Tritium content in vegetation cover at nuclear test locations at the "Sary-Uzen" site in the Semipalatinsk Test Site.

Numerous areas of the Semipalatinsk Test Site (STS) were subjected to radioactive contamination, including tritium. The tritium content in plants was determined in free water (TFWT) and in the organic component (OBT). It has been established that the OBT content in plants for the "Sary-Uzen" site between combat boreholes ranges from <7-125 Bq/kg and the background OBT content is 21.

The character of Lake Kishkensor contamination in the area of underground nuclear explosions at the Semipalatinsk Test Site territory.

The timely identification of areas where man-made radionuclides migrate through water streams is highly important for the territory of the former Semipalatinsk Test Site since the aquatic environment is currently a source of secondary contamination of environment. This article presents research findings on radioactively contaminated Lake Kishkensor located at the Semipalatinsk Test Site territory. As a result of this research, a new locally contaminated spot was discovered in the vicinity of the "Balapan" test site.

Assessment of the radionuclide and chemical composition of the Irtysh River water at the Republic of Kazakhstan territory.

The transboundary Irtysh River flows through the territory of three states: China, Kazakhstan and Russia. Industrial enterprises are located in the Irtysh River basin at the territory of Kazakhstan. Also, the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site can affect the state of the Irtysh River water.

Artificial radionuclides in the plant cover around nuclear fuel cycle facilities.

This paper presents research on the assessment of the radioecological state of plant cover surrounding two research reactor facilities located within the Semipalatinsk Test Site (STS) as examples of nuclear fuel cycle facilities (NFC). Source data on the concentrations of artificial radionuclides in the plant cover were obtained. Quantitative values for 137Cs, 241Am, and 239+240Pu activity concentrations were determined in plants across the perimeters of the facilities, indicating that these compounds may be present in the associated media from the perspective of accumulative bioindication.

Identification of tritium-contaminated areas using a tritium survey on the snow cover, the case of Semipalatinsk test site.

The article presents research findings on the content of tritium in the snow cover of test locations 'Balapan' and 'Sary-Uzen' in the territory of the Semipalatinsk Test Site. Based upon results, a number of tritium-contaminated areas were revealed. At the 'Balapan' site, elevated tritium concentrations in the snow were revealed in the vicinity of the 'Atomic lake' close to the 'Karazhyra' deposit and at the location of Lake 'Kishkensor'.

Tritium distribution in the 'water-soil-air' system in the Semipalatinsk Test Site.

This article presents research findings on 3H in abiotic environmental compartments, specifically, the 'water-soil-air' system. All of the research areas are located within the Semipalatinsk Test Site (STS): the perimeter of the 'Degelen' site, the riverside zone of the Shagan river and the 'background' area-the southeastern part of the STS (SEP). As research progressed, numerical values of 3H and its species were revealed in various environmental compartments.

Characterization of geological and lithological features in the area proximal to tritium-contaminated groundwater at the Semipalatinsk test site.

The article presents the results of a study of groundwater contaminated with tritium in the vicinity of the 'Atomic Lake' - a crater filled with water as a result of a thermonuclear explosion on the territory of the former Semipalatinsk test site. This crater was created as part of an experimental thermonuclear explosion in 1965 with the aim of creating an artificial reservoir in arid areas. The study was carried out to identify the source of groundwater contamination near the crater formed from a thermonuclear test.

Development of measures for limiting negative impacts of the «Atomic» lake on population and environment.

In arid climate, economic activities at the territory of the "Atomic" lake is one of the topical issues for the Semipalatinsk test site (STS). Hence, the boundaries of areas with radionuclides contamination, which correspond to the level of radioactive wastes at the territory adjacent to the "Atomic" lake of STS, are to be determined. The territory around the lake is used for cattle breeding and the water of the "Atomic" lake that is the one large water source is used for livestock watering.

[Study on Tritium Content in Soil at Sites of Nuclear Explosions on the Territory of Semipalatinsk Test Site].

As a result of investigations carried out on the territory of Semipalatinsk Test Site, tritium was found in different environmental objects--surface and ground waters, vegetation, air environment, and snow cover. The analysis of the data obtained has shown that contamination of environmental objects at the Semipalatinsk Test Site with tritium is associated with the places where underground nuclear tests were performed. Since tritium can originate from an activation reaction and be trapped by pock particles during a test, it was decided to examine the soil in the sites where surface and excavation tests took place.

Studying of tritium content in snowpack of Degelen mountain range.

The paper presents the results of investigation of tritium content in the layers of snow located in the streambeds of the "Degelen" massif contaminated with tritium. The objects of investigation were selected watercourses Karabulak, Uzynbulak, Aktybai located beyond the "Degelen" site. We studied the spatial distribution of tritium relative to the streambed of watercourses and defined the borders of the snow cover contamination.

Mechanisms for surface contamination of soils and bottom sediments in the Shagan River zone within former Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site.

The Shagan River is the only surface watercourse within the former Semipalatinsk Test Site (STS). Research in the valley of the Shagan River was carried out to study the possible migration of artificial radionuclides with surface waters over considerable distances, with the possibility these radionuclides may have entered the Irtysh River. The investigations revealed that radioactive contamination of soil was primarily caused by the first underground nuclear test with soil outburst conducted at the "Balapan" site in Borehole 1004.

[Cytologic diagnosis of papillomas and cancer of the bladder].

Cystoscopy is the principal method in the diagnosis of bladder cancer and precancer, but though visual examination of the bladder cavity via a cystoscope is comparatively easy, early correct diagnosis is not always possible because of small volume of the bladder, urethral stricture, mucosal changes in the bladder. That is why so much attention is paid to the cytologic diagnosis of bladder conditions. To estimate the diagnostic value of the cytologic method for the recognition of bladder precancer states and cancer the authors have analyzed cytograms of 145 patients.