200,000 radioactive barrels were dumped in the middle of the ocean. 80 years later, France is leading the mission to recover them

Between 1946 and 1990, more than 200,000 barrels containing radioactive waste were deliberately dumped into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean by several European countries. The containers, sealed with bitumen or concrete, were placed on the abyssal plains of the northeastern Atlantic at depths of more than 13,100 feet, approximately 370 miles off the coast of Nantes, France.

Last summer, an interdisciplinary mission known as NODSSUM, led by the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) in collaboration with the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (Ifremer), the French Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ASNR), and other international partners, launched a month-long expedition to locate and assess the condition of these submerged barrels.

The first phase of the mission, which began in June 2025, focused on mapping approximately 2,317 square miles of the seafloor using high-resolution sonar and the UlyX autonomous underwater vehicle, which is capable of operating at depths greater than 13,100 feet.

Assessing the environmental impact

In addition to locating the barrels, scientists collected water, sediment, and marine life samples to analyze the presence and behavior of radionuclides within the deep-sea ecosystem. These samples will help researchers evaluate the potential effects of the radioactive waste on marine biodiversity and the dynamics of abyssal ecosystems.

To ensure safety, radiation protection measures were implemented aboard the research vessel, including continuous monitoring and control of samples and equipment from collection through laboratory analysis onshore.

The data gathered during this first expedition will be used to plan a second mission focused on the immediate surroundings of the barrels. This phase will involve crewed submersibles or remotely operated vehicles equipped with robotic arms to directly inspect the barrels and collect samples nearby.

The NODSSUM mission is part of the PRIME RADIOCEAN project, which aims to improve understanding of the risks associated with radioactive waste in the marine environment and support the development of safer, more sustainable nuclear waste management policies.

The initiative represents an important step toward evaluating past nuclear waste disposal practices and protecting deep-ocean ecosystems.

Results of the initial survey and the second mission

Initial measurements revealed only low levels of radioactive contamination, comparable to those found in some contaminated areas of France. During the second phase of the project, researchers shifted their focus to examining selected barrels in greater detail.

“We moved from a macroscopic, area-wide approach to one focused on specific points of interest,” Patrick Chardon, a specialist in the environmental effects of radioactivity at CNRS and the University of Clermont Auvergne, told Le Monde.

During the second expedition, scientists aboard the Nautile submersible spent nearly two hours descending to the seafloor to observe the barrels and their surroundings.

“It was a great surprise to discover that there was actually life down there. The most emotional moment came when we saw the first barrel after years of work. We saw one, then two, and before long they were everywhere because there were so many of them.”

The mission demonstrated that numerous organisms inhabit these extreme depths and that some of the barrels have become covered with marine life after spending decades on the ocean floor.

“There is a strange and completely paradoxical beauty to the barrels, which symbolize pollution created by humans,” said marine geologist Javier Escartín of ENS-PSL-CNRS.

Unfortunately, in addition to the barrels, the scientists also encountered the all-too-familiar human trash that has reached even the most remote parts of the world’s oceans.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that of this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.