Methodology and techniques of early detection anomalies ⁸⁵Kr and ³H in near bottom layer of sea water by water infiltration in spent nuclear fuel in dumpsites of the ship and submarine reactors

¹ V.I. Il'ichev Pacific Oceanology Institute Far-Eastern Branch RAS, Vladivostok, Russia
² Russian Scientific Centre “Kurchatov Institute", Moscow, Russia
³ Institute for Nuclear Research RAS, Moscow, Russia
⁴ V.I. Vernadsky Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry Institute RAS, Moscow, Russia

Abstract

Assessment of the future radioactive environmental contamination threat by releases from dumped submarine and ship reactors with Spent Nuclear Fuel (SNF) is a project goal. The methodology of detection of traces of ⁸⁵Kr and ³H (which the first are leaking from the SNF) in sea water is advanced. Search of ship nuclear reactors on a bottom in dumpsites on ⁸⁵K plume is proposed. Investigation of releases from the dumped ship reactors with SNF of icebreaker “Lenin" in Kara Sea is launched (September 2003). Research has complex character: experiments with SNF, creation of techniques located on R/V “Ak. B. Petrov" and expedition works. Preliminary observation of hydrological characteristics in zone of marked dumpsites has been fulfilled. The first results on the ⁸⁵Kr concentration in near-bottom layer of Kara and the Barents Seas also Tritium and Radiocesium during August 2003 were obtained.