Radioactive contamination of the soils of Georgia

After 29–30 years from Chernobyl atomic plant accident the main soil types of Georgia have been examined on contamination presence of 137Cs and 90Sr. Level of radioactive contamination of soils (137Cs deposition) we can separate three levels: I - 0–10 kBq/m2 - Black, Cinnamonic, Raw carbonate, Mountain meadow, Chernozems, Black forest brown, Primitive and Yellow soils; II - 10–37 kBq/m2 - Red, Bog and Yellow forest brown soils; III - > 37 kBq/m2 - Yellow podzolic soils. In a big majority of soils 137Cs deposition of layer 0–20 cm does not exceed 37 kBq/m2 (1 Ci/km2), that allows us to attribute this examined sample points to non-contaminated territories. In five points of sampling with maximum 137Cs deposition in a layer of 0–20 cm have been measured specific activities of 137Cs in a layer of 20–40 cm and have been evaluated 137Cs deposition in a layer of 0–40 cm. Results for most of the soils also does not exceed 37 kBq/m2 (1 Ci/km2). Exclusion is Yellow podzolic soil near to v.Jvari (West Georgia), where 137Cs deposition was 38.0 and 70.4 kBq/m2 accordingly in layers of 0–20 cm and 0–40 cm. We can attribute this zone to radiological contamination, particularly to living zone of privileged socio-economic status. In Yellow podzolic soils we can observe high mobility of 137Cs primary in kaolinite composition of clay fraction and in connection to this lowering of intensity of non-exchangeable absorption by soil of this radionuclide. In all soils 90Sr deposition in a layer of 0–20 cm does not exceed 11.1 kBq/m2 (0.3 Ci/km2) that allows us to attribute examined territories to “relatively satisfying situation”