different countries for the scientific substantiation of optimal measures to eliminate the consequences of emergency radiological situations in case of their occurrence was shown. It is noted that, despite the stably low level of concentration of radionuclides in the ecosystems of the Barents Sea water area, for the successful (in terms of environmental safety) development of national economic activity, it is necessary to continue regular radioecological monitoring on this region.