Evaluation of Hungarian monitoring results and source localization of the 106Ru release in the fall of 2017

Abstract

Anthropogenic 106 Ru has been detected in the environment from late September to early October 2017 by several European environmental radiological monitoring networks. The paper presents the comprehensive evaluation of Hungarian monitoring results related to the occurrence of 106 Ru in various environmental compartments (airborne particulates, deposition, plants, and terrestrial indicators), which was implemented to determine the temporal and spatial variation of the contaminant on a national scale and also to verify the findings based on the data arising from environmental monitoring at a local scale in Budapest. Difficulties in direct comparison of the diverse reported data were also considered; results arising from varied sampling periods were corrected with account taken of the relation between the sampling duration and 4-day-long plume residence (estimation based on the daily monitoring of air and backward trajectory analysis). Integrated analysis of air and deposition measurements and meteorological data was also performed; the deposition processes were investigated by establishing the correlations of activity concentrations measured in the atmosphere and in the deposition samples. In order to study the temporal distribution and spatial localization of the 106 Ru contamination and to interpret the measurements at ground level, backward trajectory analysis was performed with HYSPLIT model. The backward trajectory simulations suggested that the release had probably occurred during the last week of September 2017 from the geographical area between Volga and the Urals. In addition, assessment of the doses due to the 106 Ru release was implemented considering external exposure from cloudshine and groundshine and internal exposure via inhalation.

Nuclear Sample Provenance and Age Determination Using Ruthenium Isotopes

“…More recently, Hopp et al reported measurements of stable Ru in an environmental filter paper sample where 106 Ru was detected. The filter paper collection was part of a larger event where 106 Ru was detected across Europe during several months in the fall of 2017. ,− The stable Ru isotopic composition in the paper was consistent with release from spent fuel and comparison with select values reported for different reactor types pointed toward a water–water energetic reactor (VVER) as the source of the emissions . This prior work suggested that 106 Ru measurements could have important future applications in environmental monitoring, as this volatile radioisotope (RuO 4 , boiling point: 40 °C) can be released in nuclear accidents and other nuclear activities. ,− …”