«Hot particles» investigated 7 years alter the Chernobyl atomic power station catastrophe

Abstract

In the article, problems of nuclear pollution with products of the nuclear fuel division are analyzed. The chronology of the development of negative consequences of the damage is described. Features of the «hot particles» exploded into the air during the period of damage liquidation are analyzed. The particles are divided to following types: the first type includes the particles appearing after nuclear fuel dispersion; the second one is presented by volatilable particles condensed from explosion, gas clouds. The most unstudied domain is the interaction of the human being with the latter type of particles.

It was discovered that in general the particles of the first type are presented by unsoluble compounds of ¹³⁷Cs coupled with the uranium fuel matrix.

Moreover, in the article, the question about the estimation of the internal radiation is pointed. That problem is solved with mathematical models describing the particles behavior in the human organism. That behavior depends on two chief factors: the dispersity of the particles and their transportability through the alveo-capillar barrier. The chemical destruction is the basic process inducting radionuclide entrance into blood through the pulmonary interstition. The further behavior of the particles depends on their dispersion. In case of the fust factor, the particles smaller than 1 mkm are spoken about, because the larger ones precipitates on the nasal mucus lamina and then follows into digestive tractus. The level of the second factor influence is' ranged into three inhalational classes: D , Y and W (day, year and week). For true estimation of internal radiation doses it is necessary to evaluate the belonging of each radionuclide to specific class. That models were confirmed by results of the damage witnesses investigation.

The authors emphasized the necessity of the building of theory of the tumor development under influence of the «hot particles» to obtain vital risk estimations of inhalation radionuclides entrance.