They dumped 200,000 radioactive barrels in the middle of the ocean: 80 years later, France leads the mission to recover them

Between 1946 and 1990, more than 200,000 barrels containing radioactive waste were deliberately sunk into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean by several European countries. These containers, sealed in bitumen or cement, were deposited on the abyssal plains of the northeastern Atlantic, over 2.5 miles deep and about 370 miles off the coast of Nantes, France.

This summer, an interdisciplinary mission called 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 Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority (ASNR), and other international partners, will embark on a month-long expedition to locate and assess the condition of these submerged barrels.

The first phase of the mission, which begins on June 15, aims to map a 3,700-square-mile area of the seafloor using high-resolution sonar and the autonomous underwater vehicle UlyX, capable of operating at depths greater than 2.5 miles.

Environmental impact assessment

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

To ensure safety, radiation protection measures will be implemented aboard the research vessel, including monitoring and controlling the samples and instruments from collection through analysis in onshore laboratories.

The data collected during this initial expedition will be used to plan a second mission focused on the immediate surroundings of the barrels. This stage will involve the use of manned submersibles or remotely operated robots equipped with mechanical arms to directly observe the barrels and collect samples nearby.

The NODSSUM mission is part of the PRIME RADIOCEAN project, which seeks to better understand the risks associated with radioactive waste in the marine environment and contribute to the development of safer and more sustainable nuclear waste management policies.

This initiative marks a significant step in assessing past nuclear waste disposal practices and protecting deep-sea marine ecosystems.

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