Table 18.4 - Summary data on the scale of contamination of world oceans by radioactive wastes from former USSR territory, 1961­90

Source: Yablokov et al, 1993

Source of contamination Location and date Suspected total activity (TBq)*
LRW from Navy and Murmansk North Atlantic Ocean About 925
Maritime Shipping Line Northwest Pacific Ocean 1959­1991 Over 450
SRW from Navy and Murmansk Same About 11 100
Maritime Shipping Line, including sunken reactors   (experts estimate not over 92500)
Sunken nuclear submarines Atlantic and Pacific oceans Under 24 000
Lost NWHs, RTGs, satellites, etc. Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans Many tens of thousands
Discharge of radioactive waste from Yenisey and Ob Rivers Arctic seas Many tens of thousands
Total All the world's oceans Not over 370 000

Notes: *Terabecquerels (1012 Bq) at time of disposal

LRW ­ Liquid radioactive waste
SRW ­ Solid radioactive waste
NWH ­ Nuclear 'warhead'
RTG ­ Radioisotope thermoelectric generator.