Chornobyl radiation spikes are not due to military vehicles disturbing soil

Wood, M.D.; Beresford, N.A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8722-0238; Barnett, C.L. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9723-7247; Burgess, P.H.; Mobbs, S.. 2023 Chornobyl radiation spikes are not due to military vehicles disturbing soil. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 265, 107220. 7, pp. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107220

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107220

Abstract/Summary

On 25th February 2022, increased gamma radiation dose rates were reported within the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ). This coincided with Russian military vehicles entering the Ukrainian part of the CEZ from neighbouring Belarus. It was speculated that contaminated soil resuspension by vehicle movements or a leak from the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant complex may explain these spikes in radiation dose rates. The gamma dose rate monitoring network in the CEZ provides a crucial early warning system for releases of radioactivity to the environment and is part of the international safeguards for nuclear facilities. With the potential for further military action in the CEZ and concerns over nuclear safety, it is essential that such anomalous readings are investigated. We evaluate the hypotheses suggested to explain the apparent gamma dose rate increases, demonstrating that neither military vehicle-induced soil resuspension nor a leak from the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant are plausible. However, disruption of the Chornobyl base-station's reception of wireless signals from the gamma dose rate monitoring network in the CEZ may potentially explain the dose rate increases recorded.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107220
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Pollution (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	0265-931X
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	Chernobyl, gamma dose rate, safeguards, detector response, military action, Russian invasion
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment Atmospheric Sciences
Date made live:	01 Sep 2023 13:31 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/535047

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107220

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Pollution (Science Area 2017-)

ISSN:

0265-931X

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

Additional Keywords:

Chernobyl, gamma dose rate, safeguards, detector response, military action, Russian invasion