Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
ACP
Articles | Volume 26, issue 8
Articles | Volume 26, issue 8
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-5839-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-5839-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Articles | Volume 26, issue 8
Research article
 | 
29 Apr 2026
Research article |  | 29 Apr 2026

Unprecedented radioactive pollution in Spitsbergen's air – first data of the 21st century

Anna Cwanek, Agnieszka Burakowska, Ewa Nalichowska, Magdalena Długosz-Lisiecka, Marek Kubicki, Tomasz Wawrzyniak, Edyta Łokas, Michał Gryziński, and Gabriela Lubera

Viewed

Total article views: 4,200 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total Supplement BibTeX EndNote
3,126 902 172 4,200 277 158 183
  • HTML: 3,126
  • PDF: 902
  • XML: 172
  • Total: 4,200
  • Supplement: 277
  • BibTeX: 158
  • EndNote: 183
Views and downloads (calculated since 13 May 2025)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 13 May 2025)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 4,200 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 4,136 with geography defined and 64 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 

Saved (final revised paper)

Latest update: 10 Sep 2026
Download
Short summary
We looked at man-made radioactive substances in the Arctic lower atmosphere. We found that airborne plutonium is linked to environmental processes, including local redistribution, possibly biomass burning, and long-range transport from remote areas. However, the presence of americium and neptunium in the air could not be explained by natural mechanisms, suggesting recent nuclear releases. We reconstructed aerosol trajectories to identify the most likely transport pathways from northern Eurasia.
Read more
Share
Altmetrics
Final-revised paper
Preprint