Release from the nuclear power plant in Sosnovyy Bor in March 1992

Radionuclides released from the Sosnovyy Bor nuclear power plant were detected along the south coast of Finland on 24th of March 1992. The composition of the radioactive material was similar to that found during the Chernobyl accident six years ago. However, the radionuclide concentrations were now about 1 mBq m-3, i.e. five orders of magnitude smaller than the maximum concentration detected in Finland during the Chernobyl fallout. The consequences of the incident in Finland are only of theoretical interest. No countermeasures or protective means were needed. However, the studies showed that the release contained not only radioactive gases, such as noble gases and iodine, but also other substances that were attached to small uranium fuel particles. (orig.)