Artificial (Sr, Cs) and natural (K, Th and U) radionuclides in the Dnieper water of the North Crimean Canal and irrigated agricultural lands along it (2022-2023)

Based on the results of research conducted in 2022-2023, the radioecological state of the aquatic ecosystem of the North Crimean Canal (NCC) was assessed in relation to long-lived artificial (Sr, Cs) and natural (K, U, Th) radionuclides. The role of Dnieper water, which was re-supplied to Crimea in 2022 via the NCC, in the transfer of artificial and natural radionuclides to irrigated agricultural land in this region was also studied. Standard methods of radiochemical processing of samples, as well as beta and gamma spectrometry, accepted in world practice, were used. It was found that 37 years after the Chernobyl accident, Dnieper water remains a source of secondary supply of Sr (up to 427.2 Bq/m in dissolved form) and Cs (up to 521.9 Bq/kg of suspended solids) through the NCC to the territory of Crimea. The completed forecast showed that, at least for 10 years after the arrival of the Dnieper water with the same levels of activity concentration of Sr and Cs, which were determined in 2022-2023, the development of irrigated agriculture in the Crimea will be radiation-safe.