Radiological and ecological consequences of a hypothetical nuclear submarine accident in the Eastern Mediterranean

A hypothetical accident involving a nuclear power submarine (NPS) in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea was described. The dispersion model used for simulating the dispersal of man-made radionuclides was the hybrid single-particle Lagrangian integrated trajectory (HYSPLIT) code. “Environmental Risk from Ionising Contaminants: Assessment and Management” (ERICA) tools were employed to evaluate issues related to sea health and potential hazards in the event of an accident. The distribution models for radionuclides 137Cs, 134Cs, 90Sr, and 131I were simulated, and their results were used in ERICA tools to predict radiation risks to marine biota. Among these species, the highest internal dose rates were observed in macroalgae (1.67 × 105 µGy h−1) and the highest external dose rates in polychaete worms (2.79 × 104 µGy h−1). Dose accumulation in all organisms exceeded the screening value.