Investigation into Natural and Anthropogenic Radionuclide Contamination on the Absheron Peninsula, Azerbaijan -10208

ABSTRACT The Absheron peninsula in Azerbaijan has a long history of oil and gas exploration, transport, and processing. The region surrounding the capital, Baku, has played a critical role in past conflicts, in particular in the two World Wars, and it continues to play a critical role in providing fossil fuels to Europe. However, the urgency of providing oil and gas, coupled with less stringent environmental controls in the past, has led to considerable contamination of the soil and water in the region with naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) as well as heavy metals and organic materials. In addition, the malfunction of the Chernobyl nuclear power reactor in Ukraine has contributed to the environmental burden in the region. Radiometric surveys, performed at two abandoned iodine separation plants, have shown radiation levels two to three orders of magnitude above background levels. These elevated radiation levels are mainly due to Ra-228 and Ra-226 with lower contributions from U-238 and U-235. More detailed analysis of one specific sample showed a general decrease in Ra-226 and Ra-228 concentration with depth