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Thread: 2017 Nuclear accident ..somewhere in Euroasia

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    Daruwind's Avatar Citizen
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    Default 2017 Nuclear accident ..somewhere in Euroasia

    New article new article about 2017 nuclear accident...somewhere...

    Quick quote from article about amount of released/detected material...a maximum radiation level of 176 millibecquerels per cubic meter of air, which were up to 100 times higher than the total level measured in Europe after the Fukushima incident. The total amount of released radioactivity is however way lower...


    From article itself:
    the autumn of 2017, a cloud of ruthenium-106 was measured in ‘many European countries’ with a maximum radiation level of 176 millibecquerels per cubic meter of air, which were up to 100 times higher than the total level measured in Europe after the Fukushima incident. Even though it was the most serious release of radioactive material since Fukushima in 2011, the public ‘t

    Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2019/07/30/russi...1/?ito=cbshare

    the estimated release of 250 TBq of 106Ru would correspond to an accidental loss of about 7 to 10% of the 106Ru contained in the amount of VVER-440 fuel (700 to 1,000 kg, corresponding to 2 fuel assemblies) that would be necessary for the production of a 3.5 to 5 PBq 144Ce source.
    Just for comparison, Fukushima
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukush...clear_disaster
    As of March 2012, no cases of radiation-related ailments had been reported. Experts cautioned that data was insufficient to allow conclusions on health impacts. Michiaki Kai, professor of radiation protection at Oita University of Nursing and Health Sciences, stated, "If the current radiation dose estimates are correct, (cancer-related deaths) likely won't increase."[174]

    In May 2012, TEPCO released their estimate of cumulative radioactivity releases. An estimated 538.1 PBq of iodine-131, caesium-134 and caesium-137 was released. 520 PBq was released into the atmosphere between 12–31 March 2011 and 18.1 PBq into the ocean from 26 March – 30 September 2011. A total of 511 PBq of iodine-131 was released into both the atmosphere and the ocean, 13.5 PBq of caesium-134 and 13.6 PBq of caesium-137.[175] TEPCO reported that at least 900 PBq had been released "into the atmosphere in March last year [2011] alone".[176][177]
    In 2012 researchers from the Institute of Problems in the Safe Development of Nuclear Energy, Russian Academy of Sciences, and the Hydrometeorological Center of Russia concluded that "on March 15, 2011, ~400 PBq iodine, ~100 PBq caesium, and ~400 PBq inert gases entered the atmosphere" on that day alone.[178]
    https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2...6YG7nZkP3G7DGs

    Significance
    A massive atmospheric release of radioactive 106Ru occurred in Eurasia in 2017, which must have been caused by a sizeable, yet undeclared nuclear accident. This work presents the most compelling monitoring dataset of this release, comprising 1,100 atmospheric and 200 deposition data points from the Eurasian region. The data suggest a release from a nuclear reprocessing facility located in the Southern Urals, possibly from the Mayak nuclear complex. A release from a crashed satellite as well as a release on Romanian territory (despite high activity concentrations) can be excluded. The model age of the radioruthenium supports the hypothesis that fuel was reprocessed ≤2 years after discharge, possibly for the production of a high-specific activity 144Ce source for a neutrino experiment in Italy.

    Abstract
    In October 2017, most European countries reported unique atmospheric detections of aerosol-bound radioruthenium (106Ru). The range of concentrations varied from some tenths of µBq·m−3 to more than 150 mBq·m−3. The widespread detection at such considerable (yet innocuous) levels suggested a considerable release. To compare activity reports of airborne 106Ru with different sampling periods, concentrations were reconstructed based on the most probable plume presence duration at each location. Based on airborne concentration spreading and chemical considerations, it is possible to assume that the release occurred in the Southern Urals region (Russian Federation). The 106Ru age was estimated to be about 2 years. It exhibited highly soluble and less soluble fractions in aqueous media, high radiopurity (lack of concomitant radionuclides), and volatility between 700 and 1,000 °C, thus suggesting a release at an advanced stage in the reprocessing of nuclear fuel. The amount and isotopic characteristics of the radioruthenium release may indicate a context with the production of a large 144Ce source for a neutrino experiment.

    Summary
    Almost exactly 60 y after the Kyshtym and Windscale nuclear accidents in 1957, both substantial sources of 106Ru in the environment (23), a significant release of 106Ru occurred in the southern Eurasian border region in September 2017. It led to detectable yet innocuous levels of this airborne fission product in the rest of Europe. Based on times series of detections at various locations in Central Europe, the event was characterized as a short release. The plume duration lasted about 1 to 3 d on average, depending on the location, with the exception of a few areas (e.g., in Italy where the labeled air mass, once arrived, stayed longer than elsewhere). The release was too substantial to be associated with the incineration of a medical radionuclide source. A satellite crash can also be excluded as the source of the 106Ru. It is much more likely that the 106Ru escaped during reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, possibly in the course of the miscarried production of a highly radioactive 144Ce source for research applications in the Gran Sasso Laboratory in Italy. This study confirms high radiopurity of the radioruthenium, an age of about 2 y or less, as well as both relatively high solubility and volatility of the Ru species on the air filters. According to detection time series, a back-trajectory analysis, and chemical considerations, the Mayak nuclear complex in southern Urals should be considered as a likely candidate for the release.
    (Left) Map of uncorrected average concentrations at European stations, and (Right) map of 7-d corrected average concentrations (based on average plume duration of 7 d at each location).
    Last edited by Daruwind; August 09, 2019 at 08:26 AM.
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    Magister Militum Flavius Aetius's Avatar δούξ θρᾳκήσιου
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    Default Re: 2017 Nuclear accident ..somewhere in Euroasia

    Yes it was a gaseous release of Ruthenium-106 from the Mayak reprocessing plant (formerly known as Kyshtym). There's a really good write up of exactly how this happened by Nicholas Thompson: https://twitter.com/thompn4/status/1012090725507457025

    The levels of radiation are absolutely harmless. That being said the Russians need to work harder to make sure it doesn't happen again.

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    Daruwind's Avatar Citizen
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    Default Re: 2017 Nuclear accident ..somewhere in Euroasia

    I completely agree it was harmless. Yet the denial from Russia side is exactly what I´m worried about. Plus recent strange accident on russian deep sea submarine. There were comments how those brave sailors prevented world wide catastrophe. But we have details. Simply put it, I would not expect such behavior from state with Chernobyl history. :/ (I´m not bashing Russia as state, just the reality..)
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    Default Re: 2017 Nuclear accident ..somewhere in Euroasia

    This is a legacy of the decay that followed the dissolution of the Soviet Union. I would argue in the other direction. With the "rust" that the Russian Federation inherited, such accidents are inevitable. It is compounded by the nature of the regime as well. Bureaucracy will simply be far less efficient in such a centralized state that has to cover such a large amount of territory. Not to mention the international responsibilities it carries.

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    Default Re: 2017 Nuclear accident ..somewhere in Euroasia

    Rosatom has a good track record overall. The government's inherent secrecy is an issue though, but the Mayak release was actually the result of isotope production for French research.

    I believe the submarine thing you're talking about is that they found the reactor core of one of the 14 odd nuclear subs that have sunk to the bottom of the ocean had been exposed more rapidly than originally anticipated. It's important data, but again not really a concern since the Ocean shields and dilutes radiation incredibly well.

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