Background radiation in the Marshall Islands was higher than in Chernobyl

9

The United States experienced in the Islands 67 nuclear bombs.

Scientists from Columbia University have measured the radiation background and the content of radioactive isotopes in the soil of the Marshall Islands. It turned out that the background radiation is higher than Chernobyl and Fukushima. The research results were published in the journal PNAS, reports the online edition of the Chronicle.info with reference to zn.ua.

From 1946 to 1958, the US tested in the Marshall Islands district 67 nuclear bombs. The tests were conducted on the atolls of Bikini and Enewetak that has caused irreparable harm to the environment. March 1, 1954 was carried out the most extensive testing that affected the residents of the atolls Rongelap and Utirik.

In the new study, the researchers decided to determine the level of radioactive contamination of the Islands at the moment. The result is elevated levels of radiation were seen in nine Islands across four atolls, and on 11 Islands was recorded in the soil content of radioactive isotopes of americium-241, cesium-137, plutonium-238 and plutonium-239, 240.

Moreover, the level of americium-241 on some Islands was much higher than in Chernobyl in 2009. The content of plutonium at Bikini island was 1,000 times higher than in Chernobyl and Fukushima. Researchers claim that the four Islands — Runit, Engebi, Bikini and Naen – stronger contaminated than the Chernobyl zone.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here