Novaya Zemlya, Russia Nuclear weapons test site From 1954 to 1990, the islands of Novaya Zemlya were used by the Soviets to conduct atmospheric and underground nu- clear tests. Decommissioned nuclear weapons and nuclear submarines were also scuttled around the islands, turning the entire region into an environmental disaster zone. History In July 1954, the two islands of Novaya Zemlya (“New Land”) on the Russian Arctic coast were designated a nuclear weapons test site. The indigenous Nenets population was forcibly resettled and the islands were divided into different testing zones. Between 1955 and 1990, Novaya Zemlya was the site of 130 nucle- 1 ar detonations , including the “Tsar Bomba,” the big- The indigenous population of the region around Novaya gest nuclear device ever detonated, with 50 megatons Zemlya received even higher radiation doses. Most no- of TNT equivalent, almost 4,000 times more powerful tably affected by radiation exposure were the semi-no- than the Hiroshima bomb. The “Tsar Bomba” detona- madic Sami people of the Arctic region and the former tion caused severe destruction of the island within a inhabitants of Novaya Zemlya, the Nenets people. The radius of about 100 km and spread nuclear fallout all Vepsians, Karelians and Komi people, living along the over the Northern Hemisphere. Northern Russian coast, however, were also affected. In addition, the practice of dumping nuclear waste Radioactively contaminated lichen caused high stron- around the islands contributed greatly to the current tium levels in reindeer, which are a mainstay of the environmental catastrophe around Novaya Zemlya. To- local diet.2,5 As was the case with other indigenous populations affected by fallout and radioactive conta- Between 1955 and 1990, Novaya Zemlya was the site of 130 nuclear detonations, including the “Tsar Bomba,” the biggest nu- gether with fallout from nuclear weapons testing and clear device ever detonated, with 50 megatons of TNT equivalent, almost 4,000 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb. the continuous discharge of nuclear waste from the mination, no epidemiological studies were ever per- reprocessing plants at La Hague and Sellafi eld, nucle- formed to assess health effects on the people living ar waste dumped near Novaya Zemlya added to the around Novaya Zemlya. radioactive contamination of the North Sea and Arctic Ocean. Thirteen decrepit nuclear reactors, along with Outlook spent fuel from nuclear submarines with a total radio- activity of 37 Peta-Becquerel (Peta = quadrillion), were As Norway is only 900 km away from Novaya Zemlya, dumped along the coast of Novaya Zemlya and into the Norwegian government is very concerned about the Barents and Kara seas. Two of the most contami- the radioactive waste catastrophe taking place on and nated sites on Novaya Zemlya are the Abrosimov and around the islands. The Barents Sea, which is impor- Stepovogo Fjords in the southern part of the island.2,3 tant for Norway’s fi shing industry, has been severely polluted by radioactive fallout from Novaya Zemlya and is in constant danger of being further contaminated Health and environmental e ects by leaking radioactive waste dumps, submerged spent Scientifi c expeditions found increased levels of cesi- nuclear fuel rods, nuclear submarine wrecks, dumped um-137, strontium-90, cobalt-60, and plutonium-239 nuclear reactors and radioactive waste from bases and -241 in sediments close to the fjords, which were and naval yards. Monitoring and management of the used as radioactive waste dumps.2 A 1992 Russian huge region affected by nuclear pollution has become study found that in 67–72 % of all underground tests, an international responsibility, yet little has been done radioactive gas had leaked through in the rock forma- to contain this danger up to now, let alone investigate tion.4 Together with fallout from atmospheric nuclear the long-term health effects on the local population.2 testing, radioactive gases from underground leaks re- They, too, are casualties of nuclear weapons – they, sulted in increased levels of radiation across Europe, too, are Hibakusha. Murmansk. The decontaminated ship “Lenin” in the background – the world’s fi rst nuclear powered ice-breaker. In most notably in Finland, where radioactive iodine-131 1967, the reactor was severely damaged and, along with the spent fuel rods was scuttled off the coast of Novaya Zemlya. 3 Photo: © Greenpeace / John Sprange was measured in concentrations of up to 5 mBq/m , and in Norway, with cases of radioactively contami- nated milk and iodine-131 concentrations of up to 1.37 megabecquerel (mBq/m3 Mega = million).2 Io- dine-131 is a known cause of thyroid cancer, especial- ly in children. References 1 “The Soviet Union’s Nuclear Testing Program.” Website of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization CTBTO, http://ctbto.org/nuclear-testing/the-effects-of-nuclear-testing/the-soviet-unionsnuclear-testing-programme/ 2 Bøhmer et al. “The Arctic Nuclear Challenge.” Bellona Report Volume 3, 2001. http://bellona.org/assets/sites/6/The_Arctic_Nuclear_Challenge.pdf 3 Koivisto K. “Nuclear Waste Storage Facility on Novaya Zemlya.” Helsinki Hufvudstads bladet, April 1, 1997. www.fas.org/news/russia/1997/drsov04021997000220.htm 4 Matzko JR. “Physical Environment of the Underground Nuclear Test Site on Novaya Zemlya, Russia.” U.S.-Department of the Interior, Geological Survey, 1993. http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1993/0501/report.pdf 5 “Indigenous People and the Nuclear Age – USSR.” Critical Will Radioactively contaminated lichen causes high strontium levels in reindeer, which are a dietary mainstay of the local Nenets and Sami populations. Photo: © TOYOSAKI Hiromitsu An exhibiton by the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, Physicians in Social Responsi- bility e. V. (IPPNW) 66-70 Union Square, #204 Somerville, MA 02143 USA [email protected] | www.ippnw.org Hibakusha worldwide Legally responsible for content: Dr. Alex Rosen.