Measurement of airborne fission products in Chapel Hill, NC, USA from the Fukushima Dai-ichi reactor accident

J Environ Radioact. 2012 Oct:112:165-70. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2012.01.026. Epub 2012 Feb 18.

Abstract

We present measurement results of airborne fission products in Chapel Hill, NC, USA, from 62 d following the March 11, 2011, accident at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. Airborne particle samples were collected daily in air filters and radio-assayed with two high-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors. The fission products (131)I and (137)Cs were measured with maximum activity concentrations of 4.2 ± 0.6 mBq/m(3) and 0.42 ± 0.07 mBq/m(3) respectively. Additional activity from (131,132)I, (134,136,137)Cs and (132)Te were measured in the same air filters using a low-background HPGe detector at the Kimballton Underground Research Facility (KURF).

Publication types

  • Research Support, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollutants, Radioactive / analysis*
  • Humans
  • Japan
  • North Carolina
  • Nuclear Power Plants*
  • Radiation Monitoring
  • Radioactive Fallout / analysis*
  • Radioactive Hazard Release*
  • Radioisotopes / analysis*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Air Pollutants, Radioactive
  • Radioactive Fallout
  • Radioisotopes