Traces of radioactive Cesium-137 have been detected along Norway’s border with Russia, according to a report by The Barents Observer on 17 September. The Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA) detected radioactivity in air filters at Viksjøfjell mountain and Svanhovd research center during the second week of September. However, other filters in northern Norway and Finnish Lapland showed no elevated cesium levels during the same period.
Bredo Møller from DSA’s Emergency Preparedness unit at Svanhovd told The Barents Observer,
“The levels are clearly higher than normal, but pose no risk to humans or the environment,” he said, reporting concentrations of 5 µBq/m³ at both Svanhovd and Viksjøfjell filter stations between 5-16 September, and adding: “We will not be surprised if these are also at the same level as what we have seen today.”
The origin of the Cesium-137 remains unknown, while no other radioactive isotopes were found in the filters, and similar measurements have not been reported from the Russian side of the border.
The Barents Observer reported ongoing activities at the Pankovo test site on Novaya Zemlya, where Russian weapons designers have been working on the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile.
“Russian weapons designers from Rosatom have all summer and early autumn been working at the Pankovo test site at Novaya Zemlya,” Barents Observer wrote.
Though there are no official reports of Burevestnik testing, the Barents Observer suggests related activity based on satellite images and sightings of vessels and Rosatom’s Il-76 planes near Pankovo and Rogachevo on Novaya Zemlya.
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