Greenpeace has called for an investigation into a potential cover-up of a nuclear accident after Russia’s nuclear agency had denied European reports of increased ruthenium-106 levels. The most potent site was Argayash in the south Urals, where levels were 986 times the norm. Argayash is about 20 miles from Mayak, a facility that reprocesses spent nuclear fuel. It also confirms that the recent Ru-106 emission which is being reported is not linked to any Rosatom site,” the nuclear agency said. Neil Hyatt, professor of nuclear materials chemistry at the University of Sheffield, said: “This isotope comes from recycling of nuclear fuel or medical isotope targets.

Source: The Guardian November 21, 2017 01:52 UTC