LABORATORY FOR ECOLOGICAL MONITORING

The Laboratory was created in 1953. The Laboratory includes the following works: Zelenogorsk Radiometric Station (in 50 km from S.-Petersburg), Underground Low-Background Laboratory (at subway station "Gostiny Dvor"), Expedition vessel "Boyan".

The Laboratory is accredited by RF Gosstandart Authorities in the System of Laboratories for Radiation Monitoring. Twice per year both equipment and techniques are subjected to examination in the run of intercalibrations realized DOE (USA).

Zelenogorsk Radiometric Station

The fact that the station is located within the area of predominant winds from the side of LNPP allows to "on-the-fly" monitoring of S.-Petersburg's region radiation conditions and of an effect of radiation-dangerous facilities located in the city of Sosnovy Bor to these conditions.

The station is destined to carry out the following works:

• carry out continual sampling of surface air aerosols, precipitations and fallouts, realize their radiochemical treatment and radiometric measurements;
• realize sampling, treatment, and measuring of patterns sampled within the Baltic Sea water area and its drainage territory;
• carry out the works related to production of model measures of activity in environmental objects, required to realize intercalibrations and to improve working quality of branch laboratories for external dose metering;
• be at communication with similar services in Baltic countries and realize an exchange of on-line information with them, when required.

The given works are aimed to provide for implementation of international obligations undertaken by the Russian Federation.

Underground radiometric laboratory is constructed at the expense of Radium Institute's funds and is destined for realization of low-background measuring.

The laboratory is situated in the depth of 65 meters and makes provision for 120-meter protective water equivalent allowing to two-order decrease in meson component of space background. The Laboratory has no any analogues in Russia. A number of Laboratory's installations is characterized with unprecedented parameters.
Unique researches conducted at the Laboratory were implemented with participation of experts from foreign countries.

Sail-and-motor vessel "Boyan" is provided with navigation equipment, including satellite navigation system, means of communication, and sampling devices.

For a period of more than twenty years they annually conduct on the board of this vessel the works within the Baltic Sea water area in regions of radiation-dangerous facility location. In 1994-1996 on the board of the vessel they carried out joint Russian and Finnish expeditions in location areas of LNPP and NPP "Lovissa".

General research directions:

1. Comprehensive study of radiation conditions in regions of:
   • nuclear power engineering enterprises location;
   • atomic industry enterprises location;
   • location of any type enterprises using radioactive isotopes.
2. The study of processes of radioactive contamination margin forming on local, regional, and global scales.
3. Comprehensive study of any scale water system radiation contamination.
4. Radiation conditions monitoring and study; monitoring realization in emergency situations and in post-damage period.
5. Realization of monitoring of radioactive contaminating with natural and man-made radionuclides in various environmental objects.
6. Elaboration and introduction of methods to determine all basic nuclides contributing to dose generating.
7. Realization of works for measurement quality control assurance.
8. Elaboration of systems allowing for monitoring of radiation conditions.
9. Development and fabrication of standard patterns
10. Elaboration of sampling equipment and techniques.
11. Realization of works for equipment examination.
12. Realization of works on certification of the techniques.
13. Realization of works aimed to prepare the divisions to accreditation within the RF Gosstandart System of laboratories for radiation monitoring.
14. Programming and implementation of works for intercalibration.

Inhabited deep-water vessel "Mir", which board was used to install equipment and devises with the purpose to study the regions of Komsomolets and Koursk nuclear submarines shipwreck	Manipulator of "Mir (Peace)" apparatus installs a sorption cassette developed at Radium Institute to the body of nuclear submarine "Komsomolets"

More detailed information about Laboratory working you can touch here: http://www.atom.nw.ru/ATC/WepPageTish/frame_t.html

Publications

1. Shvedov V.P., Gedeonov L.I., et al. Nuclear test effect to biosphere. - U.N.O. - Document A/AC 82/YB/47. - Vienna.- 1956.-11 p.
2. Saxen R., Taykala T.K., Sinkko K., et al. 1981-1983 Study of Radioactive contamination of the Baltic Sea. - V.G. Khlopin Radium Institute. - Preprint RI-203. - Moscow. - CNIIAtominform.- 1987.
3. Gavrilov V.M., Blinov V.A., Gedeonov L.I., et al. Determination of Content of Some Lithosphere Constituent Elements by Neutron Activation Analysis Method. - //In coll.: Applied Nuclear Spectroscopy.- No 4. - Moscow. - Atomizdat. - 1974.
4. A.V. Stepanov, Krylov V.I., Batrakov G.F., et al. Selective Sorbents for Nuclear and Hydro-physical Researches in the Ocean. // In coll.: Marine Hydro-physical Researches. - Sevastopol. - Naukova Dumka. - 1978. - No 2 (81).
5. Blinov V.A., Tishkov V.P., Gedeonov L.I., et al. Development of Method to Determine Low Tritium Concentrations in the Environment. // In coll.: Waste Management Research Abstr.- Vienna.- IAEA/WMRA.- No.15.- 1985.
6. Gedeonov L.I., Gritchenko Z.G., Ivanova L.M., et al. Radioactive Contamination of "Techa - Iset - Tobol - Irtysh - Ob" River System. - RPA " V.G. Khlopin Radium Institute." - Preprint RI-251.- Moscow.- CNIIAtominform.- 1998.
7. B N. Belyaev, Domkin V.D., Ivanova L.M., et al. Isotopic Composition and Sedimentation Density of Plutonium in Soils in the Vicinity of S.-Petersburg. // Radiochemistry. - 2001. - v. 43.- No 2.- p. 184-187.
8. A.V. Stepanov, Iohannesen O.M., B N. Belyaev, et al. Plutonium Isotopic Composition in Bottom Sediments of Norwegian and Greenland Seas, and Identification of Contamination Sources. // Atomic Energy. - 1999.- v.87.- No 4.- p. 286-293.
9. Belenkiy M.I., Gavrilov V.M., Gritchenko Z.G., et al. Radioactive Contamination of the Baltic Sea Water in the Region of Leningrad NPP Location (1971-1998). // In coll.: The Problems of Nuclear Pover Engineering Development in the Region of The Don River. 2000 - v. 2.
10. Agapov A.M., Ivanova L.M., Panteleev Yu.A., et al. Radioactive Contamination of the Neva River and Ladozhskoe Lake Water System. // Radiochemistry.- 2003.- v. 45.- No 4.
11. L.I.Gedeonov, V.P.Tishkov V.V.Anisimov et al. Radioactive Contamination of the Baltic Sea Water in the Region of the Leningrad NPP Site (1971-1974), Radium Institute, Preprint тй-244.- Moscow.- 1996.
12. A.V. Stepanov, O M. Johannessen, B N. Belyaev et al. Isotopic Composition and Concentration of Plutonium in Bottom Sediments of the Greenland and Norwegian Seas. The 4-th International Conference On Environmental Radioactivity in the Arctic, Edinburgh, Scotland.- 1999.- Т. 20-23.
13. O.M.Johanassen, L.H.Petersson, A.V.Kouraev et al. Observation and Modeling of Transport and Diluion of Radioactive Waste and Dissolved Pollutants in the Kara Sea (INTAS 93-0814. NIERSC Technical Report).- 1998.