STUDY OF RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION OF EASTERN POLAND

Studies of the contamination of soils of Eastern Poland with natural a nd artificial radionuclides lead to a conclusion that human activities have caused a visible increase of contamination with natural radionuc lides. The fallout from ash from coal combustion is the main source. T his factor also causes the irregular distribution of the radionuclides over the studied area. This effect is enhanced due to different sorpt ion properties of the soils. The main radionuclide defining the radioa ctivity of the soils of eastern Poland is K-40 the contribution of whi ch ranges from 55 to 70 and even 75% of the total radiodetivity. Some areas show an elevated concentration of Ra-226, Pb-214, Bi-214 and TI- 208, higher than their natural contents in soils. After 1986 the conta mination with Cs-137 and Cs-134 ranged from 0.5 to 10% of the total co ntents of radionuclides. The presence of cesium is chiefly due to the Chernobyl power plant accident.