Submitted by: Secretariat DRAFT INDICATOR REPORT ON TOTAL AMOUNTS OF THE ARTIFICIAL RADIONUCLIDE CAESIUM-137 IN BALTIC SEA SEDIMENTS

Total amounts of the artificial radionuclide caesium-137 in Baltic Sea sediments Erkki Ilus,STUK Key message The most significant source of artificial radioactivity in the Baltic Sea is the fallout from the Chernobyl accident. The distribution pattern of Chernobyl-derived Cs-137 in Baltic Sea sediments was very scattered, with the highest values occurring in the Bothnian Sea and the eastern Gulf of Finland. The total inventory of Cs-137 in the Baltic Sea sediments was estimated at 1900-2200 TBq in 1998. Results and assessment Click to enlarge the image. Figure 1. Cs-137 in bottom sediments at 9 sampling stations in 1984-2002, Bq/m2. Click the image to enlarge. Relevance of the indicator for describing developments in the environmen