Airborne concentrations and chemical considerations of radioactive ruthenium from an undeclared major nuclear release in 2017

Olivier Masson; Georg Steinhauser; Dorian Zok; Olivier Saunier; H. Angelov; Damir Babic; Vera Becková; Jacqueline Bieringer; Michel Bruggeman; Christopher Ian Burbidge; S. Conil; A. Dalheimer; L.-E. De Geer; A. de Vismes Ott; K. Eleftheriadis; S. Estier; H. Fischer; G. Garavaglia; C. Gasco Leonarte; K. Gorzkiewicz; D. Hainz; Ian Hoffman; M. Hýza; K. Isajenko; T. Karhunen; Johan Kastlander; C. Katzlberger; R. Kierepko; G.-J. Knetsch; J. Kövendiné Kónyiz; M. Lecomte; Jerzy W. Mietelski; P. Min; B. Møller; S.P. Nielsen; Jelena Nikolic; L. Nikolovska; I. Penev; B. Petrinec; P.P. Povinec; R. Querfeld; O. Raimondi; D. Ransby; W. Ringer; O. Romanenko; R. Rusconi; Paul R.J. Saey; V. Samsonov; B. Silobritiene; E. Simion; C. Söderström; M. Sostaric; T. Steinkopff; P. Steinmann; I. Sýkora; L. Tabachnyi; Dragana Todorovic; E. Tomankiewicz; Jochen Tschiersch; R. Tsibranski; M. Tzortzis; Kurt Ungar; A. Vidic; A. Weller; H. Wershofen; P. Zagyvai; T. Zalewska; Daniel Zapata-Garcia; B Zorko

doi:10.1073/pnas.1907571116

Airborne concentrations and chemical considerations of radioactive ruthenium from an undeclared major nuclear release in 2017

Olivier Masson, Georg Steinhauser, Dorian Zok, Olivier Saunier, H. Angelov, Damir Babic, Vera Becková, Jacqueline Bieringer, Michel Bruggeman, Christopher Ian Burbidge, S. Conil, A. Dalheimer, L.-E. De Geer, A. de Vismes Ott, K. Eleftheriadis, S. Estier, H. Fischer, G. Garavaglia, C. Gasco Leonarte, K. GorzkiewiczD. Hainz, Ian Hoffman, M. Hýza, K. Isajenko, T. Karhunen, Johan Kastlander, C. Katzlberger, R. Kierepko, G.-J. Knetsch, J. Kövendiné Kónyiz, M. Lecomte, Jerzy W. Mietelski, P. Min, B. Møller, S.P. Nielsen, Jelena Nikolic, L. Nikolovska, I. Penev, B. Petrinec, P.P. Povinec, R. Querfeld, O. Raimondi, D. Ransby, W. Ringer, O. Romanenko, R. Rusconi, Paul R.J. Saey, V. Samsonov, B. Silobritiene, E. Simion, C. Söderström, M. Sostaric, T. Steinkopff, P. Steinmann, I. Sýkora, L. Tabachnyi, Dragana Todorovic, E. Tomankiewicz, Jochen Tschiersch, R. Tsibranski, M. Tzortzis, Kurt Ungar, A. Vidic, A. Weller, H. Wershofen, P. Zagyvai, T. Zalewska, Daniel Zapata-Garcia, B Zorko

Research output › peer-review

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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	16750-16759
Number of pages	10
Journal	Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume	116
Issue number	34
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1907571116
State	Published - 20 Aug 2019

Access to Document

10.1073/pnas.1907571116License: Unspecified

Cite this

Masson, O., Steinhauser, G., Zok, D., Saunier, O., Angelov, H., Babic, D., Becková, V., Bieringer, J., Bruggeman, M., Burbidge, C. I., Conil, S., Dalheimer, A., De Geer, L.-E., de Vismes Ott, A., Eleftheriadis, K., Estier, S., Fischer, H., Garavaglia, G., Gasco Leonarte, C., ... Zorko, B. (2019). Airborne concentrations and chemical considerations of radioactive ruthenium from an undeclared major nuclear release in 2017. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 116(34), 16750-16759. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1907571116

@article{35b0d29274d5472f80cc15bc804a60d9,

title = "Airborne concentrations and chemical considerations of radioactive ruthenium from an undeclared major nuclear release in 2017",

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.",

keywords = "environmental radioactivity, ruthenium, nuclear forensics, environmental release, accidental release",

author = "Olivier Masson and Georg Steinhauser and Dorian Zok and Olivier Saunier and H. Angelov and Damir Babic and Vera Beckov{\'a} and Jacqueline Bieringer and Michel Bruggeman and Burbidge, {Christopher Ian} and S. Conil and A. Dalheimer and {De Geer}, L.-E. and {de Vismes Ott}, A. and K. Eleftheriadis and S. Estier and H. Fischer and G. Garavaglia and {Gasco Leonarte}, C. and K. Gorzkiewicz and D. Hainz and Ian Hoffman and M. H{\'y}za and K. Isajenko and T. Karhunen and Johan Kastlander and C. Katzlberger and R. Kierepko and G.-J. Knetsch and {K{\"o}vendin{\'e} K{\'o}nyiz}, J. and M. Lecomte and Mietelski, {Jerzy W.} and P. Min and B. M{\o}ller and S.P. Nielsen and Jelena Nikolic and L. Nikolovska and I. Penev and B. Petrinec and P.P. Povinec and R. Querfeld and O. Raimondi and D. Ransby and W. Ringer and O. Romanenko and R. Rusconi and Saey, {Paul R.J.} and V. Samsonov and B. Silobritiene and E. Simion and C. S{\"o}derstr{\"o}m and M. Sostaric and T. Steinkopff and P. Steinmann and I. S{\'y}kora and L. Tabachnyi and Dragana Todorovic and E. Tomankiewicz and Jochen Tschiersch and R. Tsibranski and M. Tzortzis and Kurt Ungar and A. Vidic and A. Weller and H. Wershofen and P. Zagyvai and T. Zalewska and Daniel Zapata-Garcia and B Zorko",

note = "Score=10",

year = "2019",

month = aug,

day = "20",

doi = "10.1073/pnas.1907571116",

language = "English",

volume = "116",

pages = "16750--16759",

journal = "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America",

issn = "0027-8424",

publisher = "National Academy of Sciences",

number = "34",

}

Masson, O, Steinhauser, G, Zok, D, Saunier, O, Angelov, H, Babic, D, Becková, V, Bieringer, J, Bruggeman, M, Burbidge, CI, Conil, S, Dalheimer, A, De Geer, L-E, de Vismes Ott, A, Eleftheriadis, K, Estier, S, Fischer, H, Garavaglia, G, Gasco Leonarte, C, Gorzkiewicz, K, Hainz, D, Hoffman, I, Hýza, M, Isajenko, K, Karhunen, T, Kastlander, J, Katzlberger, C, Kierepko, R, Knetsch, G-J, Kövendiné Kónyiz, J, Lecomte, M, Mietelski, JW, Min, P, Møller, B, Nielsen, SP, Nikolic, J, Nikolovska, L, Penev, I, Petrinec, B, Povinec, PP, Querfeld, R, Raimondi, O, Ransby, D, Ringer, W, Romanenko, O, Rusconi, R, Saey, PRJ, Samsonov, V, Silobritiene, B, Simion, E, Söderström, C, Sostaric, M, Steinkopff, T, Steinmann, P, Sýkora, I, Tabachnyi, L, Todorovic, D, Tomankiewicz, E, Tschiersch, J, Tsibranski, R, Tzortzis, M, Ungar, K, Vidic, A, Weller, A, Wershofen, H, Zagyvai, P, Zalewska, T, Zapata-Garcia, D & Zorko, B 2019, 'Airborne concentrations and chemical considerations of radioactive ruthenium from an undeclared major nuclear release in 2017', Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, vol. 116, no. 34, pp. 16750-16759. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1907571116

TY - JOUR

T1 - Airborne concentrations and chemical considerations of radioactive ruthenium from an undeclared major nuclear release in 2017

AU - Masson, Olivier

AU - Steinhauser, Georg

AU - Zok, Dorian

AU - Saunier, Olivier

AU - Angelov, H.

AU - Babic, Damir

AU - Becková, Vera

AU - Bieringer, Jacqueline

AU - Bruggeman, Michel

AU - Burbidge, Christopher Ian

AU - Conil, S.

AU - Dalheimer, A.

AU - De Geer, L.-E.

AU - de Vismes Ott, A.

AU - Eleftheriadis, K.

AU - Estier, S.

AU - Fischer, H.

AU - Garavaglia, G.

AU - Gasco Leonarte, C.

AU - Gorzkiewicz, K.

AU - Hainz, D.

AU - Hoffman, Ian

AU - Hýza, M.

AU - Isajenko, K.

AU - Karhunen, T.

AU - Kastlander, Johan

AU - Katzlberger, C.

AU - Kierepko, R.

AU - Knetsch, G.-J.

AU - Kövendiné Kónyiz, J.

AU - Lecomte, M.

AU - Mietelski, Jerzy W.

AU - Min, P.

AU - Møller, B.

AU - Nielsen, S.P.

AU - Nikolic, Jelena

AU - Nikolovska, L.

AU - Penev, I.

AU - Petrinec, B.

AU - Povinec, P.P.

AU - Querfeld, R.

AU - Raimondi, O.

AU - Ransby, D.

AU - Ringer, W.

AU - Romanenko, O.

AU - Rusconi, R.

AU - Saey, Paul R.J.

AU - Samsonov, V.

AU - Silobritiene, B.

AU - Simion, E.

AU - Söderström, C.

AU - Sostaric, M.

AU - Steinkopff, T.

AU - Steinmann, P.

AU - Sýkora, I.

AU - Tabachnyi, L.

AU - Todorovic, Dragana

AU - Tomankiewicz, E.

AU - Tschiersch, Jochen

AU - Tsibranski, R.

AU - Tzortzis, M.

AU - Ungar, Kurt

AU - Vidic, A.

AU - Weller, A.

AU - Wershofen, H.

AU - Zagyvai, P.

AU - Zalewska, T.

AU - Zapata-Garcia, Daniel

AU - Zorko, B

N1 - Score=10

PY - 2019/8/20

Y1 - 2019/8/20

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - environmental radioactivity

KW - ruthenium

KW - nuclear forensics

KW - environmental release

KW - accidental release

UR - http://ecm.sckcen.be/OTCS/llisapi.dll/open/36017228

U2 - 10.1073/pnas.1907571116

DO - 10.1073/pnas.1907571116

M3 - Article

SN - 0027-8424

VL - 116

SP - 16750

EP - 16759

JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

IS - 34

ER -