The problem of soil pollution 238U, 226Ra, 210Pb, 210Po under conditions of use of depleted uranium ammunition

At present, one of the most acute environmental problems is environmental pollution and the consequent deterioration of the health of the population due to the use of depleted uranium munitions. The latter is a new persistent factor of man-made origin, leading to a significant change in the natural radiation background. The main damaging effect of depleted uranium on public health is due to its chemical toxicity and radiation activity. The article discusses the most negative scenario for the development of the consequences of the combat use of shells with depleted uranium in the fields of agricultural land for the population. The negative consequences are not related to 238U, but to its decay products 226Ra and to the decay products of 226Ra – 210Pb, 210B and 210Po. These radionuclides are found in the air and soil in the form of a finely dispersed aerosol after combat use. The conclusion that the isotope 226Ra is in depleted uranium was made on the basis of the fact that the isotope 214Bi, a short-lived isotope of the decay chain 226Ra, was found in the cloud formed after the destruction of the ammunition depot with depleted uranium. An agrotechnological method of reducing negative consequences by introducing organic fertilizers and simple superphosphate into the soil is proposed. The paper presents data on the content of 226Ra in the soils of the regions bordering Ukraine and data on the content of 137Rs in the most polluted areas of the Bryansk region.