Airborne radioactivity increase in Europe in autumn 2017
Airborne radioactivity was detected in Europe in autumn 2017, starting from the last days of September. The radioactive isotope detected was Ruthenium-106 and it was found to be in small quantities (from microbecquerels to a few millibecquerels per cubic metre of air), not significant for the health of the population.
Reports from affected countries / dates
European monitoring networks declared increased radioactivity levels in Europe, coming from Eastern Europe, in the first days of October:
- the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) reported increase of radioactive particles of Ruthenium-106 since 25 September[1]
- The Austrian Ministry of the Environment informed the public on October 3rd 2017[1]
- The Norwegian Nuclear Safety Authority (NRPA) also released information on low levels of ruthenium isotope in the atmosphere[1]
- The Greek Atomic Energy Commission (EEAE) informed of increased radiation in the atmosphere in Athens since September 27[2]
Similar announcements came from other authorities:[3]
- The German Office for Radiation Protection reported increased radioactivity since September 29[4][5]
- The Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority STUK issued an announcement on the 3rd of October reporting increased radioactivity in samples since the 28th of September[6]
- The Nuclear Safety Administration of the Republic of Slovenia announced detection of low levels of Ruthenium-106 in the atmosphere on the 9th of October[7][8]
- The Institute of Radioprotection and Nuclear Safety of France, indicated that the relatively high levels in the beginning of October have steadily decreased from 6 October, while no radioactive element was detected after 13 of October.
Radioactive levels and health risk
All authorities report that quantities of Ruthenium-106 are small and that they do not represent a risk to human health. An assessment of the French nuclear safety institute IRSN, indicated that although there was no health risk for people in Europe, the radioactive quantity released was significant, estimated from 100 to 300 terabecquerels, which would require an evacuation of people from a radius of several km from the source.[9]
Estimates for the source of radioactive leakage
No indication has been given for the source of these radioactive particles, apart from a statement coming from German authorities estimating the source at Eastern Europe, at a distance of more than 1,000 km from Germany.[10] Later report from the German Federal Radiation Protection Service indicated that South of Urals was a possible location (as well as other potential locations), however, Roshydromet (the meteorology service of Russia), announced that the only location in Russia where Ruthenium-106 was detected was St. Petersburg, from September 25 until October 7, at very small quantities[11]. Reported by Roshydromet Ru-106 activity in St. Petersburg was 115.4 μBq/m3 from Oct 2nd to 6th[12]).
IRSN ruled out the emissions to come from a nuclear reactor, estimating that it should have come either from a nuclear treatment site or from a center producing radioactive medicine. The location where emissions have taken place is estimated south of the Ural mountains, between the Urals and the Volga river, in Russia or Kazakhstan.[9][13]
Roshydromet had issued report stated rise in beta activity of aerosoles and surfaces at all monitoring posts in South Ural from 25th Sep to 1 Oct 2017. In two aerosol samples Ru-106 activity increase was detected. At 26th and 27th Sep Ru-106 decay products was detected in Tatarstan republic. At 27th and 28th Sep high pollution levels of aerosoles and surfaces was detected in Volgograd and Rostov-on-Don. In two aerosol samples from Chelyabinsk Oblast 986- and 440-fold activity increase was measured comparing to preceding month[14].
The Mayak nuclear plant is widely suspected as the source of the radiation.[15]
References
- ^ a b c "Detection of ruthenium 106 in the air in the east and south-east parts of Europe". www.irsn.fr (in French). Retrieved 2017-10-10.
- ^ "Small quantities of radioactivity were detected in the atmosphere of Greece and 6 more EU countries". www.keeptalkinggreece.com. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
- ^ "A puzzling increase in radioactivity has been recorded in several European countries". The Independent. 2017-10-10. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
- ^ (www.dw.com), Deutsche Welle. "Spike in radioactivity measured in Germany, other European countries | News | DW | 05.10.2017". DW.COM. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
- ^ "BfS - Weitere Meldungen - Geringe Mengen Ruthenium-106 in Europa gemessen". www.bfs.de (in German). Retrieved 2017-10-10.
- ^ Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Authority (3 October 2017). "Helsingissä kerätyssä ilmanäytteessä pieni määrä radioaktiivista ainetta".
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "STA: Ruthenium detected in Slovenia". english.sta.si. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
- ^ "| Uprava Republike Slovenije za jedrsko varnost". www.ursjv.gov.si (in Slovenian). Retrieved 2017-10-10.
- ^ a b Sample, Ian; Willsher, Kim (2017-11-10). "Nuclear accident sends 'harmless' radioactive cloud over Europe". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2017-11-10.
- ^ "Spike in airborne radioactivity detected in Europe". Mail Online. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
- ^ "Mysterious spike in radioactive particles across Europe baffles scientists". RT International. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
- ^ "Никто не хотел признавать... Но рутений-106 летает над Европой". newizv.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2017-10-14.
- ^ (www.dw.com), Deutsche Welle. "Harmless radioactive cloud spread over Europe from Russia or Kazakhstan | News | DW | 10.11.2017". DW.COM. Retrieved 2017-11-10.
- ^ Об аварийном, экстремально высоком и высоком загрязнении окружающей среды на территории Российской Федерации в период с 6 по 13 октября 2017 года (Report) (in Russian). Retrieved 2017-11-21.
- ^ Luxmoore, Matthew; Cowell, Alan. "Russia, in Reversal, Confirms Radiation Spike". New York Times. Retrieved November 21, 2017.