Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-8bljj Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-30T03:07:50.149Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Traces of Fukushima fallout in the environment of Northwest Germany

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 January 2012

J. Barescut ,
D. Lariviere ,
T. Stocki ,
H.W. Fischer ,
B. Hettwig  and
D. Pittauerová
H.W. Fischer
Affiliation:
Institute of Environmental Physics, University of Bremen, 28334 Bremen, Germany
B. Hettwig
Affiliation:
Institute of Environmental Physics, University of Bremen, 28334 Bremen, Germany
D. Pittauerová
Affiliation:
Institute of Environmental Physics, University of Bremen, 28334 Bremen, Germany
Get access

Abstract

Traces of short- and long-lived fallout isotopes (131I, 134Cs and 137Cs) were found in environmental samples obtained in northwest Germany (river sediment, rainwater, grass and milk) from March to May 2011, following the radioactivity releases after the nuclear accident in Fukushima, Japan. The found concentration values are consistent with reported concentrations in air, amount of rainfall and expected values applying simple radioecological models. The [134Cs]/[137Cs] ratio reported for air (about 1:1) allows for discrimination between “recent” and “old” 137Cs. Expected 136Cs values fell below the detection limits of the instrumentation, despite large sample masses and long counting times.

Type
Research Article
Information
Radioprotection , Volume 46 , Issue 6: ICRER 2011 – International Conference on Radioecology & Environmental Radioactivity: Environment & Nuclear Renaissance , 2011 , pp. S181 - S185
Copyright
© Owned by the authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

CTBTO, “Fukushima-related measurements by CTBTO”, http://www.ctbto.org/press-centre/ highlights/2011/fukushima-related-measurements-by-the-ctbto/fukushima-related-measurements -by-the-ctbto-page-1 (accessed 5/2011).
Icelandic radiation safety authority, “Summary of radionuclide concentrations in air, March 19th – April 13th, Reykjavík, Iceland”, http://www.gr.is/media/skyrslur//Iceland_air_filter_data_2011 _04_20.pdf (accessed 5/2011).
Deutscher Wetterdienst, stations Potsdam and Offenbach, Ref. TI24 ”Radioaktivitätsüberwachung”, http://www.bfs.de/en/ion/imis/spurenmessungen.html (accessed 5/2011).
Bronson F.L., J. Radioanal. Nucl. Ch. 255 (2003) 137–141.
Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, station Brauschweig, AG 6.12 ”Umweltradioaktivität”, http://www.ptb.de/_radioaktivitaet.html (accessed 5/2011).
Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz, station Schauinsland, FG SW 2.5 “Atmosphärische Radioaktivität und Spurenanalyse”, http://www.bfs.de/en/ion/imis/spurenmessungen.html (accessed 5/2011).
Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, “Messdaten zur Radioaktivität in der Luft in Oldenburg”, http://uwa.physik.uni-oldenburg.de/52520.html (accessed 5/2011).
SSK Heft 37: Leitfaden für den Fachberater Strahlenschutz der Katastrophenschutzleitung bei kerntechnischen Notfällen; Berichte der Strahlenschutzkommission Heft 37 (2004).
DWD station Bremen airport, personal communication.
Störfallberechnungsgrundlagen zu §49 StrlSchV – Neufassung des Kapitels 4: Berechnung der Strahlenexposition; Berichte der Strahlenschutzkommission Heft 44 (2004).