Snow pollution by nitrogen-containing substances as a consequence of rocket launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2020-03, Vol.709, p.136072-136072, Article 136072
• Main Authors: Sharapova, A.V., Semenkov, I.N., Koroleva, T.V., Krechetov, P.P., Lednev, S.A., Smolenkov, A.D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Deposition; Nitrogen; Rocket-space activity; Snow pollution
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136072

In this paper, we assessed snow pollution by nitrogen-containing substances including rocket propellants – UDMH (unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine, (СН3)2NNH2) and NT (nitrogen tetroxide, N2O4) – and their transformation products (NDMA (nitrosodimethylamine, (CH3)2NNO), NO3−, NO2− and NH4+) within the falling regions (FRs) of the first and second stages of Proton-M rockets launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. At the first stage FR in Central Kazakhstan, snow with a pH range from 1.7 to 9.0 was contaminated by N-containing substances (maximal value in g/L): UDMH – 0.27, NDMA – 0.04, NO3− – 19, NH4+ – 0.04 and NO2− – 0.13. The first stage landing resulted in snow contamination by soil dust particles and N-containing substances at a rate of 13 g/m2 and 82 mg/m2/day, respectively. The maximal permissible addition (MPA) for UDMH, NDMA and NO3− to the 0–5 cm layer of soil was estimated at 0.06, 0.006 and 70.2 mg/m2, respectively. At the second stage FR in the NE Altai, substances released by space transportation were absent and the concentration of NO3− and NH4+ corresponded to the natural background level. The index of contamination (IC) was used for characterizing the degree of snow contamination by N-containing substances. A simulation model was developed for analysing the dependence of snow contamination by rocket propellant components on the weather parameters. [Display omitted] •At the first stage FR of LV Proton-M, ΣN released into snow reached 81.6 g/m2.•In snow at the 1st stage FR, UDMH content reached 0.3 g/l, NO3− – 19 g/l, рН – 1.7–9.0.•In snow at the 2nd stage FR, N-compound content corresponds to background levels.•The degree of snow contamination depends on it thickness, temperature and wind speed.•The maximal permissible addition for UDMH, NDMA and NO3− was calculated.