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Contamination of the Arctic 

 Key Radiological Aspects In Defining an Approach 



Introduction 



Although the extent and Intensity of radioactive and hazardous contamination 

 of the Arctic are Just beginning to be defined, several key aspects of this 

 problem are now apparent. These aspects and some of their implications for 

 formulating an approach to this problem are highlighted here. 



Key Aspects 



Among the most important aspects of the arctic contamination problem are the 

 multiple-source, multiple contaminant nature of the source term, and the 

 location of sources in riverine and marine ecosystems. The straightforward 

 implications of these features hold several Important Implications for a the 

 design of an approach. 



Over the last 50 years, a multiplicity of sources have contributed radioactive 

 and hazardous wastes to the Arctic environment and adjoining oceans. While it 

 now appears that much of this waste arose in connection with defense related 

 activities in the former Soviet Union, other sources, including ocean dumping 

 of radioactive wastes by the British and U.S. weapons testing, may also be 

 important. 



Four major classes of source account for much of the suspected source term to 

 the arctic - [1] Wastes from the weapons production complex, [2] Ocean Dumping 

 and disposal , [3] Waste Disposal at Novaya Zemlya, and [4] Atmospheric 

 testing of nuclear weapons. These four categories of source term are all 

 potentially serious contributors from a long-term human health and ecological 

 risk perspective. Each needs to be better defined and all need to be assessed 

 in terms of contribution to relative risk levels. 



The discharge of high-level radioactive and hazardous wastes from the 

 production complex at Chelyabinsk-65 continued for many years, including 

 direct discharge of reprocessing wastes (fission products and transuranics) to 

 the Techa River, which enters the Kara Sea east of Novaya Zemlya. This source 

 term is on the order of millions of curies, and has caused extensive and at 

 least partially documented human health and ecological effects within the 

 riverine system. The extent of transport to and within the arctic ocean 

 environment is not well known. 



Ocean dumping of hazardous and radioactive wastes in the Barents and Kara Seas 

 continued over at least a 20 year period. These wastes included a variety of 

 solid and liquid wastes at locations that are only generally documented in 

 many cases. 



At Novaya Zemlya, both the island and surrounding bays have been used 

 extensively for waste disposal. Including disposal of thousands of containers 

 of radioactive wastes, and several damaged propulsion reactors, some 

 containing fuel. Nuclear weapons testing, much of which was atmospheric, was 



