Radiation sensors in Sweden have detected a higher than usual level of isotopes produced by nuclear fission probably from somewhere around the Baltic Sea, as reported by Reuters.
The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) oversees those sensors used to detect the isotopes. One of its stations which scans the air for radionuclides due to their property of being carried by the wind, detected unusually high levels of three radionuclides this week.
The CTBTO’s monitoring stations use seismic, hydroacoustic, and other technology to check for nuclear weapon test anywhere in the world.
These radionuclides include caseium 134, caesium 137 and ruthenium 103. These isotopes are associated with nuclear fission and were detected on 22/23 June according to CTBTO chief, Lassina Zerbo on Twitter.
Zerbo also showed a map on his tweet that doesn’t show borders (interesting) showing an area shaded orange that borders the Baltic sea. That area encompasses countries like Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and extends to the North Sea.
Someone on Zerbo’s tweet replied that there are two nuclear plants present in the shaded area around Russia
There are 2 nuclear plants in the area in Russia.
Loviisan Voimalaitos
And
Leningradskaya Aes
You can find them easily on google maps. pic.twitter.com/qImCQEthJC— No one expects #Cybertruck.³³º¹🪑 (@TheJewbyrd7777) June 27, 2020
“These are certainly nuclear fission products, most likely from a civil source,” a spokeswoman for CTBTO said. “We are able to indicate the likely region of the source, but it’s outside the CTBTO’s mandate to identify the exact origin,” Reuters quoted her comments.
Although CTBTO says that the amounts detected are below what is harmful for human health, this news will definitely be taken seriously by governments around the affected area. 2020 has been a trying year for governments around the world and now dealing with potential radioactivity is the new 2020 challenge.
