Norway detects radioactive material on Russian border: What is the source of the nuclear residue?
Traces of radioactive Cesium-137 have been measured on Norway's border with Russia.
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12PUNTO FOREIGN NEWS
Norway announced that radioactive material was detected in Viksjofjell and Svanhovd, located on the Russian border, during the second week of September. The source of the radioactive material has not been identified.
The Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA) announced that the radioactive substance 'Cesium-137' was found in air filters located in Viksjofjell and Svanhovd. It was reported that the detected amount was 'very low'.
The filters in Viksjofjell and Svanhovd are analyzed once a week at the DSA's emergency preparedness unit. The radioactive Cesium-137 was revealed as a result of the analysis conducted between September 9-12.
Bredo Moller from the DSA's Emergency Preparedness unit in Svanhovd informed the press that there is no cause for concern.
In a statement to the Barents Observer, Moller said, 'The levels are significantly higher than normal, but they do not pose any risk to people or the environment.'
Bredo Moller added that the DSA will conduct further analyses in the coming days.
Cesium-137 is formed as a fission product through the operation of a nuclear reactor or a vehicle operating on a similar nuclear principle.
The DSA notes that no other radioactive isotopes were discovered when the filters were examined.
Other filters located in Northern Norway and Finland have not detected an increase in Cesium-137 in the region over the past week.
On the other hand, the war monitoring organization Liveuamap wrote that the detected Cesium-137 might have been formed as a result of the testing of Russia's newly developed Burevestnik nuclear cruise missile.