Radioactivity Exploration from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Part 1: Introduction

This book is dedicated to professor emeritus Bengt Forkman (Nuclear Physics, Lund University) who in 1979 took the initiative to arrange an environmental radioactivity research program for the Ymer-80 expedition. He engaged his old friend Bertil Persson whom he during the 1960th inspired to university studies in Lund who just been promoted to professor of Radioecology at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala. Bertil Persson was tutor for Elis Holm at Lund University, who for his thesis was engaged in radiochemical analysis of plutonium isotopes in the environment. Elis Holm became deeply involved in management of Ymer-80 and all the following expeditions as well. We found a superior talent for the logistics in Kjell-Åke Carlsson (who was mechanical engineer at the department of radiation physics at Lund University). Without him, we would not have been able to solve all the thousands of practical issues and contacts with authorities and sponsors. He also contributed with the diaries extensive photographic and video documentation of all the expeditions. We have together compiled this book although several others were partly engaged in the various expeditions to whom we are deeply thankful for their contributions. They will appear as contributors in the separate parts of this book: 1. Ymer-80 (Bengt Forkman, Boel Forkman, Lars Ahlgren (diseased) 2. Swedarp 1988-1989 (Per Roos, Birgitta Roos) 3. Arctic Ocean 1991 4. Tundra Expedition 5. Arctic Ocean 1996 (Dan Josefsson, Mats Ericsson

Radioactivity Exploration from the Arctic to Antarctica. Part 5: The Tundra-94 expedition

The joint Swedish-Russian “Tundra Ecology-94” expedition during 1994 used the large Russian ice-breaking research vessel R/V Akademik Fedorov a platform and went along a coastline of 3500 km-from the Kola Peninsula 10°E to Kolyuchinskaya Bay 173°E. Radioactivity in air, seawater and sediment was explored at various locations along the route. The average of 7Be activity concentration in air over the Arctic Ocean was found to be only about 0.6 mBq.m-3, in air close to the Siberian coast-line, however, it was as high as 11 mBq.m-3. The activity concentration of 210Pb in the air over the Arctic Ocean varies between 37 – 176 micro-Bq.m-3. In the air close to the Siberian coastline 71oN 84oE, however, the activity concentration of 210Pb in the air was much higher, about 2500 micro.Bq.m-3. Anthropogenic radioactivity in the Arctic originate from nuclear weapons fallout, release from nuclear fuel reprocessing plant, and from the Chernobyl accident. The minimum values of the 137Cs activity concentration water along the route of the Tundra were found in South-eastern Barents Sea: 5.3 Bq.m-3 of surface-water, and of bottom-water 6.4 Bq.m-3. Maximum values were found in the Western Laptevsea: 12.8 Bq.m-3 of surface-water, and of bottom-water 5.1 Bq.m-3. East of 150 oE the 134Cs / 137Cs ratios are less than 0.003, indicating that less than 6% of the 137Cs originated from the Chernobyl accident. 137Cs levels are reduced to values of about 1.4 Bq.m-3 in the low salinity water near the mouths of the Ob and Yenisey Rivers. The 134Cs / 137Cs activity ratio of 0.014 in the freshwater indicates that the Chernobyl component in the river systems is the same (30%) as in the marine waters west of 150 oE. In surface water the 90Sr activity concentration range from 2 to 4 Bq.m-3, Maximuim values about 3.5 Bq.m-3 were found between 100-140 oE. But east of 150 oE the values decreased to about 0.5 Bq.m-3 at 170 oE. In bottom water the 90Sr activity concentration range from 1.5 at 40 oE to maximum values about 4 Bq.m-3 between 100-120 oE. . The measured 90Sr/137Cs ratios in surface water close to a value of 0.14 over a wide range of stations from the Barents to the Laptev Seas. The 129I concentration in sea-water along the route of the Tundra expedition decrease from about 20·1011 atoms.l-1 at 40 oE, to about 1·1011 atoms.l-1 east of 160 oE. The 239+240Pu activity concentration in surface seawater decrease from about 10 mBq.m-3 to about 1 mBq.m-3 east of 160 oE. In bottom seawater it is more evenly distributed between 10-4 mBq.m-3, with minimum at 60-80 oE and maxima at 40oE and 160 oE. Measured 238Pu/239,240Pu activity ratios in the water column yield no evidence of any leakage of plutonium from dumped nuclear wastes in the Kara and Barents Seas

Radioactivity exploration from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Part 3. The SWEDARP expedition Oct 1988 – April 1989

The Swedish Antarctic Research Expedition named “SWEDARP” was performed during October 1988 through April 1989. The aim of our project was to study the radioactivity in air and water from Gothenburg to the Antarctic. Between Gothenburg and the Equator, the average activity concentration of 7Be in air was 4.3 ± 0.7 mBq/m3. The activity concentration of 7Be in the South Atlantic down to Antarctica varied between 1.3 and 1.7 with an average of 1.5 ± 0.8 mBq/m3. The average activity concentration of 210Pb in air during autumn 1988 on the route Gothenburg- Montevideo was about 290±270 micro-Bq/m3 and on the return in spring 1989 it was about 230±140 micro-Bq/m3. At the Equator, the average activity concentration of 210Pb in November 1988 was about 630±170 and in April 1989 about 260±210 microBq/m3. In the South Atlantic down to Antarctica during February-March 1989, the activity concentration of 210Pb varied between 11 and 58 micro-Bq/m3. The average activity concentration of 210Po in air during the route Gothenburg- Montevideo in 1988 was about 63±58, and on the return, it was about 60±44 The Swedish Antarctic Research Expedition named “SWEDARP” was performed during October 1988 through April 1989. The aim of our project was to study the radioactivity in air and water from Gothenburg to the Antarctic. Between Gothenburg and the Equator, the average activity concentration of 7Be in air was 4.3 ± 0.7 mBq/m3. The activity concentration of 7Be in the South Atlantic down to Antarctica varied between 1.3 and 1.7 with an average of 1.5 ± 0.8 mBq/m3. The average activity concentration of 210Pb in air during autumn 1988 on the route Gothenburg- Montevideo was about 290±270 micro-Bq/m3 and on the return in spring 1989 it was about 230±140 micro-Bq/m3. At the Equator, the average activity concentration of 210Pb in November 1988 was about 630±170 and in April 1989 about 260±210 microBq/m3. In the South Atlantic down to Antarctica during February-March 1989, the activity concentration of 210Pb varied between 11 and 58 micro-Bq/m3. The average activity concentration of 210Po in air during the route Gothenburg- Montevideo in 1988 was about 63±58, and on the return, it was about 60±44 micro-Bq/m3. At the Equator, the average activity concentration in Nov 1988 was about 132±45, and in April 1989 about 70±60 micro-Bq/m3. The activity concentration of 210Po in the South Atlantic down to Antarctica during February-March 1989 varied between 6 and 14 micro-Bq/m3. The inventory (Bq.m-2) of various deposited ratio nuclides, measured in moss, lichen, soil and lake sediments was: 280 ±110 for 210Pb (excess); 155 ± 95 for 137Cs, 4.6 ± 2.6 for 239+240Pu, 1.6 ± 1.0 for 241Am and, 0.95± 0.5 for 238Pu. 137Cs activity concentration (Bq.m-3) in surface waters samples along the route of the SWEDARP expedition was about 3 Bq.m-3 above 20 °N , decreased to about 2 Bq.m-3 between 20 °N and 40 °S where it decrease to about 1 Bq.m-3 , and at 55 °S (e) there is a further decrease to about 0.3 Bq.m-3. Radio-Caesium, which originates from atmospheric nuclear weapons tests carried out in the late 1950's and the early 1960's shows a long residence time in surface waters of the North and South Atlantic Oceans with half-time, corrected for physical decay estimated to be more than bout 100 years. Concentration factor for 137Cs estimated to 15000 for fish in the Antarctic is much higher than the value of 500 given by The IAEA 1985. Concentration factors for MacroAlgea/Water, was found to be about 1800 in the Antarctic compared to 100 the Arctic. The 239+240Pu activity concentrations in the surface water was about 8 mBq.m-3 in the latitude band 5°-25 °N , about 3 mBq.m-3 in the latitude band 25-5 °N; and about 1,5 mBq.m-3 in the latitude band 0 °S-60 °S. Plutonlum-238 activity was measured in a few water samples from the southern hemisphere with activity ratio of 238Pu to 239+240Pu in the range of 0.14-0.22. Plutonium isotopes 239+240Pu from atmospheric nuclear weapons tests has a low half-life of 7-8 years due to the higher affinity to sinking particles for Pu than Cs. In the southern hemisphere, 238Pu was found as the result of the 1964 burn-up of a satellite in the atmosphere over the Mozambique Channel. The Average activity concentrations (Bq/kgdw,) of 137Cs are in flesh of seals 2.5, penguins 0.2 and, fish 2.5 in liver of seals 0.6 and penguins 0.7 and in kidneys of seals 0.5. The Average activity concentrations (Bq/kgdw) of 210Po are in flesh of seals 8, penguins 4 and, fish 7, in liver of seals 110 and penguins 43 and, fish 5, and in kidneys of seals 91 and of penguins 43. The Average activity concentrations (Bq/kgdw,) of 210Pb are in flesh of seals 0,3, penguins 0,2, and fish 0.6, in liver of seals 4 and penguins 1 and, fish 1, and in kidneys of seals 1 and of penguins 1. The Average activity concentration of 137Cs in samples of Krill is about 1.7 Bq/kgdw of 210Po and 210Pb are in samples of Amphipods, 87 and 1.4 Bq/kgdw respectively. Radio-Caesium, which originates from atmospheric nuclear weapons tests carried out in the late 1950's and the early 1960's shows a long residence time in surface waters of the North and South Atlantic Oceans with half-time, corrected for physical decay estimated to be more than bout 100 years. Plutonium isotopes 239+240Pu from atmospheric nuclear weapons tests has a low half-life of 7-8 years due to the higher affinity to sinking particles for Pu than Cs. In the southern hemisphere, 238Pu was found as the result of the 1964 burn-up of a satellite in the atmosphere over the Mozambique Channel.Bq/m3. At the Equator, the average activity concentration in Nov 1988 was about 132±45, and in April 1989 about 70±60 micro-Bq/m3. The activity concentration of 210Po in the South Atlantic down to Antarctica during February-March 1989 varied between 6 and 14 micro-Bq/m3. The inventory (Bq.m-2) of various deposited ratio nuclides, measured in moss, lichen, soil and lake sediments was: 280 ±110 for 210Pb (excess); 155 ± 95 for 137Cs, 4.6 ± 2.6 for 239+240Pu, 1.6 ± 1.0 for 241Am and, 0.95± 0.5 for 238Pu. 137Cs activity concentration (Bq.m-3) in surface waters samples along the route of the SWEDARP expedition was about 3 Bq.m-3 above 20 °N , decreased to about 2 Bq.m-3 between 20 °N and 40 °S where it decrease to about 1 Bq.m-3 , and at 55 °S (e) there is a further decrease to about 0.3 Bq.m-3. Radio-Caesium, which originates from atmospheric nuclear weapons tests carried out in the late 1950's and the early 1960's shows a long residence time in surface waters of the North and South Atlantic Oceans with half-time, corrected for physical decay estimated to be more than bout 100 years. Concentration factor for 137Cs estimated to 15000 for fish in the Antarctic is much higher than the value of 500 given by The IAEA 1985. Concentration factors for MacroAlgea/Water, was found to be about 1800 in the Antarctic compared to 100 the Arctic. The 239+240Pu activity concentrations in the surface water was about 8 mBq.m-3 in the latitude band 5°-25 °N , about 3 mBq.m-3 in the latitude band 25-5 °N; and about 1,5 mBq.m-3 in the latitude band 0 °S-60 °S. Plutonlum-238 activity was measured in a few water samples from the southern hemisphere with activity ratio of 238Pu to 239+240Pu in the range of 0.14-0.22. Plutonium isotopes 239+240Pu from atmospheric nuclear weapons tests has a low half-life of 7-8 years due to the higher affinity to sinking particles for Pu than Cs. In the southern hemisphere, 238Pu was found as the result of the 1964 burn-up of a satellite in the atmosphere over the Mozambique Channel. The Average activity concentrations (Bq/kgdw,) of 137Cs are in flesh of seals 2.5, penguins 0.2 and, fish 2.5 in liver of seals 0.6 and penguins 0.7 and in kidneys of seals 0.5. The Average activity concentrations (Bq/kgdw) of 210Po are in flesh of seals 8, penguins 4 and, fish 7, in liver of seals 110 and penguins 43 and, fish 5, and in kidneys of seals 91 and of penguins 43. The Average activity concentrations (Bq/kgdw,) of 210Pb are in flesh of seals 0,3, penguins 0,2, and fish 0.6, in liver of seals 4 and penguins 1 and, fish 1, and in kidneys of seals 1 and of penguins 1. The Average activity concentration of 137Cs in samples of Krill is about 1.7 Bq/kgdw of 210Po and 210Pb are in samples of Amphipods, 87 and 1.4 Bq/kgdw respectively. Radio-Caesium, which originates from atmospheric nuclear weapons tests carried out in the late 1950's and the early 1960's shows a long residence time in surface waters of the North and South Atlantic Oceans with half-time, corrected for physical decay estimated to be more than bout 100 years. Plutonium isotopes 239+240Pu from atmospheric nuclear weapons tests has a low half-life of 7-8 years due to the higher affinity to sinking particles for Pu than Cs. In the southern hemisphere, 238Pu was found as the result of the 1964 burn-up of a satellite in the atmosphere over the Mozambique Channel