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Chornobyl radiation spikes are not due to military vehicles disturbing soil

Wood, M.D.; Beresford, N.A.; Barnett, C.L.; Burgess, P.H.; Mobbs, S.

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Authors

Profile image of Mike Wood

Prof Mike Wood M.D.Wood@salford.ac.uk
Associate Dean Research & Innovation

N.A. Beresford

C.L. Barnett

P.H. Burgess

S. Mobbs



Abstract

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.

Citation

Wood, M., Beresford, N., Barnett, C., Burgess, P., & Mobbs, S. (in press). Chornobyl radiation spikes are not due to military vehicles disturbing soil. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 265, 107220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107220

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jun 7, 2023
Online Publication Date Jun 21, 2023
Deposit Date Jul 4, 2023
Publicly Available Date Jul 4, 2023
Journal Journal of Environmental Radioactivity
Print ISSN 0265-931X
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 265
Pages 107220
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107220

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