Aerosol radioactivity record in Bratislava/Slovakia following the Fukushima accident--a comparison with global fallout and the Chernobyl accident

J Environ Radioact. 2012 Dec:114:81-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2012.05.008. Epub 2012 Jun 7.

Abstract

Results of radioactivity measurements in Bratislava aerosols following the Fukushima accident showed that at least three radioactive plumes arrived to Bratislava as indicated by (131)I/(137)Cs activity ratios. When compared with the Chernobyl results available for the Bratislava station, the Fukushima radionuclide levels were almost five orders of magnitude lower, with the maximum values for (131)I and (137)Cs of 0.5 and 0.07 mBq/m(3), respectively. The (131)I and (137)Cs vs. (7)Be aerosol activity records showed that the increases in (131)I and (137)Cs activity concentrations were accompanied by (7)Be increases, indicating that both the horizontal and vertical transports of radionuclides were responsible for observed radionuclide concentrations. The (134)Cs/(137)Cs activity ratio was close to 1, as has also been reported by other investigators.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aerosols
  • Air Pollutants, Radioactive / analysis*
  • Cesium Radioisotopes / analysis*
  • Chernobyl Nuclear Accident*
  • Fukushima Nuclear Accident*
  • Iodine Radioisotopes / analysis*
  • Japan
  • Radiation Monitoring
  • Radioactive Fallout / analysis*
  • Radioactivity
  • Slovakia
  • Ukraine

Substances

  • Aerosols
  • Air Pollutants, Radioactive
  • Cesium Radioisotopes
  • Iodine Radioisotopes
  • Radioactive Fallout