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A Cold War Soviet atomic submarine met disaster 30 twelvemonth ago when it sank in the Norwegian Sea , leading to the deaths of 42 navy man . But rather of lying peacefully at the bottom of the sea , that poor boy , called the Komsomolets , is leak radioactive material deep beneath the wave .
Several samples collect by an submersed robot from and around the sunken Cuban sandwich ’s ventilation duct show that it ’s leaking high spirit level of cesium , a radioactive constituent , according to theNorwegian Institute of Marine Research(IMR ) . Some of the caesium levels are 800,000 times higher than normal levels in the Norwegian Sea , according to the institute .
A remotely operated vehicle (ROV) takes samples from the sunken Soviet sub in the Norwegian Sea.
However , this radiation does not pose a risk to people or Pisces , the IMR noted . [ Photos : WWII Shipwrecks line up Off NC Coast ]
The Soviets launch the 400 - animal foot - farseeing ( 120 meters ) Komsomolets , which means " fellow member of the Young Communist League , " in May 1983,according to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency . While the Komsomolets was on patrol in April 1989 , a fire broke out on display board , leading to the sub ’s eventual demise . As the Komsomolets sank , its two atomic reactors and at least two torpedoes with plutonium - contain atomic warheads fall to the bottom of the sea .
Since then , the Russians and Norwegians have monitored the shipwreck , noting its radioactive leak .
" We took body of water sampling from inside this particular duct because the Russians had documented leaks here both in the 1990s and more latterly in 2007 , " Hilde Elise Heldal , the dispatch drawing card , said in the IMR statement . " So we were n’t surprised to findhigh levelshere . "
An depth psychology showed that one sample had 100 becquerels per litre , compared with the usual 0.001 Henri Becquerel per cubic decimetre normally found in the Norwegian Sea . ( A becquerel ( Bq ) is a unit of radiation that represents decay per second . )
But Heldal said it was important to put this number into linear perspective . For instance , keep an eye on theChernobyl nuclear disaster , regularisation were place for how much atomic number 55 would be allowed in foods . " After the Chernobyl fortuity in 1986 , Norwegian authorities do this point of accumulation to 600 Bq / kilogram , " she say . So , even though the cesium levels from part of the submarine " were understandably above what is normal in the ocean , " they still " were n’t alarmingly high , " Heldal allege .
Strange cloud
But theremotely mesh vehicle(ROV ) , called the Aegir 6000 , did capture a unknown sight on film : an eery cloud emanating from the submarine ’s duct . After detecting the swarm , the ROV took a sample , which was later rule to hold high levels of cesium .
Then , the ROV get another sample distribution from a cloud see prove from a nearby grille . This reading also had high radioactivity levels .
Now , the researchers are wondering if this " swarm " is tie in to the high radiation level in those areas . " It look very dramatic on picture , and it ’s definitely interesting , but we do n’t really have a go at it what we ’re seeing and why this phenomenon hap , " Gwynn said . " It ’s something we require to find out more about . " [ Photos : WWI - Era German Submarine Wreck learn Off Scotland Coast ]
The research worker design to study the many samples the ROV collected from the torpedo . In the meantime , Heldal stressed that seafood eater have piffling to worry about .
" What we have found during our survey has very little shock on Norse fish and seafood , " she enounce . " In general , cesium levels in the Norwegian Sea are very low-spirited , and as the wreck is so deep , the defilement from Komsomolets is quickly reduce . "
Even so , scientist plan to monitor the vas for years to come , especially since it ’s the only known source of radioactive befoulment in Norway ’s waters .
" We demand unspoiled certification of pollution level in brine , ocean bottom sediments and , of course of study , Pisces and seafood , " Heldal said . " So , we ’ll persist in monitor both Komsomolets in particular and Norse waters in cosmopolitan . "
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