Unusually high radioactive dust in Europe confused experts

The detectors detect large amounts of radioactive dust in the air in Europe but experts have yet to find out their origin.

The German Radiation Protection Agency reports increased radioactivity in some areas in Central Europe and Western Europe last week, according to RT. The increased amount of radioactive dust was discovered at many measuring stations across Europe and 6 locations in Germany.

The amount of radioactive dust increased throughout Europe.(Artwork: Twitter).

The radioactive dust particles are ruthenium-106 , an isotope used in cancer radiotherapy for eye tumors and sometimes used in radiofrequency thermal generators (RTGs) that supply energy to satellites. The countries that saw a surge in ruthenium-106 were Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland.

Although the authorities emphasize that people should not panic, they are not sure where the radioactive material comes from. This level of radioactive dust is not dangerous to human health."A new analysis of the source of radioactive materials definitely indicates the location in the southern Ural but it cannot exclude other areas in southern Russia," the Radiation Protection Agency said.

Because only ruthenium-106 was found, the authorities excluded the cause due to a nuclear power plant incident. Soaring cases of radioactive dust across Europe have happened in the past but very rarely.

In February, iodine-131 radioactive dust was recorded by the IRSN institute in many parts of Europe such as Norway, Finland, Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, France and Spain. The radioactive source is still unknown, according tootherboard.