An unknown source of reactor radionuclides in the Baltic Sea revealed by multi-isotope fingerprints

• Published in: Nature communications 2021-02, Vol.12 (1), p.823-10, Article 823
• Main Authors: Qiao, Jixin, Zhang, Haitao, Steier, Peter, Hain, Karin, Hou, Xiaolin, Vartti, Vesa-Pekka, Henderson, Gideon M., Eriksson, Mats, Aldahan, Ala, Possnert, Göran, Golser, Robin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 140/58; 704/172; 704/829; 704/829/827; Anthropogenic factors; Baltic States; Emergency preparedness; Environmental tracers; Fallout; Fingerprints; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Iodine; multidisciplinary; Nuclear accidents & safety; Nuclear engineering; Nuclear facilities; Nuclear reactors; Nuclear research; Nuclear safety; Ocean floor; Radioactive emissions; Radioactive Fallout - analysis; Radioactive wastes; Radioactivity; Radioisotopes; Radioisotopes - analysis; Reactors; Reprocessing; Research facilities; Safety regulations; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Seawater - analysis; Spent nuclear fuels; Sweden; Uranium; Uranium - analysis; Water Pollutants, Radioactive - analysis
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21059-w

We present an application of multi-isotopic fingerprints (i.e., 236 U/ 238 U, 233 U/ 236 U, 236 U/ 129 I and 129 I/ 127 I) for the discovery of previously unrecognized sources of anthropogenic radioactivity. Our data indicate a source of reactor 236 U in the Baltic Sea in addition to inputs from the two European reprocessing plants and global fallout. This additional reactor 236 U may come from unreported discharges from Swedish nuclear research facilities as supported by high 236 U levels in sediment nearby Studsvik, or from accidental leakages of spent nuclear fuel disposed on the Baltic seafloor, either reported or unreported. Such leakages would indicate problems with the radiological safety of seafloor disposal, and may be accompanied by releases of other radionuclides. The results demonstrate the high sensitivity of multi-isotopic tracer systems, especially the 233 U/ 236 U signature, to distinguish environmental emissions of unrevealed radioactive releases for nuclear safeguards, emergency preparedness and environmental tracer studies. Anthropogenic activities lead to the accumulation of radioactive substances in the environment. Here the authors use multi-isotopic fingerprints of uranium and iodine to discover a previously unknown source of reactor uranium in the Baltic Sea, likely sourced from a Swedish nuclear facility.