Roshydromet informed that according to his observations at the end of September in the Urals was recorded extremely high airborne levels of radioactive isotope ruthenium-106, high - in Tatarstan, the Volga region and Rostov-on-don.

From September 25 to October 1, exceeding the permissible limits fixed all equipment in the southern Urals. In samples of radioactive aerosols were found radioisotope Ru-106 (half-life 368,2 day).

The presence of ruthenium in the sample villages Argayash and Novogornyy over the last month and 986 440 times, which corresponds to the level of "extreme pollution".

September 26-27, ruthenium-106 were detected in Tatarstan, 27-28 September - in Volgograd and Rostov-on-don. After that, the ruthenium-106 was recorded by the European countries, starting with Italy and then to Northern Europe.

However, experts note that the concentration was far below the permissible and did not pose any danger to the population.

Ruthenium-106 is used as a radiation source in cancer therapy. Rarely ruthenium-106 is used in radioisotope thermoelectric generators, which are used in power supply satellites. A substance can also occur in the processing of nuclear fuel elements.
sections: Accidents