The 1957 accident: radiological situation and radiation doses of participants in the liquidation of the accident on the territory of PA “Mayak” industrial site

Abstract

Purpose: to assess the radiation situation on the industrial site of the PA “Mayak” during the accident in 1957 and the radiation doses of the participants in the liquidation of consequences of this accident. Materials and methods: on the basis of the archival documents analysis, radiation situation data for 1957 – 1960, IDC data and calculated doses of the Mayak workers, as well as supporting organizations personnel and military units involved in the liquidation of the accident consequences and covered by individual monitoring are presented. Results: in 1957 – 1959 about 38,5 thousand people took part in the works on the territory of the PA “Mayak” industrial site for liquidation of consequences of the accident, including persons exposed at the time of the accident: employees of “Mayak”, military and civil builders. Radiation doses from 25 to 30 R received about 10,5 thousand people, while there were single cases of exposure in doses up to 100 R. Conclusion: the collective dose received during the accident and liquidation of its consequences in 1957 was about 820 000 person-R. Collective doses recorded in 1958 and 1959 amounted to 250 000 person-R and 54 000 person-R, respectively.