Abstract
Following the reactor accident at Chernobyl, environmental samples of air, rain water and agricultural and marine products were collected and analyzed by gamma- and alpha-spectrometry. The highest concentrations of 131I in the environmental samples were as follows: 1·0× −1 Bqm −3 (aerosol-associated in air); 3·0×10 −1 Bqm −3 (gaseous in air); 2·1×10 2 bq kg −1 (plants); 1·4×10 1 Bq litre −1 (milk). Other nuclides such as 95Zr, 95Nb, 103Ru, 106Ru, 125Sb, 129mTe, 132I/ 132Te, 134Cs, 137Cs, 140Ba/ 140La, 141Ce and 144Ce were also observed in various environmental samples. 110mAg was only detected in marine products such as cephalopoda and shellfish, 239,240Pu and 241Am originating from the accident were not identified. Based on the monitoring results at one dairy farm, we have derived an equation to model the transport of 131I from pasture grass to milk. This equation was then applied to the data from two other farms around Tokai-Works and the calculated 131I activities in milk were compared with those measured. The equation shows good predictive capabilities for quantification of the peak concentrations of 131I in milk but underestimates longer-term activities.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call