I N I T I A L    R E P O R T


Krasnoufimsk, Sverdlovsk, Russia

 Site Description
 Human Exposure & Health Impact
 Site Progress


Site Description 

Location & Size of Site
Krasnoufimsk district is located in Sverdlovsk (Yekaterinburg) region in the Central Urals. 82,000 tons of radioactive monazite concentrate has been stored 7 kilometers from the town of Krasnoufimsk and approximately 200 meters form the Trans- Siberian Railway. The monazite is packed in wooden boxes and stored in 23 warehouses encompassing an area of approx. 20 hectares.

Contaminant Type, Source & Quantity
Since 1960, 82,000 tons of monazite concentrate have been stored in Sverdlovsk Oblast near Krasnoufimsk town. Originally, the concentrate was meant for use in the nuclear industry, but the interest in monazites - as a source of thorium feed materials - was lost with adoption of the uranium-plutonium cycle. The monazite concentrate includes ThO2 (7.8%) and rare-earth materials, such as La (13%), Ce (23%), Pr (3%), Nd (11%), Sm (1%), Eu (0.1%), Gd (0.6%), Tb (0.4%), Dy (0.2%), Ho (0.05%), Er (0.2%), Tu (0.05%), Yb (0.03%), Lu (0.05%), Y (0.8%).

Transmission Pathways
The monazite concentrate emits high radiation levels; inside the warehouse it varies from 0.1 to 20 microSv/hour and on the storage site from 0.1 to 20 mSv/hour. The warehouses are in a dilapidated condition and the monazite has found its way into the environment. There have been reports that people used the radioactive sand for construction purposes at one time.

Number of Potentially Affected People
50,000

Health Impact of Pollutant
There is very high incidence of cancer in the Krasnoufimsk district. As of late 2004 there were 990 cases of cancer among district residents (more than double that of other districts). More than half the children suffer from developmental problems. Illnesses of the musculoskeletal system and thyroid gland as well as reproductive problems are common here. Over the last few years many people in the town of Krasnoufimsk have died of cancer including workers who shoveled monazite sand when it spilled from paper sacks.

Site Progress 
January 2005: This site was reviewed by the Technical Advisory Board.
May 2005: Site visited. Further action pending.