Altai Region of Russia-a high radon potential area

摘要

The Altai Region of Russian Federation is known as the target of extensive Semipalatinsk Scientific Program, in the context of which population exposures due to long-term nuclear tests at Semipalatinsk Test Site have been reconstructed and the effects on public health studied. The region is also known as an increased natural radiation area. Radon surveys conducted by leading national institutions and local radiation protection authorities have revealed that some parts of the region have high radon potential. The geometric means of annual average radon concentration for administrative areas of the Altaisky krai and the Republic Altai vary in the range of 30-250 Bq m~(-3). The most radon-prone administrative territories in the Republic Altai are Turochak and Choya raions (counties), where mean values exceed~(40)0 Bq m~(-3). The difference in radon potential of territories is due to the variety in underlying geology with most radon-prone areas situated on uranium-rich granites, soils with high permeability for radon and near regional neotectonic fault spreading along the north face of Altai Mountains. Regional radon programs make provisions for implementation of radon limits established by national radiation protection legislation.