Possible Causes of Radioactive Contamination in the Laptev Sea
V.K. Pavlov l , V.V. Stanovoyl and A.I. Nikitin 2
(1) State Research Center - Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, 38 Bering St., 199226 St. Petersburg,
Russia
(2) Scientific Production Association "Typhoon", 82 Lenin St., Obninsk, Russia
Received 3 March 1997 and accepted in revised fonn 3 March 1998
Abstract - Within the framework of the joint Russian-Gennan summer expedition to the
Laptev Sea in 1993 relatively high concentrations of 137Cs and 90Sr were found in the
water and sediment environments of the sea. In the present paper, possible mechanisms of
the radioactive contamination from adjacent marine and land areas are considered. It is
shown that the main cause for enhanced levels of concentration of anthropogenic
radionuc1ides in the Laptev Sea is transport by water and ice from the Kara Sea and adjacent
parts of the Arctic Ocean.
Introduction
During the joint Russian-German expedition "Lapex-93" in summer water samples and samples
from the upper layer of the bottom sediments were collected to analyse the contents of the
anthropogenic radionuclides 137Cs and 90Sr for the first time. These samples were collected by
L. Bovkun from the Scientific Production Association "Typhoon" and the observations
methods and materials were descripted in expeditional reports (Preliminary report, 1993;
Bovkun, 1994). The analyses of these samples, performed at SPA "Typhoon" by A. Nikitin,
L. Bovkun et aI., have shown, that the 137Cs and 90Sr concentrations in the Laptev Sea are
very similar to the concentrations in the Kara Sea. So far the Laptev Sea has been considered
less polluted by radioactivity than the Kara Sea, where liquid and solid radioactive wastes have
been dumped. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the possible transport pathways and
sources of radioactive contamination of the Laptev Sea.
Results of the observations
In Figure 1 the distribution of concentrations 137Cs and 90Sr in the surface water of the Laptev
Sea is presented. Figure 1 illustrates the enhanced concentration of 137Cs in the central and
northern parts of the sea up to 6-9 Bq/m3 and lower concentration in the south-eastern coastal
region of the sea to I Bq/m3 in the Gulf Buorkhaya. In the south-western coastal part of the
Laptev Sea a wide range of concentrations - from 2.1 up to 7.3 Bq/m3 is observed. Distribution
of the 90S r concentration in the surface water of the Laptev Sea is more monotonous and the
values change in the range from 3.7 to 6.6 Bq/m3. The highest values were measured in the
south-western part of the sea.
The distribution of the deposition of 137Cs (Bq/m2) in the upper !Ocm layer of the bottom
sediments is presented in Figure 2. The values varies considerably from 50 up to 1874 Bq/m2,
thus the lowest values are observed in a central part of the Laptev Sea.
Possible causes of the radioactive contaminants of the Laptev Sea
In Figure 3 the scheme of potential sources and transport pathways of the radioactive
contamination in the Arctic seas is presented.
In: Kassens, H., H.A. Bauch, I. Dmitrenko, H. Eicken, H.-W. Hubberten, M. Melles, 1. Thiede and L. Timokhov (eds.)
Land-Ocean Systems in the Siberian Arctic: Dynamics and History. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1999,65-72.
V.K. Pavlov l , V.V. Stanovoyl and A.I. Nikitin 2
(1) State Research Center - Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, 38 Bering St., 199226 St. Petersburg,
Russia
(2) Scientific Production Association "Typhoon", 82 Lenin St., Obninsk, Russia
Received 3 March 1997 and accepted in revised fonn 3 March 1998
Abstract - Within the framework of the joint Russian-Gennan summer expedition to the
Laptev Sea in 1993 relatively high concentrations of 137Cs and 90Sr were found in the
water and sediment environments of the sea. In the present paper, possible mechanisms of
the radioactive contamination from adjacent marine and land areas are considered. It is
shown that the main cause for enhanced levels of concentration of anthropogenic
radionuc1ides in the Laptev Sea is transport by water and ice from the Kara Sea and adjacent
parts of the Arctic Ocean.
Introduction
During the joint Russian-German expedition "Lapex-93" in summer water samples and samples
from the upper layer of the bottom sediments were collected to analyse the contents of the
anthropogenic radionuclides 137Cs and 90Sr for the first time. These samples were collected by
L. Bovkun from the Scientific Production Association "Typhoon" and the observations
methods and materials were descripted in expeditional reports (Preliminary report, 1993;
Bovkun, 1994). The analyses of these samples, performed at SPA "Typhoon" by A. Nikitin,
L. Bovkun et aI., have shown, that the 137Cs and 90Sr concentrations in the Laptev Sea are
very similar to the concentrations in the Kara Sea. So far the Laptev Sea has been considered
less polluted by radioactivity than the Kara Sea, where liquid and solid radioactive wastes have
been dumped. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the possible transport pathways and
sources of radioactive contamination of the Laptev Sea.
Results of the observations
In Figure 1 the distribution of concentrations 137Cs and 90Sr in the surface water of the Laptev
Sea is presented. Figure 1 illustrates the enhanced concentration of 137Cs in the central and
northern parts of the sea up to 6-9 Bq/m3 and lower concentration in the south-eastern coastal
region of the sea to I Bq/m3 in the Gulf Buorkhaya. In the south-western coastal part of the
Laptev Sea a wide range of concentrations - from 2.1 up to 7.3 Bq/m3 is observed. Distribution
of the 90S r concentration in the surface water of the Laptev Sea is more monotonous and the
values change in the range from 3.7 to 6.6 Bq/m3. The highest values were measured in the
south-western part of the sea.
The distribution of the deposition of 137Cs (Bq/m2) in the upper !Ocm layer of the bottom
sediments is presented in Figure 2. The values varies considerably from 50 up to 1874 Bq/m2,
thus the lowest values are observed in a central part of the Laptev Sea.
Possible causes of the radioactive contaminants of the Laptev Sea
In Figure 3 the scheme of potential sources and transport pathways of the radioactive
contamination in the Arctic seas is presented.
In: Kassens, H., H.A. Bauch, I. Dmitrenko, H. Eicken, H.-W. Hubberten, M. Melles, 1. Thiede and L. Timokhov (eds.)
Land-Ocean Systems in the Siberian Arctic: Dynamics and History. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1999,65-72.