Dosimetry study of exposed population of villages, after the test in August 29, 1949 at the Semipalatinsk test site

Abstract

The article presents the results of a survey by EPR (Electron Paramagnetic Resonance) dosimetry on tooth enamel. The EPR dosimetry was used to determine individual radiation dose for the residents of the area located close to radioactive fallout trace of the most contaminating nuclear test of 1949 (Dolon and Bodene villages of Beskargai district, East-Kazakhstan oblast).  Absorbed dose in enamel was determined from amplitude of radiation-induced signal in enamel, using measured calibration dependence. For obtaining the best accuracy of dose determination, each tooth enamel samples were measured at least four times. Individual excess doses were determined by subtraction of contribution of natural background radiation from the experimental absorbed doses. It was shown that for residents of Dolon and Bodene having tooth enamel formed before 1949, individual excess doses ranged up to 300 mGy with average value of 5736 mGy; individual doses for younger residents ranged up to 100 mGy with average value of 1310 mGy. The Bodene and Dolon villagers studies received the maximum dose 356 mGy.