Bellona Archive

Of the estimated 85,000 TBqs of radioactive waste dumped at sea since the nuclear age began, Russia is responsible for 38,500 TBqs. The 1972 the London Convention, of which Russia is a signatory, bans dumping spent nuclear fuel and limits dumping of low and medium level waste from ships. The convention restricts dumping to areas outside the continental shelf and to depths of 4,000 metres or more. In 1973, the Convention banned all dumping at sea, but Russia has not ratified this latest version. Even though Moscow is still bound to the old Convention, dumping in the Arctic and Pacific by Russia ships has been reported.