Participation in the IAEA Seminar in Vienna in Austria
On July 18–22, 2022, a meeting of representatives of 16 countries implementing the scientific project F33026: “Development and application of isotope techniques for efficient water resources management in mining areas” was held in the IAEA headquarters.
The work concerned the improvement and application of isotopic methods for solving water resource problems in the areas of activity of mining enterprises. Project implementation dates: 2021–2024.
Representatives of such countries as Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, France, India, Italy, Madagascar, Mexico, Morocco, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, South Africa, Ukraine and Zimbabwe participated in the meeting.
During the meeting, the participants made reports on the results of the first year of project implementation.
Ukraine is represented in this project by the Institute for Safety Problems of Nuclear Power Plants of the NAS of Ukraine, which operates under contract Ukr – 24518.
The work is carried out in coordination with the SI “The Institute of Environmental Geochemistry of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine” and the SI “O. M. Marzieiev Institute for Public Health” of NAMS of Ukraine.
The object of research in Ukraine was the negative impact on the environment and the life of the population as a result of the extraction of potassium salts at the Kalush-Holynskyi deposit. Currently, the mining and beneficiation facilities of this deposit are at the stage of unorganized decommissioning. Environmental pollution and karst depressions of the earth’s surface due to chemical suffusion and subsidence of soils above underground workings are negative consequences of mining activities.
The UN and the European Union have expressed concern about the environmental situation in the area of the city of Kalush. By the decree of the President of Ukraine (No. 145/2010 dated February 10, 2010), the district of Kalush was recognized as a zone of emergency ecological situation.
In his presentation, M. I. Panasiuk, the Head of the Sector of the Division for Design of Objects with Radiation and Nuclear Technologies of the ISP NPP, presented the results of determining the sources of chemical pollution of the aquifer, which is operated by the wells of the Dobryvlian water intake and is the only source of drinking water for the city of Kalush and other settlements of this district.
The presentation was based on maps of the distribution of heavy isotopes of hydrogen, oxygen and pollution indicators in underground and surface waters. Maps and a database of hydrogeological and geochemical data were created by N. V. Sosonna using GIS technologies. Correlation dependences were calculated by I. O. Kovalenko using the method of geochemical statistics.
The results of the first stage of research will become the basis for creating a mathematical model of hydrogeological conditions. Using the model, forecasts of the spread of chemical pollution from the sources of salinity to the Dobryvlian underground water intake will be made. In addition, with the help of the model, it is planned to justify the measures to protect against pollution of the only drinking water aquifer in the area.
In the presentation, there was sad information on the events in Ukraine and Chornobyl, where the Institute’s office and laboratory premises are located. An overview map of the location of the Kalush-Holynskyi deposit and the combat zones with the Russian occupiers was shown. The consequences of the occupation of Chornobyl were demonstrated. Computers were stolen or damaged. Laboratory premises and equipment were looted and destroyed. At the end of the report, M. I. Panasiuk appealed to representatives of the IAEA and to colleagues from other countries for help in restoring laboratory equipment, computers and premises, so that the Institute’s scientists could carry out high-quality scientific research necessary for Ukrainian and international society. A link was provided to the Charity Fund “CHORNOBYL NUCLEAR SAFETY SCIENCE FUND” created by the Institute: http://www.ispnpp.kiev.ua/chornobyl-nuclear-safety-science-fund/
We appeal to the readers of this news, if possible, to join in the restoration of the work of the Institute. Any help would be appreciated.
This post is also available in: Ukrainian
