Radioactive slabs remain on Independence Square

Victory Square is the forth place in Minsk where granite paving slabs have high radiation background – 44 μR/h. But the MInsk Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology doesn’t think it is a problem and doesn’t consider it necessary to replace radioactive slabs on Independence Square.

Chief engineer of the “Belgran” enterprise Leanid Tsygankou expressed an opinion that the slabs on Victory Square are more radiant than those on Independence Square. “Belgran” supplied paving slabs for the square reconstruction. According to him, the square was paved with the slabs made of third class granite, which was delivered to Belarus from Yantsevo deposit in Ukraine. Such construction materials can be used only beyond the populated places.

The tests, carried out by the journalists, showed that the level of paving slabs on Victory Square radiation doesn’t exceed 44 μR/h. Commenting the fact that Independence Square was paved with radioactive slabs, Natalla Zhukava, deputy chief sanitary doctor at the Minsk Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology, said the maximum permissible radiation level is 40 μR/h. But the Euroradio’s dosimeter showed 60 μR/h on Independence Square.

The “Belgran” chief engineer Leanid Tsygankou says the slabs on Independence Square belong to second class construction materials and it is permitted to pave such slabs in the open air. Before paving the slabs were certified in Belarusian Research Institute of Construction Materials. But according to a test record in radiation security department and work safety of the Institution of Energy and Nuclear Research “Sosny”, the paving slabs on Independence Square delivered from Tokov deposit have the radiation efficiency of 1060 Bq/kg, that 330 Bq/kg more then the level written in Ukrainian passport.

Ala Gubskaya, head of the physical chemistry of silicates laboratory at the Institute of Construction Materials confirmed the information they carried out the sample analysis. The radiation background was the maximum permissible. But she doesn’t know what granite was used on the square.

It hasn’t been decided yet what to do with radioactive slabs on Independence Square. Natalla Zhukava, deputy chief sanitary doctor of Minsk thinks it necessary not to replace the slabs, but calm people.

“People want the slabs to be replaced. But what for? Maybe, they think, it is necessary to replace 20 or 10 slabs, but why should they been replaced? If it is dangerous, it means it is dangerous. If there is a problem, so it means it is a problem. But the problem is not whether to change slabs or not, but that people don’t worried”.

Euroradio has already found four places in Minsk where paving slabs have high radiation background – Independence Square, Victory Square, near the Minsk City Executive Committee and near the City Hall. Every interested person can know with the help of dosimeter whether the sidewalk near his house si radioactive. Genadz Gaiko, sales manager of “Belvar” – the main producer of dosimeters, assured that they produce enough devices to supply the demand. But in the sales house ‘Belavar” we were said they hadn’t any dosimeters for sale. Those who want to by them have to put their names down beforehand.