XA9952962

BIOMONITORiNG AIR POLLUTION IN CHELYABINSK REG1OM (URAL MOUNTAINS, RUSSIA) THROUGH TRACE-ELEMENTS AND RADIO- NUCLIDES: TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL TRENDS

V.D. CHERCHINTSEV, M.V. FRONTASYEVA*, S.M. LYAPUNOV*, U. SMIRNOV* Magnitogorsk State Academy of Mining And Metallurgy, Lenin Prospect, 38, 455000 Magnitogorsk, Russia * Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, 141980 Dubna, Moscow Region, Russia ** Geological institute of RAS, Pyizhevskij per., 7, 109017 Moscow, Russia

Abstract

This report contains the first results on the analysis of the moss species Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi which were used to study heavy metal atmospheric deposition in the vicinity of Magnitogorsk, the center of the iron steel industry of Russia. Moss samples were collected along Bannoe Lake, located 30 km north-west of Magnitogorsk, and were analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis using epithernal neutrons (ENAA) at the IBR-2 pulsed fast reactor in Dubna, and by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) at the Geological Institute of RAS, Moscow. Results for a total of 38 elements were obtained, including Pb, Cd, and Cu determined by AAS. The element concentrations in moss samples from this area were compared with those available for the so-called "Black Triangle" {the territory bordering Poland, Czechia and Slovakia), obtained by the same moss biomonitoring technique. The level of the concentrations of Fe, Cr, and V in the vicinity of Magnitogorsk was found to be 2-2.5 times higher than that of the mean values determined for the "Black Triangle"; the level of Ni and Cd is of the same order as in the most polluted area of Europe. The concentrations of Zn and Cu tend to be higher in the "Black Triangle". The level of As is about 3 times higher in the Urals, whereas concentration of Pb is higher in Europe by a factor of 5. ft appeared that concentration of Sb in the examined area has the highest ever published for levels in mosses from atmospheric deposition. The scanning electron microscope adjacent to the XRF analyzer (SEM-XRF) was used to examine the surface of the moss samples. Photographs of identified iron spherules along with other aerosol particles were made at magnification of 3,500 to 5,000 times.

Information on fieldwork in the northern part of the Chelyabinsk region in July, 7998 is reported.

I. SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUND AND SCOPE OF THE PROJECT

The South Ural Mountains are among of the most polluted areas in the world because many of the important military and industriai centres of the former Soviet Union and the Russian Federation are located there. Two the most important groups of poliutants emitted into the atmosphere in this region are heavy metals and long-lived radionucSides. Studies of atmospheric emissions of heavy metals from metal mining and processing and other industries have so far been limited to pollution within and in the near vicinity of the factories. The impact of these emissions on a regional scale is not known. In addition, substantial emissions of radioactive substances have occurred in the Ural region as the result of full-scale activities of the radiochemicai "Mayak" Production Association (PA), from liquid radioactive waste disposal into the river Techa and lake Karachay, the Kyshtym accident in 1957, and the Karachay wind dispersion in 1967.

136 In recent years a number of studies of these contamination problems have been performed, often as international collaboration projects (for example, Russian-Norwegian Programme of investigation of possible impacts of the "Mayak" PA activities on radioactive contamination of the Barents and Kara Seas, 1992-1995). These investigations however have been confined to local areas with known high contamination levels. No systematic studies of the regional impact of the release of radionuclides into air have been performed.

It is well known that pollutants can travel long distances in the atmosphere and lead to contamination problems very far from the source. This was convincingly shown for radionuclides in the case of the Chernobyl accident, and has also been generally demonstrated for heavy metals such as Pb, Cd, Zn, and As.

Considering the large past and present atmospheric emissions within the South Ural region, it seems quite obvious that the whole region is considerably affected by these emissions. It is therefore an urgent task to study the extent of this regional contamination.

Proposed programme:

• collection of moss and surface soil samples e.g. in a 30 x 30 km grid; • collection of vertical cores of peat at 2-3 sites along the Ural mountains; • determination of selected metals in mosses and soils by appropriate analytical techniques {AAS, ENAA) following an interiaboratory comparison for quality control; • measurements of radionuciides (137Cs, ^Sr, Pu) in soils and peat cores; • preparation of maps using GIS (geographical information system) technologies; • identification of different sources by meteorological models - if emission inventories are available for the most "potent" sources.

i SOU T H URAL.

Orenb

Fig. 1. Schematic map of the South Ural.

137 The suggested IAEA Co-ordinated Research Project follows the strategy outlined above. However, for the obvious reason of limited CRP funding available, it is limited in the first case to examining the Chelyabinsk Region.

Chelyabinsk Region, an area with a total of 3.6 inhabitants, is located about 1500 km east of Moscow, its capital Cheiaybinsk and additional cities such as the "City of Steel", Magnitogorsk, located near historically rich ore and energy deposits and far from potential invaders, grew to become the most important military and industrial centers of the Soviet Union and Russian Federation. During the World War If more than 60 threatened industrial enterprises were evacuated from the western USSR to Chelyabinsk. Half the country's tanks were produced in Chelyabinsk during the war, earning the city the nickname Tankograd. Today, Chelyabinsk and Magnitogorsk still play a central role in Russian iron industries.

The Urals contain thousands of minerai deposits and is one of the most important mining regions of Russia. The more important metals mined include iron, chromium, nickei, aluminum, gold, platinum, copper and zinc, and the important rare metals: tungsten, arsenic, antimony, mercury, vanadium, indium and osmium. The high concentration of industrial activity in very large enterprises is clustered rn a compact geographical region. As a result, the environment in the area has reached a state of deep ecological stress [1, 2]. Five of the most heavily polluting industries - metallurgy, chemicals, forest products, machine manufacturing, and fuels and energy generation affects heavily the environmental quality in the Ural Mountains. The region is ranked as the most severely polluted in all of Russia. Chelyabinsk and Magnitogorsk are on the list of Russian cities characterized by the highest level of air pollution.

in addition to the above mentioned environmental threats there is a widespread radioactive contamination. The «Mayak» radiochemical PA at Chelyabinsk-65 {Ozersk now} housed the Soviet Union's first industrial nuclear reactors and produced the material for the country's first atomic bomb beginning in 1948. Until 1987 there were six reactors in CheIyabinsk-40 on plutonium and tritium production, between 1987 and 1992 five of them were shut down. Between 1949 and 1952 «Mayak» dumped 2.75 million curies {Ci) of high-Ievei liquid radioactive waste directly into the nearby Techa River. Further distribution of radionuclides resulted in contamination of riverside territories such as the settlement Muslyumovo and was most pronounced in places used as pastures, for laying in fodder, and for fishing and swimming. Below is the map of East-Ura! radioactive pattern contamination of the basin of the Techa-lset-lrtysh River [3] {isopleths show of the levels of contamination}.

When symptoms of acute radiation sickness began appearing in the villages downstream, «Mayak» shifted its dumping to nearby Lake Karachai. After several years, the small lake accumulated radioactivity totaling an estimated 120 million Ci of radioactivity - for comparison, an estimated 50 million Ci of radiation were released by the Chernobyl accident. According to a 1990 National Resources Defense Council report [4J, "On the lakeshore near the waste discharge line, the radiation exposure rate is about 600 Roentgens per hour, sufficient to provide a lethal dose within an hour".

In September 1957, the cooling system in an underground storage tank at the Kyshtym complex broke down, resulting in a massive explosion that blew off the tank's cement lid. Radioactive isotopes amounting to 2.1 million Ci were emitted into the atmosphere and precipitated over a swath of land more than 100 km long, contaminating more than 20, 000 sq. km of surrounding territory.

138 Fig. 2. The studied area affected by the radioactive contamination {3].

In September 1957, the cooling system in an underground storage tank at the Kyshtym complex broke down, resulting in a massive explosion that blew off the tank's cement lid. Radioactive isotopes amounting to 2.1 million Ci were emitted into the atmosphere and precipitated over a swath of land more than 100 km long, contaminating more than 20, 000 sq. km of surrounding territory.

For decades weapons production facilities located in the Ural Mountains operated in complete secrecy and outside of environmental controls. Ten thousand people were permanently evacuated from the most contaminated locations. The total radioactivity of liquid wastes confined in a 30-40 sq. km parcel around «Mayak» has been estimated at no iess than one billion curies. Soil and groundwater contamination from Karachai has been spreading outwards, threatening a reservoir that supplies Chelyabinsk city. In the late 1960s workers started filling in Lake Karachai with rocks and soil, but a recent government commission concluded that such an approach was "a crime" and that it would exacerbate the situation.

The radioactivity contamination of this area has been examined for a long time. The published data however cover only a few parts of the territory, not the entire region. The area has been found to be contaminated with T- and (3- emitting radioactive isotopes 137Cs and 90Sr. Little has been published on oc-emitting isotopes such as 239Pu. Recently plutonium, one of the radioactive elements most harmful to human health, was found in the sediment of the Techa River near Musiyumovo.

The presence of 137Cs and 90Sr has been studied in the iocal areas of the Ural region [5] as well as in other regions of Russia, including the Arctic coast [6]. The highest concentrations of the mentioned radsonuclides were observed during the first years of the industrial activity of the «Mayak» PA and during the period following the accident in 1 957.

139 The most important results expected after completion of the project are as follows:

• establishment of a regional sampling network for future monitoring programmes; • identification of areas with high contamination levels not previously considered to be of environmental risk; • creation of a database for continued studies at regular intervals; • comparison of environmental contamination levels in the Urai region with other strongly polluted areas in Europe, such as the "Black Triangle", Copper Basin in Poland and the Romanian Carpathians.

Altogether, the results from the project will form an excellent basis for local authorities to implement the necessary measures to reduce emissions to environmentally acceptable levels. Moreover, the responsible public health authorities will have a significantly improved basis for assessing possible risk to the population from previous and current emissions.

This project originated at a NATO Advanced Research Workshop "Air Poilution in the Ural Mountains" (May 25-29, 1997, Magnitogorsk, Russia) organized by Harvard University (USA) and Magnitogorsk Academy of Mining and Metallurgy. It was hosted by the Chief Scientific Investigator, Prof. V.D. Cherchintsev, a Co-Chairman of the ARW. The present CRP's expert. Prof. E. Steinnes {Norway}, who participated in that Workshop, suggested a Prospectus "Monitoring of Heavy Metals and Radionuclides in the Ural Region: Temporal and Spatial Trends". It was emphasized, discussed and adopted at the Round Table by a distinguished group of the international experts from 16 countries. During that Workshop Dr. M.V. Frontasyeva initiated initial fieidwork that has been done on a small geographical scale, thus starting a pilot study of heavy metal atmospheric depositions in the South Ural Mountains using moss biomonitoring technique.

2. METHODS

The regional distribution of heavy metal deposition is studied by analysis of moss, which is a technique now used on a regular basis in many countries of Europe. The method was first proposed around 1970 by A. Ruhling and G. Tyler, University of Lund, Sweden, and since then, has been adopted for routine use in about 20 countries of Europe (B. Markert, H. Wolterbeek, M.C. Freitas). E. Steinnes has been responsible for this work in Norway since 1977, and has substantially contributed to methodologicai improvements. The Nordic Expert Group for «Atmospheric Heavy Metal Deposition in Northern Europe» is presently co-ordinating this work on the European scale.

in Russia use of the moss method has so far been limited to areas in the Leningrad region (contribution to European moss-survey in 1990, 1995, N. Goitsova) and the Kola Peninsula (Kola Ecogeochemistry Project covering the western part of Kola Peninsula: mosses, surface soils, etc., for heavy metals and 137Cs, coordinated by the Geological Survey of Norway, Collaboration RU-FIN-NO).

A combination of epithermat neutron activation analysis (ENAA) and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) provides data for concentration of about 45 chemical elements (Al, As, Ba, Br, Ca, Cd, Ce, Ci, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Dy, Eu, Fe, Hf, I, in, La, Lu, Mg, Mn, Na, Nd, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Ta, Th, V, W, Yb, Zn}. Not all of the above trace elements are strictly relevant as air pollutants, but they come additionally from the multi-element analyses with insignificant extra cost, and most of them can be used as air mass tracers.

140 Radionuciides will be measured using techniques similar to those applied elsewhere. Advanced radiochemical separation methods will be used for Sr and Pu determination, followed by (3- and a-spectrometry, respectively.

GREENVEIW with raster and vector graphics wili be used to generate colored raster-based pollution contour maps of the chemical elements and radionuciides of interest for the entire studied area. The GIS integrated system analysis of different level information will be provided with the interfaces for ali international standard GIS systems: ARC-Info, MAP-fnfo, GiS-INTEGRO, etc.

2.1. Sampling

Sampling sites around Lake Bannoe, situated 30 km from the Joint-Stock Company «Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works», are shown in Fig. 3.

• • Veri

((•Magnitogorsk

Fig.3. Location of study area and individual sampling points

Site 1 is located 3-4 km from the "Kusimovo" rest-house, on the slope of the mountain. Site 2 - in 10-12 km from the "Kusimovo", behind the territory of the sport- camp, in a small lowland. Site 3 is a mountain situated 200 m from Lake Bannoe. Site 4 is situated in the ravine Kryk-Tyk-Tau where moss samples were growing on iarge rock stones. All sampling sites are placed at least 300 m away from main roads, villages and at least 100 m away from smaller roads and houses. The sampling was carried out according to the standard procedure described in detail in [7]. For each sampling site around 10 subsamples were taken within 50x50 sq. m area and combined to one collective samples. The unwashed samples were air-dried at 30 °C and extraneous plant material was removed. The three fuliy developed segments of each Hyiocomium plant or green part of Pleurosium were taken for analysis. No further homogenization of samples was performed. Disposable polyethylene gloves were used during all handling of samples.

2.2. Analysis

Moss samples of about 0.3 g were heat-sealed in polyethylene foil bags for short- term irradiation and packed in aluminum cups for long-term irradiation. Neutron flux density characteristics and the temperature in the channels equipped with a pneumatic system are given in Table I.

141 Table I. Characteristics of the irradiation channels [83

4,hx10" Tempe- 2 Mev Irradiation site (n/cm s) {n/cm2 s} {n/cm2 s} fast rature, E = 0*0.55eV E = 0.55-5-105eV E = 0.1 *25 MeV E = 0.1-r25 MeV °C

Chi Cd coat 0.023 3.31 4.32 0.88 70 Ch 2 1.23 2.96 4.10 0.92 60

Long-iived isotopes of Sc, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, As, Se, Br, Rb, Ag, Sb, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Sm, Tb, Yb, Hf, Ta, W, Au, Th and U, were determined using channel 1 (Ch1h Samples were irradiated for 4 d, repacked and then measured twice after 4-5 d of decay. Respectively. Measuring time varied from 1 to 5 h. To determine the short-iived isotopes Na, Mg, Al, Ci, V, Mn, Cu, Al, Sn, and i, channel 2 (Ch2) was used. Samples were irradiated for 5 min and measured twice after 3-5 min and 20 min of decay for 5-8 and 20 min, respectively. To determine Cu, K, Na the same samples were irradiated for an additional 30 min, and after 12-15 h of decay measured for 30 min.

Gamma spectra were measured using Ge{Lt) detectors with a resolution of 2.5 keV for the S0Co 1332.5 keV line, with an efficiency of about 6% relative to a 3x3" Nal detector for the same line. Radionuciides and y-energies used are given in Table II.

Table II. Radionuciides and energies of y-iines used for calculations

Element Radionuciide Ey measured Element Radionuciide Ey measured used {keV) used {keV> 2 Na *Na i 2753.6 Rb 86Rb 1876.6 I Mq 27Mg 1014.4 Ac; 11OmAq 657.7 Ai 2SA! 1778.9 in 116mjn 1097.1 Ci 3SCi 2166.8 Sb 124Sb 1691.0 1524.7 I 442.7 Ca ^Ca 3084.4 Cs 134Cs 795.8 Sc ^Sc 889.2 Ba 131Ba 496.8 v 1 52v 1434.1 La 140La 1596.5 Cr 61Cr 310.1 Ce 140Ce 145.4 Mr, 56Mn 1810.7 Sm 1S3Sm 103.2 Fe s9Fe 1291.6 Tb 160Tb 879.4 Co 60Co 1332.4 Yb 169Yb 198.0 Ni S3Co 810.8 Hf 181 Hf 482.0 Cu 66Cu 1039.2 Ta 182Ta 1221.4 Zn 65Zn 1116.0 W 685.7 As 76As 559.1 Au 198Au 411.8 Se 7SSe 264.7 Th 233Pa 312.0 Br S2Br 776.5 U 239Np 228.2

Data processing and element concentration determination was performed using software developed in FLNP JINR. For long-term irradiation in Ch1 single comparators of Au (1 ug} and Zr (10 ug) were used. For short-term irradiation in Ch2 a comparator of Au (10 u,g) was used.

Concentrations of efements yielding above mentioned isotopes were determined using certified reference materials: SDM (International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna) and Nordic moss DK-1 [93). Lead, cadmium and copper were determined by flame AAS at the Geological Institute of RAS, Moscow.

142 3. RESULTS

The results obtained for the moss samples collected along Lake Bannoe are presented in Table HI. A total of 38 elements was determined, including most of the heavy metals. Ail graphs are based on average values from Table 111. The data for the Ural moss samples were compared with those obtained for the so-called "Black Triangle" (in the boarder area of Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia) [10] {Fig. 4) and with data for Nordic moss DK-1 [11] {Fig. 5). The level of iron concentration was found to be 2.5 times higher than that of the mean value determined for the "Black Triangle"; of V and Cr - 2 times higher; of Ni and Cd it is of the same order as in the most polluted area of Europe. The level of As is about 3 times higher in the Urals, whereas concentration of Pb is significantly higher in Europe.

Cc Fig. 4. Comparison of moss data for the Urals and the "Black Triangle".

Unfortunately the published data for the "Black Triangle" lack the vaiue for Sb, but it.appeared that the concentration of Sb (30 ppm!) has the highest ever published for mosses level in atmospheric deposition.

It is evidently seen from the comparison with Nordic moss DK-1 (Fig. 5) that the concentrations of Cr and Fe are higher in the Ural moss by a factor of 10. At the same time the marine element Br prevail in DK-1, affected by the Atlantic Ocean. Most other elements has similar levels both in DK-1 and the Ural moss.

10000 Nordic moss DK-1

Urai moss

O.0S N» Mg AJ a CJ Sc V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn As Sc 8r Rb Ag Cd Sb I O Bi U Ce Sm Tb W Th U Fig. 5. The Urals moss (mean values} compared to the Nordic moss DK-1.

143 Table III. Element concentrations (ppm, error in %) in the Ural moss near Magnitogorsk

, No Sampling sites Na % Mg % AI % CI o/o K % Ca % % v o/o % Sc Cr(ENAAL i Hill, 3-4 km from "Kuslmovo" rest-house 400 11 2183 10 3028 6 102 13 2642 7 3246 20 0.89 14 7.0 16 9.57 7

2 Spprtrcamp,; .1042 km from "K ua moyo" 477 .11 3061 _ 11 3074 6 .73 12 3387 1.2 .5227 20 0.52 17 9,1 19 5,92 _ 7 3 Slope of the mountain near Lake Bannoe 342 11 2120 10 1991 6 44 8 2867 6 3540 20 0.60 14 6.8 16 4.63 6 4 Ravine Kryk-Tyk-Tau 369 11 2236 10 2801 6 88 9 3354 8 2827 20 0.97 12 7.0 17 6.10 5 r Hylooom spiendens, i-2-3 (young segments) 304 11 1708 10 1443 6 108 6 2832 6 2030 20 0.62 12 7.0 18 7.57 6 6 Hyfocom splendens, 4-5-6 (old segments) 765 11 3814 11 4505 6 363 8 4975 10 4324 20 0.92 11 7.0 16 9.04 6

AVERAGE 443 2520 2807 129 3343 3532 0.75 7.3 7.14

STDEV 168 772 1052 117 854 1126 0.19 0.9 1.93

MAX 765 3814 4505 363 4975 5227 0.97 9.1 9.57 MtN 304 1708 1443 44 2642 2030 0.52 6.8 4.63 i ' ' •'Conparian with the "Black Triangte1 h ~ Germany 3.1 2.11 t Poland S.3 2.54 Czech Republic 2.29 Slovakia 5.17

AVERAGE 4.2 2.31

STOEV 1.44 MAX 5.17 MM 2.11

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147 The analysis of Hylocomium splendens representing the last six years growth of moss allows one to estimate temporal distribution of heavy metal atmospheric deposition (samples 5,6, Table III). A comparison of the 1-2-3 year old (the youngest) segments with those of 4-5-6 years, close to the ground segments, shows that the elder segments accumulate Fe, Zn, Sc, Br, Rb, Sr, Ba, and La, whereas Cd and Se migrate to the youngest moss segments. It was interesting to compare the results obtained for the Ural moss with the aerosol data of a similar industrially polluted area in the world. We have chosen data for Gent Industrial 12] (see Fig. 6). The symbathic behavior of both curves for moss and aerosol is amazing and is the best proof of proper using moss as biomonitor of atmospheric depositions.

10000

1000

S3 © 2 u ©

0.1 •

0.01 Na Mg Al Cl K Ca Sc V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn As Se Br In Sb I Cs Ba La Ce Sm W Th Fig. 6. A symbatic behavior of element concentrations (ppm) in the Ural moss compared to the aerosol data for Gent Industrial (ng/m3) [12].

interesting study of the captured paniculate matter and aerosol particles was carried out by the students of the International University of «Dubna» using scanning electron microscope and XRF analysis (SEM-XRF). Photos (Fig. 7) and particles' spectrograms (Fig. 8) on the surface of moss samples were obtained. An iron particle containing a certain amount of Mg on the surface of moss Hylocomium splendens (4-5- 6) is seen in Photo 1 (magnification 5000). It corresponds to spectrogram (1) showing the distinct Fe and Mg peaks. A spherula of pure iron (Photo 2, magnification 3500) captured by moss Pleurosium schereberi is documented by a spectrogram (2). Photo 3 (magnification 3500) shows a large Al-Fe cluster particle with the sounding impurities of Zn, Cu and Ti, as follows from the spectrogram (3). A living object - the diatomic alga having a SiO2 skeleton and an organic plasma inside - is shown in Photo 4 (magnification 1500), spectrogram (4). Photo 5 shows a moss segment at different magnifications, 150 and 750, respectively. The presence of Au, Zn, Cu peaks in all spectra is explained by the specific conditions of X-ray analysis: Au is due to spattering, Zn and Cu are due to the brass table for sample examination).

148 Fig. 7. SEM photos of different mosses.

1) Fe particle with Mg impurity 2) Spherula of pure iron 3) Ai-Fe cluster particle with impurities of Zn, Cu and Ti 4) Diatomic alga 5) Segment of moss Pleurosium schreberi at different magnifications

149 ftVs • ' S - 20 KeU |X-«aV:; 0 - 20 KeU »:= 100s ?r*s*t-= 100s Osi {L 100s Pr«eset: $O0s Osi 165C Dead 156s 3&c Dead

1)

.3 5.900 if«U 11.0 >! 11.0 > jFS= 16K eh 305= -S- 2"-' cts; ch 305= SO cts IgtFe if> aoss

100s

4) 3)

! i I I; •* * B'

.< .8 k .8 5.900 KeU 11.0 V. ah 305= 85 cts cb 305= 79 «i&'

Fig. 8. Spectrograms with numbers referred to the numbers of photos, respectively.

150 Drawings below were carried out by students while their studying the morphology and anatomy of moss Hyiocomium spiendens. The capture mechanism can be easier understood from the structure of moss.

vassr earning tissue

itssrseils space

1. mechanic! tissue

Fig. 7. Hyiocomium splendens Fig. 8. Anatomical structure of stem 1,2,3 are annual segments with stem's leaf {transversal section}

um-box

Fig. 9. Structure of sporophyte.

1 - general view at low magnification 3 - battlements of peristoma cells 2 - sporogonium section along A-B 4 - sporas group

151 mezophyllttnie ceils

mezopfa^iume celis

Fig. 10. Structure of stem's leaf. 1 - at low magnification 3- top of leaf's piate with battlements 2 - at high magnification 4 - leaf's piate with mesofillum ceils

4. PLANS FOR FUTURE WORK

The detailed working plan is as follows:

Months 1-3 • Multi-elemental analysis of moss and soil samples, collected during summer 1998, by epithermai NAA in Dubna and by AAS in Moscow. • Measurements of radionuclides in soil samples at the Institute of Biophysics {«Mayak»). • Developments of GiS technology for the territory of Chelyabinsk Region at the University «Dubna».

Months 4-6 • Data processing of the results obtained for moss and soil samples by epithermai NAA in Dubna and AAS in Moscow.

Months 7-9 • Field sampling of mosses and soils in the Urals {Chelyabinsk Region) according to a detailed plan approved by the expert consultant of the Project, Prof. E. Steinnes (Norway). A sampling grid of 30 x 30 km will be applied, giving a total of about 120 sampling sites. • Sample preparation for short- and long-term irradiation at IBR-2 reactor, Dubna.

152 Months 10-12 • Statistical analysis of the results obtained, including principal component analysis, for samples collected during summer 1998. • Preparation of maps of heavy metal distributions in Chelyabinsk Region on the basis of the developed GIS. • Preparation of interim (second year) report.

Since the same moss species may not be found at all sites, extension of the sampling to include additional moss species or lichens as well as some species intercalibration work will be necessary. To achieve this goal, we estimate that the project will have to be continued for an additional 2 years. By the end of the first year, about 30% of the samples collected during field work this summer, in July, 1998, will have been analyzed. In a second year the analysis of moss and soil samples will be completed. The second year will also be used for sampling and analysis of several peat cores taken from the contrasting areas of the Chelyabinsk Region. We expect that some peat cores will be analyzed during the second part of the second year. Third year will be dedicated to the evaluation of the results, construction of maps, preparation of reports and papers.

By our project we would like to attract attention of the experts in IAEA and others who may have concern in the pollution problems of the Ural Mountain that in Russia there is an initiative group of highly qualified specialists working together with the internationally recognized experts, able to organize and undertake all stages of the whole project for the entire Ural area including several regions of special ecological risk.

Even the task of the Chelaybinsk region monitoring at a level described in the project, demands substantially larger funding having in mind difficult conditions of sampling in the mountains lacking transport roads, distant location of the area of investigation from the central Russia if to plan to use analytical facilities there. According to our estimations, no less than USD 250, 000 are necessary to carry out the biomonitoring the entire area of the Ural Mountains. The authors of the project together with its expert, Prof. E. Steinnes, submitted a proposal «Regional Air Pollution in the South Ural Mountains» to NATO Science for Peace Programme, Brussels, Belgium, in August, 1998.

The authors express their deep gratitude to Dr. I.Z. Kamanina and O. Dovgun (University of «Dubna») for their contribution to this report, and to Mr. S.P. Yaradaikin (JINR, Dubna) for his permanent assistance in computer work while preparing this report.

REFERENCES

[1] USSR Ministry of Nature Use and Environmental Protection: "National Report of the USSR at the United Nations Conference", 1992 ("Natsional'niy doklad SSSR k konferencii OON 1992 goda po okruzhauschey srede I razvitiyu". Moscow (1991) (in Russian). [2] "Okhrana okruzhauschey sredy i rational'noe ispol'zovanie prirodnykh resursov". USSR State Committee for Statistics. Moscow, (1991) 70 pp. (in Russian). [3] Atom bez grifa "sekretno": tochki zreniya. Dolumental'nie shtrikhi k portretu yadernogo kompleksa SNG I Rossii. H & P Druck, Moscow-Berlin, (1992) (in Russian).

153 [4] USSR State Committee for the Protection of Nature. The State of the Environment in the USSR in 1988. Forest Industry. Moscow, (1990). [5] KOSENKO, M.M., DEGTEVA, M.O.. et al., Vestnik AMN. 8 (1991) 23-28 (in Russian). [6] SMOLYAR, V.I., Ionizing Radiation and Food. Zdorov'ye (Health, publishers). Kiev, Ukraine (1992) (in Russian). [7] RUEHLING, A. and TYLER, G., Sorption and Retention of Heavy Metals in the Woodland Moss Hylocomium splendens, Oikos. 21 (1970) 92-97. [8] PERESEDOV, V.F., ROGOV, A.D., Simulation and Analysis of Neutron Energy Spectra from Irradiation Channels of the Reactor IBR-2. JINR Rapid Communications. No. 1[75]-96 (1996) 69-74 (in Russian). [9] FRONTASYEVA, M.V., NAZAROV, V.M., and STEINNES, E., J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 181 (1994)363-371. [10] MARKERT, B. et al., A Comparison of Heavy Metal Deposition in Selected Eastern Europea Countries Using the Moss Monitoring Method, with Special Emphasis on the "Black Triangle", Sci. Total Environ. 193 (1996) 85-100. [11] FRONTASYEVA, M.V., GRASS, F., NAZAROV, V.M., RITSCHEL, A., STEINNES, E., Intercomparison of Moss Reference Material by Different Multielement Techniques, J.Radioanal.Nucl.Chem. 192 No.2 (1995) 371-379. [12] RAHN, K.A. The Chemical Composition of the Atmospheric Aerosol. Technical Report, (1976) 265 pp.

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