Radioactivity from Fukushima Dai-ichi in air over Europe; part 2: what can it tell us about the accident?

135Cs/137Cs Isotopic Ratio as a New Tracer of Radiocesium Released from the Fukushima Nuclear Accident

“…Following this explosion, a fire occurred there. Although the release of FPs, for example, 137 Cs, from the SFP in the Unit 4 reactor building was suggested, 3,9 it has not been verified. Whether the SFP in the Unit 4 reactor building contributed to the large amounts of FPs released remains an important issue of debate.…”

Radioactivity from Fukushima Dai-ichi in air over Europe; part 1: spatio-temporal analysis

“…The committed equivalent dose for the thyroid due to inhalation (Kirchner et al, 2012); the highest thyroid doses should thus probably be in the order of 1 mSv. It should be noted, however, that the ratio of gaseous to particulate iodine induces additional uncertainty (Kirchner et al, 2012), including potential spatial variability.…”

“…It should be noted, however, that the ratio of gaseous to particulate iodine induces additional uncertainty (Kirchner et al, 2012), including potential spatial variability.…”

“…In part 2 of this article (Kirchner et al, 2012) we shall discuss which inferences on the release conditions and states of the affected reactors can be made from the ratios of radionuclides observed in the atmosphere over Europe.…”

Regional Dispersal of Fukushima-Derived Fission Nuclides by East-Asian Monsoon: A Synthesis and Review

“…In the ensuing days, 131 I (T 1/2 = 8.02 d), 134 Cs (T 1/2 = 2.06 y) and 137 Cs (T 1/2 = 30.1 y) emitted from Fukushima NPP were detected across the contiguous United States, progressively from the western seaboard to the eastern seaboard (http://www.epa.gov/jap an2011/). By March 24, Fukushima-derived radioactive materials had travelled across the Atlantic and were detected at many CTBTO (Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization) monitoring stations and elsewhere in Europe (Lozano et al, 2011;Masson et al, 2011;Kirchner et al, 2012). As of April 13, about one month after the nuclear accident, Fukushima-derived radioactivity had spread to the southern hemisphere (CTBTO Preparatory Commission website).…”