Low levels of radioactive particles 'found in Europe'

[Gert van der Hoek]

Low levels of radioactive particles 'found in Europe'

Low levels of radioactive particles have been detected in the Czech Republic and in Europe, the UN nuclear agency has said.

The iodine-131 particles do not pose a public health risk, the International Atomic Energy Agency said.

The body said it was trying to work out where the particles had come from but said it did not believe the source was Japan's stricken Fukushima plant.

It said the Czech Republic had first informed them of the raised levels.

"The IAEA believes the current trace levels of iodine-131 that have been measured do not pose a public health risk and are not caused by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident in Japan," the body said in a statement.

It said iodine-131 was a short-lived radioisotope with a radioactive decay half-life of about eight days.

BBC

 

[Emily]

IAEA: Low Traces Of Radioactive Isotope Detected In Europe November 11, 2011

IAEA: Low Traces Of Radioactive Isotope Detected In Europe November 11, 2011

http://www.rferl.org/content/low_traces_of_radioactive_isotope_detected_in_europe/24388268.html

IAEA: Low Traces Of Radioactive Isotope Detected In Europe
November 11, 2011

"The Vienna-based agency said on November 11 that it believes "the current trace levels of iodine-131 that have been measured do not pose a public health risk and are not caused by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident in Japan.""...

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: IAEA: Low Traces Of Radioactive Isotope Detected In Europe November 11, 2011

Re: IAEA: Low Traces Of Radioactive Isotope Detected In Europe November 11, 2011

... detected in Hungary, Slovakia and Austria ... and Czech Republic http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...036/Radiation-detected-in-Czech-Republic.html


.... Poland and Slovakia also said that they had detected abnormal levels, although Poland said they had been "100 times higher" in March afer Japan's Fukushima nuclear accident. http://www.news24.com/SciTech/News/Radiation-in-Europe-no-risk-20111111

 

[Giuseppe]

Re: Low levels of radioactive particles 'found in Europe'


[Source: International Nuclear Energy Agency, full page: (LINK). Edited.]

Press Release 2011/27


Source of Iodine-131 in Europe Identified


17 November 2011

The IAEA has received information from the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority (HAEA) that the source of the iodine-131 (I-131) detected in Europe was most probably a release to the atmosphere from the Institute of Isotopes Ltd., Budapest. The Institute of Isotopes Ltd. produces radioisotopes for healthcare, research and industrial applications. According to the HAEA, the release occurred from September 8 to November 16, 2011. The cause of the release is under investigation.

As previously mentioned, the levels of I-131 that have been detected in Europe are extremely low. There is no health concern to the population. If any member of the public were to breathe iodine for a whole year at the levels measured in European countries, then they would receive a dose in the range of 0.01 microsieverts for the year. To put this into perspective, the average annual background is 2400 microsieverts per year.

The IAEA was first notified of the presence of trace levels of I-131 by authorities from the Czech Republic on 11 November.

Since this notification, the IAEA contacted several member states throughout the region to determine the cause and origin. The IAEA also worked with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to conduct air dispersion modelling, as part of efforts to determine the source.


Resources

IAEA Press Release 2011/24

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) serves as the world's foremost intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical co-operation in the peaceful use of nuclear technology. Established as an autonomous organization under the United Nations (UN) in 1957, the IAEA carries out programmes to maximize the useful contribution of nuclear technology to society while verifying its peaceful use.

NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information visit the Press Section of the IAEA's website (http://www.iaea.org/Resources/Journalists/), or call the IAEA's Division of Public Information at (431) 2600-21270.
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