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Radioactive Trace Found in Philippine Waters
19 Jan
Summary
- Elevated iodine-129 levels detected west of the Philippines.
- Isotope likely originated from global nuclear activities, not local plants.
- Iodine-129 acts as a tracer for ocean pollutant movement.
Scientists have identified heightened concentrations of iodine-129, a persistent radioactive isotope indicative of nuclear activity, in seawater west of the Philippines. Analysis of surface samples revealed levels approximately 1.5 to 1.7 times higher than in other Philippine-claimed waters.
The research suggests that this detected iodine-129 does not stem from the numerous nuclear power plants operating in East Asia. Instead, the enrichment is attributed to a combination of historical nuclear fuel reprocessing, past nuclear weapons testing in regions like China and Kazakhstan, and fallout from the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.
These contaminants were likely deposited on soils in northeastern China, subsequently carried by rivers to the Bohai and Yellow Seas. Ocean currents then transported this material southward, leading to its presence in the West Philippine Sea. The findings underscore the need for improved management of transboundary radioactivity and demonstrate iodine-129's utility in tracking complex ocean circulation patterns.
