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

O. Masson; G. Steinhauser; D. Zok; O. Saunier; H. Angelov; D. Babic; V. Beckova; J. Bieringer; M. Bruggeman; C. I. Burbidge; S. Conil; A. Dalheimer; L. -E. De Geer; A. de Vismes Ott; K. Eleftheriadis; S. Estier; H. Fischer; M. G. Garavaglia; C. Gasco Leonarte; K. Gorzkiewicz; D. Hainz; I. Hoffman; M. Hyza; K. Isajenko; T. Karhunen; J. Kastlander; C. Katzlberger; R. Kierepko; G. -J. Knetsch; J. Kovendine Konyi; M. Lecomte; J. W. Mietelski; P. Min; B. Møller; S. P. Nielsen; J. Nikolic; L. Nikolovska; I. Penev; B. Petrinec; P. P. Povinec; R. Querfeld; O. Raimondi; D. Ransby; W. Ringer; O. Romanenko; R. Rusconi; P. R. J. Saey; V. Samsonov; B. Silobritiene; E. Simion; C. Soderstrom; M. Sostaric; T. Steinkopff; P. Steinmann; I. Sykora; L. Tabachnyi; D. Todorovic; E. Tomankiewicz; J. Tschiersch; R. Tsibranski; M. Tzortzis; K. Ungar; A. Vidic; A. Weller; H. Wershofen; P. Zagyvai; T. Zalewska; D. 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

O. Masson^*, G. Steinhauser, D. Zok, O. Saunier, H. Angelov, D. Babic, V. Beckova, J. Bieringer, M. Bruggeman, C. I. Burbidge, S. Conil, A. Dalheimer, L. -E. De Geer, A. de Vismes Ott, K. Eleftheriadis, S. Estier, H. Fischer, M. G. Garavaglia, C. Gasco Leonarte, K. GorzkiewiczD. Hainz, I. Hoffman, M. Hyza, K. Isajenko, T. Karhunen, J. Kastlander, C. Katzlberger, R. Kierepko, G. -J. Knetsch, J. Kovendine Konyi, M. Lecomte, J. W. Mietelski, P. Min, B. Møller, S. P. Nielsen, J. Nikolic, L. Nikolovska, I. Penev, B. Petrinec, P. P. Povinec, R. Querfeld, O. Raimondi, D. Ransby, W. Ringer, O. Romanenko, R. Rusconi, P. R. J. Saey, V. Samsonov, B. Silobritiene, E. Simion, C. Soderstrom, M. Sostaric, T. Steinkopff, P. Steinmann, I. Sykora, L. Tabachnyi, D. Todorovic, E. Tomankiewicz, J. Tschiersch, R. Tsibranski, M. Tzortzis, K. Ungar, A. Vidic, A. Weller, H. Wershofen, P. Zagyvai, T. Zalewska, D. Zapata Garcia, B. Zorko

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

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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 μBq·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 degrees 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
Journal	Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume	116
Issue number	34
Pages (from-to)	16750-16759
ISSN	0027-8424
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1907571116
Publication status	Published - 2019

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Masson, O., Steinhauser, G., Zok, D., Saunier, O., Angelov, H., Babic, D., Beckova, V., Bieringer, J., Bruggeman, M., Burbidge, C. I., Conil, S., Dalheimer, A., De Geer, L. -E., Ott, A. D. V., Eleftheriadis, K., Estier, S., Fischer, H., Garavaglia, M. G., Leonarte, C. G., ... 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

Masson, O. ; Steinhauser, G. ; Zok, D. ; Saunier, O. ; Angelov, H. ; Babic, D. ; Beckova, V. ; Bieringer, J. ; Bruggeman, M. ; Burbidge, C. I. ; Conil, S. ; Dalheimer, A. ; De Geer, L. -E. ; Ott, A. de Vismes ; Eleftheriadis, K. ; Estier, S. ; Fischer, H. ; Garavaglia, M. G. ; Leonarte, C. Gasco ; Gorzkiewicz, K. ; Hainz, D. ; Hoffman, I. ; Hyza, M. ; Isajenko, K. ; Karhunen, T. ; Kastlander, J. ; Katzlberger, C. ; Kierepko, R. ; Knetsch, G. -J. ; Konyi, J. Kovendine ; Lecomte, M. ; Mietelski, J. W. ; Min, P. ; Møller, B. ; Nielsen, S. P. ; Nikolic, J. ; Nikolovska, L. ; Penev, I. ; Petrinec, B. ; Povinec, P. P. ; Querfeld, R. ; Raimondi, O. ; Ransby, D. ; Ringer, W. ; Romanenko, O. ; Rusconi, R. ; Saey, P. R. J. ; Samsonov, V. ; Silobritiene, B. ; Simion, E. ; Soderstrom, C. ; Sostaric, M. ; Steinkopff, T. ; Steinmann, P. ; Sykora, 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. ; Garcia, D. Zapata ; Zorko, B. / Airborne concentrations and chemical considerations of radioactive ruthenium from an undeclared major nuclear release in 2017. In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2019 ; Vol. 116, No. 34. pp. 16750-16759.

@article{092a8d56db934731b392a1f446804bab,

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 μBq·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 degrees 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.",

author = "O. Masson and G. Steinhauser and D. Zok and O. Saunier and H. Angelov and D. Babic and V. Beckova and J. Bieringer and M. Bruggeman and Burbidge, {C. I.} and S. Conil and A. Dalheimer and {De Geer}, {L. -E.} and Ott, {A. de Vismes} and K. Eleftheriadis and S. Estier and H. Fischer and Garavaglia, {M. G.} and Leonarte, {C. Gasco} and K. Gorzkiewicz and D. Hainz and I. Hoffman and M. Hyza and K. Isajenko and T. Karhunen and J. Kastlander and C. Katzlberger and R. Kierepko and Knetsch, {G. -J.} and Konyi, {J. Kovendine} and M. Lecomte and Mietelski, {J. W.} and P. Min and B. M{\o}ller and Nielsen, {S. P.} and J. Nikolic and L. Nikolovska and I. Penev and B. Petrinec and Povinec, {P. P.} and R. Querfeld and O. Raimondi and D. Ransby and W. Ringer and O. Romanenko and R. Rusconi and Saey, {P. R. J.} and V. Samsonov and B. Silobritiene and E. Simion and C. Soderstrom and M. Sostaric and T. Steinkopff and P. Steinmann and I. Sykora and L. Tabachnyi and D. Todorovic and E. Tomankiewicz and J. Tschiersch and R. Tsibranski and M. Tzortzis and K. Ungar and A. Vidic and A. Weller and H. Wershofen and P. Zagyvai and T. Zalewska and Garcia, {D. Zapata} and B. Zorko",

year = "2019",

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 = "The National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America",

number = "34",

}

Masson, O, Steinhauser, G, Zok, D, Saunier, O, Angelov, H, Babic, D, Beckova, V, Bieringer, J, Bruggeman, M, Burbidge, CI, Conil, S, Dalheimer, A, De Geer, L-E, Ott, ADV, Eleftheriadis, K, Estier, S, Fischer, H, Garavaglia, MG, Leonarte, CG, Gorzkiewicz, K, Hainz, D, Hoffman, I, Hyza, M, Isajenko, K, Karhunen, T, Kastlander, J, Katzlberger, C, Kierepko, R, Knetsch, G-J, Konyi, JK, 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, Soderstrom, C, Sostaric, M, Steinkopff, T, Steinmann, P, Sykora, 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, Garcia, DZ & 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

Airborne concentrations and chemical considerations of radioactive ruthenium from an undeclared major nuclear release in 2017. / Masson, O.; Steinhauser, G.; Zok, D.; Saunier, O.; Angelov, H.; Babic, D.; Beckova, V.; Bieringer, J.; Bruggeman, M.; Burbidge, C. I.; Conil, S.; Dalheimer, A.; De Geer, L. -E.; Ott, A. de Vismes; Eleftheriadis, K.; Estier, S.; Fischer, H.; Garavaglia, M. G.; Leonarte, C. Gasco; Gorzkiewicz, K.; Hainz, D.; Hoffman, I.; Hyza, M.; Isajenko, K.; Karhunen, T.; Kastlander, J.; Katzlberger, C.; Kierepko, R.; Knetsch, G. -J.; Konyi, J. Kovendine; Lecomte, M.; Mietelski, J. W.; Min, P.; Møller, B.; Nielsen, S. P.; Nikolic, J.; Nikolovska, L.; Penev, I.; Petrinec, B.; Povinec, P. P.; Querfeld, R.; Raimondi, O.; Ransby, D.; Ringer, W.; Romanenko, O.; Rusconi, R.; Saey, P. R. J.; Samsonov, V.; Silobritiene, B.; Simion, E.; Soderstrom, C.; Sostaric, M.; Steinkopff, T.; Steinmann, P.; Sykora, 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.; Garcia, D. Zapata; Zorko, B.

In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol. 116, No. 34, 2019, p. 16750-16759.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

TY - JOUR

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

AU - Masson, O.

AU - Steinhauser, G.

AU - Zok, D.

AU - Saunier, O.

AU - Angelov, H.

AU - Babic, D.

AU - Beckova, V.

AU - Bieringer, J.

AU - Bruggeman, M.

AU - Burbidge, C. I.

AU - Conil, S.

AU - Dalheimer, A.

AU - De Geer, L. -E.

AU - Ott, A. de Vismes

AU - Eleftheriadis, K.

AU - Estier, S.

AU - Fischer, H.

AU - Garavaglia, M. G.

AU - Leonarte, C. Gasco

AU - Gorzkiewicz, K.

AU - Hainz, D.

AU - Hoffman, I.

AU - Hyza, M.

AU - Isajenko, K.

AU - Karhunen, T.

AU - Kastlander, J.

AU - Katzlberger, C.

AU - Kierepko, R.

AU - Knetsch, G. -J.

AU - Konyi, J. Kovendine

AU - Lecomte, M.

AU - Mietelski, J. W.

AU - Min, P.

AU - Møller, B.

AU - Nielsen, S. P.

AU - Nikolic, J.

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, P. R. J.

AU - Samsonov, V.

AU - Silobritiene, B.

AU - Simion, E.

AU - Soderstrom, C.

AU - Sostaric, M.

AU - Steinkopff, T.

AU - Steinmann, P.

AU - Sykora, I.

AU - Tabachnyi, L.

AU - Todorovic, D.

AU - Tomankiewicz, E.

AU - Tschiersch, J.

AU - Tsibranski, R.

AU - Tzortzis, M.

AU - Ungar, K.

AU - Vidic, A.

AU - Weller, A.

AU - Wershofen, H.

AU - Zagyvai, P.

AU - Zalewska, T.

AU - Garcia, D. Zapata

AU - Zorko, B.

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

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 μBq·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 degrees 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 μBq·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 degrees 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.

U2 - 10.1073/pnas.1907571116

DO - 10.1073/pnas.1907571116

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 31350352

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

SN - 0027-8424

IS - 34

ER -