Stichting Laka

Publicatie Laka-bibliotheek:
Assessment of possible impact of radionuclides in Russian waters and on Russian land on the North Sea ecosystem (1995)

AuteurArctic Centre, Universiteit Groningen
Datumnovember 1995
Classificatie 2.35.0.00/01 (NOORDPOOL)
Voorkant

Uit de publicatie:

Russian Radionuclides and the North Sea Eco System

Introduction

After World War II, the former Soviet Union started military and civil activities 
using nuclear energy. These industries, submarines and icebreakers produced a mass 
of radioactive waste. Until recently, very little was known about the exact amount 
and the composition of the radioactivity, and the way the former Soviets treated this 
radioactive waste. However, since glasnost and perestroyka, more and more 
information about the dumping and storing of radioactive materials becomes 
available.

The Chernobyl accident in April 1986, the· sinking of the nuclear submarine the 
Komsomolets in April 1989 and the information about the dumping of radioactive 
waste in the Barents and Kara Sea by the former Soviet Union increased the 
attention of the world to the possible problems of radioactive contamination in 
the environment.

The aim of this report is to investigate the possibilities that radionuclides 
originating from the Russian waters and land reach the North Sea and influence
its ecosystem. Therefore, a survey is given of the sources of anthropogenic 
radionuclides released into the environment by the former Soviet Union. Besides 
that, also the sources of possible future releases of radionuclides are described. 
A risk evaluation gives an indication of the relative importance and risk of the 
potential sources of radionuclides.

The most obvious possible transportation route of radionuclides originating from 
the former Soviet Union to the North Sea, is by sea currents from the Arctic Ocean. 
Therefore, sea current patterns of the Arctic and North Atlantic Ocean will be 
investigated.

The used terminology is defined and explained in appendix 1.

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