Environmental radioactivity in the Arctic, Antarctic

Journal Article · Wed Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1993 · Sea Technology; (United States)

OSTI ID:5429663

Palmer, H

This conference on radioactivity in the Arctic and Antarctic was held in Kirkenes, Norway and sponsored by the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority and the Department of Radiation Physics, Sweden's University of Lund. Radioactivity in the Arctic is the result of both natural phenomena and human activities. Natural or background radioactivity is a result of the breakdown and erosion of rocks that contain naturally radioactive minerals. But the levels introduced by dumping, weapons testing, and industrial activities far exceed such natural levels. Conference delegates cited such contamination sources as: Chernobyl's nuclear reactor accident; Wastes from fuel reprocessing plants at Sellafield (UK) and La Hague (France); Weapons testing in and around Novaya Zemlya; Ocean dumping of reactors, waste containers, and liquid wastes; Runoff from watersheds containing soil and organic material contaminated by atmospheric fallout; Atmospheric fallout from decades of weapons tests by various nations; and, Accidents involving nuclear submarines. The potential for increased radioactive pollution is of great concern and these questions were addressed by several speakers.

• OSTI ID: 5429663
• Journal Information: Sea Technology; (United States), Vol. 34:12; ISSN 0093-3651
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
ANTARCTIC REGIONS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVITY
ARCTIC REGIONS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
MARINE DISPOSAL
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
TRANSFRONTIER CONTAMINATION
CONTAMINATION
CRYOSPHERE
EXPLOSIONS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
POLAR REGIONS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
540330* - Environment
Aquatic- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
450200 - Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense- Nuclear Explosions & Explosives
052002 - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage
290301 - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
Health
& Safety- Regional & Global Environmental Aspects- (1992-)