On leakage from the near-surface radioactive waste storage facility

Abstract

3H concentration in soil moisture, both on the territory of facility and outside, increases with depth and reached 187±10 Bq l-1. 3H concentration in lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus) reached 150±9 Bq l-1. It exceeds 3H concentration in grass outside the facility territory by 20-30 times. The fact that elevated 3H concentration was found not only in groundwater of boreholes on the territory of the storage facility, but in soil moisture and vegetation samples shows that radionuclide leakage from the reservoir occurs and the possibility of leakage can increase over time. The storage facility requires continuous monitoring and management strategy in the nearest future.