Аннотация
The indicators of natural radioactivity of solid fuels and ash-and-slag materials are examined in the context of assessing their environmental impact. The distribution of naturally occurring radionuclides in fuels and combustion products is analyzed based on gamma-spectrometric and neutron activation studies. It is shown that fuel combustion leads to a significant concentration of natural radionuclides in ash-and-slag materials, resulting in an increase in their specific activity compared to the parent fuel. Radionuclide concentration factors and effective specific activity values are calculated. An assessment of the potential radioecological burden is performed. Statistically significant correlations between rare-earth elements and radioactive nuclides are identified. The obtained results demonstrate the feasibility of using natural radioactivity indicators as an informative tool for environmental monitoring of coal-based power generation and for assessing anthropogenic impacts on the environment.