Atmospheric transboundary transport of cesium-137 with terrigenous dust from Asian deserts to the southern Far East

Monitoring data on radioactive contamination of the atmosphere have been used in analyzing the seasonal variability in concentrations and fallout flux of technogenic cesium-137 radionuclide contained in atmospheric suspended particles. It is found that an increase in dust and radionuclide concentration is taking place during dust storms in deserts of Asia. It is shown that the increase in the concentrations of dust and cesium-137 is accompanied by an increase in its specific activity in atmospheric suspended particles. This bears witness to the continental origin of the radionuclide in the atmosphere over the southern part of the Far East.