A scramble for data on Arctic radioactive dumping

Journal Article · Fri Jul 31 04:00:00 EDT 1992 · Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.257.5070.608· OSTI ID:7014301

Marshall, E

On 15 August, a Russian research vessel, the Viktor Buynitskiy, will leave the Norwegian port of Kirkenes packed with surveying equipment and scientists. Its mission will be to check out one of the more alarming environmental stories that have drifted out of the former Soviet Union since its collapse last fall: a claim that the Arctic is being polluted by tons of radioactive waste spilled or dumped by the Soviet military. Since May, US officials have been searching for information to confirm or disprove the reports about Russian radiation. The basic concern, is as follows: Arctic waters - and, potentially, fisheries near Norway and Alaska - are in danger of being contaminated by radioactive isotopes leaking from two major sources. One is the area around Novaya Zemlya, an archipelago where the Soviets conducted bomb tests, scuttled submarines, and disposed of waste canisters. The other is freshwater runoff into the Arctic Ocean - including the Ob and Yenisey Rivers - carrying isotopes from weapons plants, waste ponds, and accident sites in Siberia.

• OSTI ID: 7014301
• Journal Information: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States), Journal Name: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States) Vol. 257:5070; ISSN SCIEA; ISSN 0036-8075
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540330* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ACCIDENTS
ARCTIC REGIONS
ASIA
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EUROPE
FISHERIES
ISOTOPES
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MONITORING
POLAR REGIONS
POLLUTION
RADIATION ACCIDENTS
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
RADIOISOTOPES
RUNOFF
USSR
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WATER POLLUTION