26 February 2004 21:26
Tonnes of dangerous radioactive waste removed from Russian plant
Moscow, 26 February: The staff of the radiation emergency service of the Radon research and production association
have removed over 15 tonnes of radioactive waste from the compound of the Kolchugtsvetmet public company in Vladimir
Region, ITAR-TASS was told at Radon-press today.
According to the agency's source, construction waste and soil were "contaminated" with the radioactive
isotope radium-226 and posed a serious threat to people and the environment. The maximum dose of gamma radiation
registered on the spot was 300 microroentgens an hour.
Decontamination work has been conducted at the enterprise since 2001. Every year, Radon staff evacuate dozens of
tonnes of radioactive waste from here. Thus, last year the over 27 tonnes of radioactive waste were removed from
Kolchugtsvetmet.
Altogether, 333.5 cu.m. of radioactive waste were sent to Radon's special range from enterprises in Moscow and
Vladimir regions in 2003.
[ITAR-TASS news agency] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
