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  • Sporadic increases of radio...
    Stenkin, Yu.V.; Alekseenko, V.V.; Dzhappuev, D.D.; Kuleshov, D.A.; Kudjaev, A.U.; Levochkin, K.R.; Mikhailova, O.I.; Shchegolev, O.B.; Stepanov, V.I.

    Journal of environmental radioactivity, October 2020, 2020-10-00, 20201001, Letnik: 222
    Journal Article

    Some unexpected sporadic increases of an environmental radioactive background have been recorded at mountain level at Baksan Neutrino Observatory (BNO, 1700 m above sea level) using electron-neutron detectors (en-detectors), which could be explained by radioactive aerosol enhancements. The large area inorganic scintillator en-detectors developed for cosmic ray study are continuously monitoring environmental thermal neutron fluxes at various geophysical conditions. Application of the pulse shape discrimination method allows us to select and separately measure both thermal neutrons and radioactive beta-decay nuclides being products of radon decays in air (mostly Rn-222 and Rn-220). There are two en-detector setups running now at BNO, one deep underground while another one at surface. Both installations had recorded some strange sporadic increases of radioactive nuclides in air. In this paper, we present results and the most probable explanation of the significant increases joint by radioactive aerosols production but caused by different reasons: Baksan river floods or nearby underground experiment with powerful Cr-51 radioactive source. •High mountain river flow level, flood and waterfall can increase nearby charged aerosol concentration.•Radon and its progenies above mountain rivers attracting by charged aerosols make them radioactive.•Intensive radioactive source can be a reason of radioactive aerosol concentration enhancement in underground laboratories.