RUSSIA: RADIOACTIVE WASTE DUMPED IN UNDERGROUND BINS OUTSIDE CITY OF SARATOV

Record ID: 640494

  • Title: RUSSIA: RADIOACTIVE WASTE DUMPED IN UNDERGROUND BINS OUTSIDE CITY OF SARATOV
  • Date: 23rd December 1991
  • Summary: SARATOV, RUSSIA (RECENT) 1. GV, GV PAN BARBED WIRE FENCE/FIELD BEING USED FOR DUMPING (2 SHOTS) 0.09 2. GV, CU SCIENTISTS TESTING FOR RADIATION/ GEIGER COUNTER (2 SHOTS) 0.18 3. SV, CU SCIENTIST CHECKING INSTRUMENTS (2 SHOTS) 0.23 4. GV GATE WITH RADIATION WARNING SIGN 0.26 5. GV, SV TRUCK ARRIVING TO DUMP WASTE/WOMAN TESTING TRUCK FOR RADIATION (2 SHOTS) 0.34 6. SVS TECHNICIANS PREPARING TO UNLOAD WASTE/GEIGER COUNTER; WOMAN CHECKING (2 SHOTS) 0.49 7. SV SCIENTIST CHECKING EQUIPMENT 0.57 8. CU, GVS RADIOACTIVITY WARNING SIGN/ DUMPING AREA (3 SHOTS) 1.04 9. SVS WASTE PUT UNDER CONCRETE FLOOR AND CONCRETE LID PUT ON CELLAR (2 SHOTS) 1.15 10. SV, CU WOMAN CHECKING INSIDE TRUCK/ COUNTER (2 SHOTS) 1.20 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 7th January 1992 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SARATOV, RUSSIA
  • City:
  • Country: Russia
  • Reuters ID: LVAF1AU8MT847S9X4KMDAD0YUV32
  • Story Text: Radioactive waste from eight defence factories in southeastern Russia is being dumped in underground bins about 10 kilometres (six miles) outside the city of Saratov.

    Specially equipped trucks drive to the dump site where cranes are used to unload their lethal cargoes, strontium and iridium, which are then tipped into the dumping container.

    In some cases, with less dangerous waste, such as contaminated plutonium from local high school physics laboratories, it is simply thrown into a cellar concealed under the concrete floor of a shed on the dumping site.

    The disposal of the waste has been going on for 30 years at the previously closed site but only now are local farmers and Saratov residents beginning to learn about the dumping.

    Administrators of the dumping ground maintain that radiation levels in the dump are safe but levels of 380-400 micro roentgens (rays) have been recorded which are 20 times the normal amount considered safe.


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