Low-Background Nuclear Studies of Uranium/Thorium Components of Sediments of The Tisza River Water Basin

characteristics of the terrestrial radioactivity of the sediments of the
Tisza river water basin, particularly for uranium/thorium
components, are presented. The results were obtained by lowbackground gamma-spectrometric measurements of the content of
natural (natural isotopes U/Th, 40K) and artificial (137Cs)
radionuclides of sediments of the Borzhava River, one of the largest
tributaries of the Tisza River. Regulations and procedures for
establishing the studied areas' radiation parameters are considered:
• The sampling scheme
• The choice of isotope-marks
• Their characteristics and features of low-background
gamma-spectrometric studies
According to the study results of samples of bottom sediments of
the Borzhava River, information was obtained on spatial and
seasonal changes in the specific activity of radionuclides of the
uranium and thorium natural series nature-forming (40K) and
technogenic isotopes (137Cs). Data were obtained on the degree and
nature of the imbalance in the equilibrium of daughter radionuclides
of natural U/Th series content in the sediment samples. It is shown
that the characteristics of terrestrial radioactivity make it possible to
assess the geochemical indicators of the studied territories, the
content, and the ratio of chemical elements U/Th/K. The use of
multidimensional statistical analysis allows establishing the degree
of correlation between sampling points on the content of
natural/technogenic radionuclides; latent factors that form the
parameters of terrestrial radioactivity and indicate anthropogenic
activity along the Borzhava riverbed. Systematic studies of this kind
are essential for standardizing the parameters of terrestrial
radioactivity parameters allow for certification and development of
radiation maps of the Tisza River Basin.