Radioactive substance detected in Denmark

Wildfires near Chernobyl in early September are likely the cause of radioactive cesium-137 detected over Denmark and other European countries. According to Carsten Israelson, deputy chief of the Nuclear Emergency Management Agency, the levels measured are not health hazardous and would have to be a billion times higher to pose a risk. The radioactive material, stored in trees in the area, became airborne due to the fires. The agency has confirmed the findings with measurements from other European countries and German colleagues’ analysis of wind conditions, indicating the origin is from the Chernobyl fires. No actions have been taken as the values are minuscule and are considered part of an academic exercise to verify consistency in measurements. The Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which exploded in 1986 leading to significant radioactive leakage, has been inactive since.