Radionuclide 90Sr Volume Activity Variations at the Baltic Sea Coast near Juodkrante

Abstract

As far as radionuclide 90Sr volume activity (VA) after the Chernobyl Power Plant accident in the Baltic Sea increased negligibly, so the self-purification process from it was very slow. Long-term measurements of VA of 90Sr were carried out in 2004 at the Baltic Sea coast near Juodkrante. During June-November, 2004 the average VA of this radionuclide was 12 Bq/m3 and extremely values were 7 and 17 Bq/m3. The variations of absolute values depend on hydro meteorological situations change, precipitation amount variations, and extra penetration of 90Sr into the Baltic Sea and so on. The average 90Sr VA was decreasing since 2001 up to 2004 from 18 Bq/m3 to 12 Bq/m3. It is defined that 90Sr VA values variation does not correlate with conductivity change in sea water. The self-purification process from radionuclide 90Sr in the Baltic Sea mainly depends on its radioactive decay.