April 12, 2006

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Chernobyl Radiation Less Than Expected
As the 20th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster approaches, most radioactive traces are disappearing faster than expected in Sweden.
Radio Sweden, Sweden
April 10, 2006

Chernobyl radiation over Sweden

Some 5 percent of the radioactive cloud swept in over Sweden after the explosion at the nuclear power station in Ukraine on April 26, 1986. Rain deposited large amounts of radioactive cesium into central and northern Sweden.

Now the Swedish Radiation Protection Authority says that levels of radioactivity have dropped faster than expected in agricultural products and reindeer meat. On the other hand, the levels remain higher than expected in mushrooms, berries, and game meat.

Those most exposed have the Samis, or Lapps, of northern Sweden. The Radiation Protection Authority says, however, over a 50 year period they are accumulating extra radiation corresponding to about one-twentieth of exposure to natural background radiation.

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