Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 September 2012
The Shelter constructed above the destroyed Unit-4 of the Chernobyl NPPcontains 20 MCi of nuclear fuel. More than 1000 m3 ofintermediate-level radioactive water is disposed in its basement. Thepurpose of this work was to simulate migration of the radionuclides 90Sr and 137Cs from the Shelter into the subsurfaceenvironment to evaluate their migration rate and migration paths. Amathematical model accounting for the coupled transport of water andradionuclides in variably saturated media was used. The lack of suitableexperimental and field studies excluded the possibility of completevalidating the model. Results of the simulations will be useful for futurefield studies.