Modelling the potential radiological consequences of radioactive waste dumping in the Kara Sea

• Published in: Journal of environmental radioactivity 1998-01, Vol.39 (2), p.161-181
• Main Authors: Baxter, M.S., Harms, I., Osvath, I., Povinec, P.P., Scott, E.M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air. Soil. Water. Waste. Feeding; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environment. Living conditions; Exact sciences and technology; Medical sciences; Natural water pollution; Pollution; Pollution sources. Measurement results; Pollution, environment geology; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Seawaters, estuaries; Soil and sediments pollution; Water treatment and pollution
• ISSN: 0265-931X; 1879-1700
• DOI: 10.1016/S0265-931X(97)00053-2

There has recently been growing concern over the dumping of high- and medium-level solid radioactive wastes in the Kara Sea by the former Soviet Union. The largest amounts of radioactive wastes were dumped primarily as nuclear reactors containing spent nuclear fuel. The present radionuclide inventory in dumped nuclear reactors is estimated at 4·7 PBq. Compartmental and hydrodynamic models have been developed and applied to describe the possible dispersal of radioactive contaminants and to predict the long-term radiological impact on global, regional and local scales. The collective committed effective dose to the world population based on the marine food ingestion pathway has been calculated as 2·2 man Sv. Modelling results suggest that only radiological effects on a local scale may be of importance. The global radiological impact of the disposals in the Kara Sea will be smaller than from other anthropogenic sources of radioactivity.