Updated at 17:53,27-03-2024

Swedish scientists to measure radiation around BelNPP using cooking salt

belsat.eu

Swedish scientists to measure radiation around BelNPP using cooking salt
A group of 15 scientists is studying the concentration of radioactive substances in the ground, air and water reservoirs around Astravets NPP. Illustrative photo – Vasily Fedosenko / Reuters / Forum
This week, a research group of the Lund University together with the Institute of Radiobiology of the Academy of Sciences, Belhydrometeorological Service and St. Petersburg Research Institute of Radiation Hygiene are taking radiation measurements around the Astravets NPP, reported “Belsatu” in the National Academy of Sciences.

According to the head of the laboratory of modeling and minimization of anthropogenic risks of the Institute of Radiobiology of NAS of Belarus, Alexander Dvornik, cooperation with the University of Lund began in 2016 with the study of Chernobyl problems.

Swedish scientists to measure radiation around BelNPP using cooking salt

Candidate of Biological Sciences Alexander Dvornik. Photo – irb.basnet.by

According to the scientist, the Swedes in Belarus use the methods of measuring the zero background radiation, previously used in Malmö, where the European splitting source is now launched.


Alyaksandr Dvornik, PhD. Photo – irb.basnet.by

The peculiarity of the technique is the use of special dosimeters based on salt crystals. They will be placed in control places around Astravets NPP for a month.

The research group consisting of 15 people will determine, in particular, the background level of radiocarbon and radioactive isotope of hydrogen. Previously, such studies were conducted in Belarus on a limited scale.


A working meeting on radiation monitoring between scientists from the University of Lund and representatives of the academic community of Belarus and Russia in March 2019 at the Embassy of Sweden in Minsk. Photo – irb.basnet.by

A second expedition to Astravets is planned for October, and later the group intends to conduct monitoring in Lithuania near the Belarusian border. Then most of the samples will be sent to Sweden for analysis and will remain there forever, and the results of the examination will form the basis for comparison and independent observation of the environment around the plant in the future.

September 21, Swedish expert on radiation measurements around Astravets NPP Christian Bernardson will answer journalists’ questions, reports “Press Club Belarus. The meeting will be held at the Swedish Embassy in Minsk.