European researchers map 200,000 radioactive waste barrels dumped in Northeast Atlantic

European researchers have mapped over 200,000 barrels of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste dumped in the Northeast Atlantic between the 1950s and 1990s, according to a statement from France’s CNRS research agency.
The first mapping mission of the NODSSUM project, led by CNRS, took place in summer 2025, with a follow-up expedition from May to June 2026 aboard the *Pourquoi Pas?* research vessel. The crew, including 30 researchers, used the manned *Nautile* submersible to conduct 20 dives to depths exceeding 4,700 meters, directly observing barrels and their immediate surroundings.
The team documented advanced deterioration in many barrels, with some leaking their contents into the sea. On-site measurements confirmed the presence of radionuclides typical of the waste, with activity levels higher than expected but still low overall. Samples of water, sediment, and living organisms were collected to study the spread of radioactivity and its transfer mechanisms in the environment.
Researchers also assessed biodiversity in the areas and gathered data that may help identify the origin of some barrels. The study aims to better understand how radionuclides migrate and interact with deep-sea ecosystems. Laboratory analyses will enable precise radionuclide identification, and the work is set to continue in the coming months .
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