Technogenic Fallout of Uranium and Thorium in the Vicinity of Novosibirsk (Russia, West Siberia)

Evaluation of the contribution of definite pollution sources among many others is rather complicated scientific challenge, but its solution may become decisive for the realization of measures aimed at ecological remediation of the territories. Element composition of aerosol particles accumulated during winter in the snow cover of Novosibirsk was determined by means of X-ray fluorescence measurements with synchrotron radiation at the “Siberian Synchrotron and Terahertz Radiation Center” based on VEPP-3 of the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics SB RAS. Means of ICP-MS and scanning electron microscopy were used additionally. These studies allowed revealing the contribution of separate industrial enterprises into the general technogenic pollution of the megapolis with uranium and thorium.