Health Effects of Onboard Radiation Accidents in the Soviet Nuclear Submarines
- Authors: Ilyin L.A.1, Kochetkov O.A.1, Barabanova A.V.1, Barchukov V.G.1
-
Affiliations:
- A.I. Burnazyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center
- Issue: Vol 68, No 6 (2023)
- Pages: 42-48
- Section: Radiation Safety
- URL: https://bakhtiniada.ru/1024-6177/article/view/363878
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.33266/1024-6177-2023-68-6-42-48
- ID: 363878
Cite item
Full Text
Abstract
Purpose: To analyze the health effects of onboard radiation accidents in the Soviet nuclear submarines.
Results: Over the entire operation period of Soviet nuclear submarines, eight severe accidents occurred related to nuclear power installations. These accidents occurred in a confined space and the associated radiation situation is more complex than in other conditions; therefore, health effects of such accidents are more significant. There were two types of onboard accidents: thermal accidents (five cases) associated with a failure during heat removal from the reactor core; and accidents (three cases) caused by a partial chain reaction. The first type of accidents occurred during the route operation of nuclear submarine, and the second one – during repair work. Thermal accidents were associated with varying degrees of depressurization of the primary circuit of the reactor, which increased the gamma and beta background due to the entry into the compartment of a large amount of radioactive noble gases (hereinafter – RBGs) and radioactive aerosols. It has been shown that in the confined space of nuclear submarines, RBG isotopes (mainly 85Кr, 133Хе, 135Хе) make a significant contribution to the individual dose and the skin is a critical organ.
Conclusion: An analysis of the health effects of thermal onboard accidents showed that radiation injuries were caused by external gamma- and beta-exposure, as well as the ingestion of radioactive aerosols. If accidents are accompanied by prolonged minor leaks leading to entry of RBG into the compartment, the main contribution is made by beta-exposure and the skin is a critical organ. If there is a simultaneous inflow of coolant into the compartment, combined radiation injuries are formed and, in this case, skin lesions aggravate the acute radiation sickness. In accidents induced by a partial chain reaction, the main radiation factor is external γ-n-exposure during an outbreak of a partial chain reaction, and in the case of a thermal explosion, a traumatic factor also affects a person, leading to injuries of varying severity in the victims.
About the authors
L. A. Ilyin
A.I. Burnazyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center
Email: barchval@yandex.ru
Moscow
O. A. Kochetkov
A.I. Burnazyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center
Email: barchval@yandex.ru
Moscow
A. V. Barabanova
A.I. Burnazyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center
Email: barchval@yandex.ru
Moscow
V. G. Barchukov
A.I. Burnazyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center
Email: barchval@yandex.ru
Moscow
References
- Mormul N.G. Katastrofy pod Vodoy (Gibel Podvodnykh Lodok v Epokhu «Kholodnoy Voyny») = Disasters under Water (Death of Submarines in the Era of the Cold War). St. Petersburg Publ., 2010. 544 p. (In Russ.).
- Aleksin V. Fleet and Accident Rate. Morskoy Sbornik. 1992;10:37–42 (In Russ.).
- Sharayevskiy G., Belikov A., Petrov O., Lisovskiy I. Radiological and Radioecological Consequences of Accidents of Shipboard Nuclear Power Plants. Morskoy Sbornik. 1999;7:52-57 (In Russ.).
- Solovyev V.Yu., Barabanova A.V., Bushmanov A.Yu., Guskova A.K., Ilin L.A. Review of the Radiation Accidents Consequences in the Former USSR Territory (Burnasyan FMBC of FMBA of Russia Register Data) Meditsinskaya Radiologiya i Radiatsionnaya Bezopasnost = Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2013;58;1:36–42 (In Russ.).
- Victims of the Radiation Accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 1986. Part I. Ostraya Luchevaya Bolezn Cheloveka. Atlas. = Acute Radiation Sickness in Humans. Atlas. Ed. Samoilov A.S., Solovyov V.Yu. Moscow, A.I. Burnazyana FMBC Publ., 2016. 140 p. (In Russ.).
- Osipenko L.G., Zhiltsov L.M., Mormul N.G. Atomnaya Podvodnaya Epopeya. Podvigi, Neudachi, Katastrofy = Nuclear Submarine Epic. Exploits, Failures, Catastrophes. Moscow Publ., 1994. 350 p. (In Russ.).
- Finyukova M.G. Watch of Memory (Accident on the Sormovo Submarine on 18 Jan. 1970). Krasnyy Sormovich. 2010;1:3 (In Russ.).
- Sivintsev Yu.V., Vysotskiy V.D., Danilyan V.A. Radioecological Consequences of a Radiation Accident on a Nuclear Submarine in Chazhma Bay. Atomnaya Energiya = Atomic Energy. 1994;76;2:158-160 (In Russ.).
- Bodnarchuk V.I. K-19. Rozhdayushchaya Mify = K-19. Generating Myths. Sevastopol Publ., 2013. 364 p. (In Russ.).
- Gogin E.E., Emelyanenko V.M., Benetskiy B.A., Filatov V.N. Sochetannyye Radiatsionnyye Porazheniya = Combined Radiation Injuries. Moscow Publ., 2000. 240 p. (In Russ.).
- Velichkin E., Petrov O., Salenko Yu. Experience of Medical Support During a Radiation Accident on the K-19 Submarine. Morskoy Sbornik. 2006;6:62–67 (In Russ.).
- Diagnostika Radiatsionnykh Porazheniy = Diagnosis of Radiation Injuries. Guidelines. Ed. Petrova O.I. Moscow Publ., 1994. 71 p. (In Russ.).
- Vasilyev A.A. Accident on the Submarine K-11. URL: http://avtonomka.org/component/k2/1011-авария-на-к-11.html. (In Russ.).
- Sivintsev Yu.V. Was the Chazhma Accident a Far Eastern Chernobyl? Atomnaya Energiya = Atomic Energy. 2002;94;6:472–479 (In Russ.).
- Turkin A.D. Sbornik Rabot po Nekotorym Voprosam Dozimetrii i Radiometrii Ioniziruyushchikh Izlucheniy = Collection of Works on Some Issues of Dosimetry and Radiometry of Ionizing Radiation. Moscow, Atomizdat Publ., 1961;2:137 (In Russ.).
- Turkin A.D., et al. Study of the Distribution of Tissue Doses Created in the Human Body by Inert Radioactive Gases. Materials of a Report at a Conference at the IBP. 1967 (In Russ.).
- Nadezhina N.M., Galstyan I.A. Lecheniye Mestnykh Luchevykh Porazheniy = Treatment of Local Radiation Injuries. Monograph. Moscow, A.I. Burnazyana FMBC Publ., 2013. 99 p. (In Russ.).
Supplementary files
