Chernobyl radioactive particles found to be more stable than expected

Researchers studying the Chernobyl exclusion zone have discovered that certain radioactive particles in the soil are more stable than previously hypothesized. Using high-intensity X-ray techniques, scientists from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf and other German institutions examined the internal chemical structures of microscopic fragments formed during the 1986 reactor explosion.

The study, published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, revealed that these particles are highly heterogeneous. While some are fragile uranium oxides that could break down and become airborne, others have formed resistant matrices. These stable particles trap radionuclides, such as plutonium and other fission products, within their mineralogical and chemical structures.

This stability affects the rate of leaching—the process by which radionuclides are released into water, soil, or living organisms. The research indicates that the release of radiation depends heavily on whether the elements are weakly bound to mineral surfaces or encased in a highly resistant matrix, which is influenced by acidity, humidity, temperature, and microbial activity.