From 1946 to 1993, the UK, France, Switzerland and others dumped 200,000 radioactive waste barrels in the Atlantic. Decades later, scientists are investigating the potential radioactive threat.

From 1946 to 1993, several European nations including the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, and Germany, regularly dumped radioactive waste in the North Atlantic, eventually totaling 200,000 barrels. Now, a months-long analysis is underway to determine the extent of the pollution’s impact and scientists are investigating the potential radioactive threat.