Traces of radioactive cesium-137 detected on Norway-Russia border Irina Martsiyash Norway has recorded a radiation spike on its border with Russia. It is noted that traces of cesium-137 and uranium-235, which are found in fuel for nuclear reactors and the “filling” for nuclear weapons, have been detected. In particular, this is reported in the publication Barrents Observer. There they write that the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA) claims that the amount of cesium found in air filters is “very low”. Radioactivity was measured in filters in Viksjöfjäll and Svanhovd in the second week of September. So, the radioactive caesium-137 appeared sometime between September 9 and 12. Bredo Møller from the DSA emergency preparedness department in Svanhovd is not worried. The levels are clearly above normal, but do not pose a danger to people or the environment, he said. According to him, they found 5 µBq/m3 at the Svanhovd filter station in week 37 (September 9-16), and they measured the same concentration of 5 µBq/m3 at the Viksjöfjellet filter station in weeks 36-37 (September 5-12 September. The specialist noted that the DSA will conduct additional tests over the next few days. “We wouldn't be surprised if they were at the same level as we saw today,” he added. The DSA says that no other radioactive isotopes were detected during the study of the filters. The publication also writes that it is unknown whether any measurements on the Russian side of the border yielded similar results. It is noted that no other filters in northern Norway or Finnish Lapland detected a peak in cesium content over the past week.What is known about the radiation spike on the border with Russia
Traces of radioactive cesium-137 detected on Norway-Russia border
19
