Technical approaches to decontamination of terrestrial environments in the CIS (former USSR)

Abstract This paper gives an overview of pre- and post-Chernobyl technical approaches to decontamination of terrestrial environments in the territories of the former USSR with special emphasis on the effectiveness of mechanical and physical countermeasure techniques. Descriptions of these techniques (removal of vegetation, removal of soil and ploughing) is preceded by a short summary describing various characteristics of the fallout deposited on the areas around the Chernobyl NPP and the radionuclide distribution and migration in soils, which helps to place the techniques described in context. Management of radioactive wastes resulting from decontamination operations conducted on a large scale, such as those related to the Chernobyl accident, appears to be the most complex problem and has been given particular attention in this paper. Four of the projects most relevant to this particular aspect are discussed. They include the development of new methods for the decontamination of soil based on deep ploughing, studies of the potential of geo-electrochemical decontamination of soil, research and development on prevention of radionuclide migration with infiltration run-off from soil by placing a sorbing layer under the contaminated layer of soil and the ‘Vector’ project to build a facility for treatment and disposal of radioactive wastes generated by various decontamination procedures.