TBq
Figure 7:
Annual (dotted line) and
cumulative aquatic H-3
discharges from local nuclear
facilities into the Baltic Sea
1977-2006.
TBq
Figure 8:
Annual (dotted line) and
cumulative aquatic Co-60
discharges from local nuclear
facilities into the Baltic Sea in
1975-2006.
year
The corresponding decay-corrected total
inputs of 137 Cs and 90 Sr originating from
nuclear reprocessing plants in Western
Europe (Sellafield and La Hague) have been
estimated at 250 and 40 TBq, respectively.
This source is currently only of minor
importance, due to significant reductions in
discharges from Sellafield in recent years.
For 137 Cs, the main source is fallout from
Chernobyl (82%), followed by nuclear
weapons test fallout (14%). For 90 Sr, the main
source of contamination is fallout from nuclear
weapons tests (81%), while the proportion
originating from Chernobyl fallout was smaller
( 13 %).
The predominant radionuclide in the
discharges from nuclear power plants and
research reactors in the Baltic Sea region is
3 H. The total discharges of 3 H from these local
sources have amounted to 3,200 TBq, while
discharges of other beta-gamma nuclides
have amounted to about 24 TBq, by the end of
2006. The total discharges of alpha nuclides
have been 0.005 TBq.
:ic Sea Environment Proceedings No. 117