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Simple Summary: Lung cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers worldwide. Radon is a radioactive gas whose concentrations can accumulate indoors. The long-term exposure to radon is considered carcinogenic to humans and is an important risk factor for lung cancer. Our epidemiological study investigated the impact of indoor radon exposure on the incidence of lung cancer in Slovenia over a period of 40 years. Around 60 newly diagnosed cases of lung cancer per year (out of a population of around 2 million) can be attributed to radon exposure in residential environments in the period 1978–2017, which corresponds to 5.5% of all lung cancer cases. The most important information that needs to be communicated to the Slovenian public and decision-makers about the health risk and about support for preventive measures is that living in areas with elevated radon levels is associated with a higher risk of lung cancer. Indoor radon is an important risk factor for lung cancer, as 3–14% of lung cancer cases can be attributed to radon. The aim of our study was to estimate the impact of indoor radon exposure on lung cancer incidence over the last 40 years in Slovenia. We analyzed the distribution of lung cancer incidence across 212 municipalities and 6032 settlements in Slovenia. The standardized incidence ratios were smoothed with the Besag–York–Mollie model and fitted with the integrated nested Laplace approximation. A categorical explanatory variable, the risk of indoor radon exposure with low, moderate and high risk values, was added to the models. We also calculated the population attributable fraction. Between 2.8% and 6.5% of the lung cancer cases in Slovenia were attributable to indoor radon exposure, with values varying by time period. The relative risk of developing lung cancer was significantly higher among the residents of areas with a moderate and high risk of radon exposure. Indoor radon exposure is an important risk factor for lung cancer in Slovenia in areas with high natural radon radiation (especially in the southern and south-eastern parts of the country). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentration of natural and anthropogenic radionuclides, emanation fraction (EF), and mass (χM) and area (χA) exhalation rate of 222Rn in urban soil samples collected from dwelling areas in Nevşehir city located in a region known as the central Anatolian volcanic province of Turkey were determined using gamma-ray spectroscopy. The average activity concentrations of 226Ra, 228Ra, 40K and 137Cs were measured as 60.2 ± 3.8, 50.1 ± 2.8, 631.0 ± 29.7 and 5.5 ± 0.4 Bq/kg, respectively. The average concentration of 222Rn in soil and air was estimated as 27 kBq/m3 and 84 Bq/m3, respectively. The average values of EF, χM and χA were found as 20%, 25.4 μBq/kg⋅s and 20.2 mBq/m2⋅s, respectively. The average values of outdoor absorbed gamma dose rate, external and internal annual effective dose and lifetime cancer risk estimated for radiological assessment were found as 85 nGy/h, 104 µSv/y, 797 µSv/y and 4.1 × 10−4, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seasonal radon levels have been studied in dwellings and soils in selected areas in Ga East, Greater Accra Region of Ghana using LR-115-type II (SSNTDs). This study was conducted to determine the seasonal correlation between soil and dwelling radon concentrations. Detectors were exposed from January to March and April to June, for dry and wet seasons, respectively. Overall, indoor radon was 133.4 ± 6.7 Bqm-3 and 72.1 ± 3.6 Bqm -3 for wet and dry seasons. The estimated annual effective dose to the lung received by the occupants at Paraku Estate, Dome, and Kwabenya was 6.9 ± 0.4, 7.2 ± 0.5, and 9.8 ± 0.8 mSvy-1 for the wet season and 3.8 ± 0.2, 4.3 ± 0.2, and 4.6 ± 0.3 mSvy-1 for the dry season. On average, the soil radon concentration was found to be 0.96 ± 0.07 kBqm-3 and 2.24 ± 0.01 kBqm-3 for wet and dry seasons. To determine the correlation between soil and dwelling radon, a positive Pearson correlation coefficient value R = (0.74) and R = (0.66) was obtained representing the dry and wet seasons. To test the statistical significance between soil and dwelling radon, P < 0.05 was obtained, indicating a statically significant relationship between the two. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses research on the link between exposure to residential ambient particle radioactivity (PR), a radiometric characteristic of airborne particulate matter, and breast cancer risk. The study measures the range of PR exposure among U.S. women diagnosed with breast cancer according to race, ethnicity and educational attainment. Hazard ratios and confidence intervals for the association of PR exposures with predictors of emissions were estimated per interquartiles and quintiles.

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BACKGROUND: The multifaceted origins of cancer are related to the dynamic interface between the human body and the environment. It is estimated that as many as 60% of cancers arise from environmental exposures. OBJECTIVES: This article describes potential risks for exposure to radon, arsenic, pesticides, and antineoplastic agents, which can lead to the development of cancer. METHODS: The authors performed a review of the literature on environmental exposures and their relationship to the development of cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive material classified as a carcinogen by the World Health Organization, and is known to be the factor with the second-greatest impact on lung cancer after smoking. An association between radon and lung cancer has consistently been reported in epidemiological studies on mine workers and residents of homes with indoor radon exposure. However, associations between radon and other diseases, such as leukemia and thyroid cancer, have yet to be confirmed due to a lack of consistent research findings and biological relevance. Such associations are unlikely because there is a very low likelihood that organs other than the lungs are exposed to radon upon inhalation due to the short half-life of radon and its progeny and the low permeability of alpha rays. In spring 2018, the radon bed mattress incident occurred, leading to a spike of concern and interest among the public regarding the health effects of radiation exposure. This paper presents a description of radon exposure and its health effects based on the current literature and provides practical information based on health consultations experienced following the 2018 radon mattress incident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radon is a leading cause of lung cancer. Recommendations for radon testing in multi-family housing focus on testing a percentage of all units. There is considerable variability among recommendations as well as their implementation. I used the hypergeometric distribution to determine the probability of identifying one or more units with radon at or above 4.0 pCi/L for two prevalences (1:15, the U.S. average) and 1:3 (for states with many homes with radon ≥4.0 pCi/L) using two approaches. First, the distribution was used to evaluate the probability of finding one or more units with radon at or above 4.0 pCi/L when: (1) testing 10% or 25% of a range of ground-floor units; or (2) testing a varying percentage of units in 10-, 20-, or 30- ground-floor unit buildings. Second, the method was used to determine the number of units to be tested to identify one or more units with radon at or above 4.0 pCi/L with 95% probability, given a range of total ground-floor units. Analyses identified that testing 10% or 25% of ground-floor units had low probability of identifying at least one unit with radon at or above 4.0 pCi/L, especially at low prevalence. At low prevalence (1:15), at least 10 units need to be tested in structures with 20 or fewer total units; at high prevalence (1:3), at least 5 units need to be tested in units with structures having 10 or fewer units to achieve 95% probability of identifying at least one unit with radon at or above 4.0 pCi/L. These findings indicate that recommendations for radon testing in multi-family housing may be improved by applying a well-established and more rigorous statistical approach than percentage-based testing to more accurately characterize exposure to radon in multi-family housing units, which could improve lung cancer prevention efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses issues concerning resettlement of people in the Marshall Islands, where the U.S. government conducted 66 atmospheric nuclear weapons tests in 1958. Though the U.S. government authorities have indicated to people for their safely return to the area after a $100 million nuclear cleanup, however controversy is developing over whether or not people should return to any part of the atoll. The article includes the detail analysis of the radiation problems that contradicted the U.S. government's decision on resettlement of people in the island.

The article reports that the resumption of nuclear weapon testing in the atmosphere by the Soviet Union in 1961 and the U.S. in 1962, has heightened both anxiety on the hazard from radioactive weapon debris or fallout and consideration of countermeasures in reducing internal exposure through reducing radionuclides uptake. The author reviewed the question on the called-for countermeasures and considered the present levels of exposure to radionuclides. He stated that the key factors in specifying the contribution of nuclear weapon explosions to the types of fallouts are the altitude and the energy yield of the explosion. Moreover, he discussed the three types of fallouts including local, tropospheric, and stratospheric fallout and the short and long-lived radionuclides.

The article discusses the behavior of fallout debris from the standpoint of the external radiation hazard presented by the local disposition of bomb-produced radioactivity in the U.S. Sufficient time has already elapsed to permit a realistic appraisal of the radiation doses. The theoretical calculations and experimental data obtained from the 1952 and 1954 fallouts from bomb tests facilitate the appraisal. Local fallouts are assumed to be a field uniformly contaminated to a level of 2 kilotons of fission products per square mile.

The article reports on the uncertainties in evaluating the effects of fallout from weapons tests. People from the scientific community know that the levels of radioactive fallout from weapons tests do not represent a serious hazard to humanity as compared to other everyday dangers. However, the question concerns the future if tests are continued. Predictions must take into account at least four factors, including the rate at which atomic devices will be exploded, the pattern of dissemination and distribution of the fallout, the rate of incorporation of fallout into the food chain and an estimate of the biological consequences of the storage of radioactive materials in the human body.

The article focuses on issues and topics concerning global radiation limits. Before the advent of nuclear energy, one could consider all man-made radiation sources as localized in character. However, with the proliferation of nuclear energy applications to various industries, the scientific community are becoming concerned about the levels of harmful radiation into the atmosphere. It was for this reason that interest focused on establishing permissible limits for relatively small numbers of adults occupationally exposed to radiation hazards. The large-scale release of radioactive products into the earth’s atmosphere and the subsequent deposition of these materials on the earth’s surface attracted public interest and initiated controversy.

The article investigates the distribution and effects of radioactive fallout by researchers from the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. The study of radioactive fallout has two natural parts, the physical measurements program and the study of the biological effects of radiation. In summary, one might say that the mechanism of the distribution of fall-out and its entry into the human system is fairly well understood. On the biological side, however, the effects which radiation can produce are known only from experiments on animals, experiments which are generally carried out at much higher radiation levels

The article studies the somatic effects of fission products by researchers from the U.S. The advent of nuclear age has some scientists becoming concerned in determining plausible health hazards radioactive substances on humans upon exposure to different levels of radiation. Studies conducted by geneticists have confirmed that all radiation is genetically undesirable. Scientists assert that the most likely source of potentially damaging somatic effects arise from the slow accumulation of fission products in the biosphere and ultimately into the human anatomical systems.

The article discusses the after-effects of nuclear bomb explosions, the radioactive strontium or strontium-90, which make for limits on the use of nuclear explosives in war and peace. A surprising feature of multimegaton explosions is the hold-up of bomb debris in the stratosphere, indicating a fallout rate of 10-20 percent annually per British measurements. Once the invisible particles drift down to the troposphere, they are carried out by rain and snow to earth. The key link in the bomb-to-bone transport of radiostrontium is the intake of debris by dairy cattle and its subsequent incorporation in dairy products.

The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) mandated a task group (Task Group 64) to review recently published epidemiological studies related to cancer risk and incorporated alpha emitters, and to evaluate whether the results might consolidate or challenge assumptions underlying the current radiation protection system. Three major alpha emitters were considered: radon and its decay products, plutonium, and uranium. Results came mainly from cohorts of workers, while for radon, major studies of the general population contributed to a better understanding of the risk of lung cancer at low and chronic exposure. Selection criteria for the review were: assessment of individual exposure of the target organ, long duration of the health survey, availability of attained age at end of follow-up, and adjustment for major co-factors. Task Group 64 is composed of members from ICRP Committees 1 and 2 (because epidemiological and dosimetric expertise were needed) and external experts. A first report (ICRP Publication 115) considered the risk of lung cancer related to inhalation of radon and its decay products. As the estimated excess risk per unit of exposure was higher by a factor of 2 compared with a previous ICRP estimate in 1993, Task Group 64 suggested a reconsideration of the reference levels for the workplace and for the general population. A second report, using the same standardised methodology (lung cancer baselines, population, life expectancy), will include estimation of the cancer risk of nuclear workers exposed to plutonium, focusing on the risk of lung cancer. A comparison of these risks with those of populations exposed to external gamma radiation alone will be made in the near future. For uranium, the results related to the organ-specific dose were too sparse to draw reliable conclusions, despite a recent publication. More research is needed on this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residential radon exposure is considered the second cause of lung cancer and the first in never smokers. Nevertheless, the association between the different histological types of lung cancer and radon is not completely clear, and radon effect on small cell lung cancer is not completely understood. We aim to asses the effect of residential radon exposure on the risk of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) in general population and miners through a systematic review applying predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. 16 studies were included. Most of them point to a relationship between indoor radon and SCLC, though some investigations show no association. When comparing the risk of SCLC due to radon exposure with NSCLC, it can be observed that an increased risk for SCLC is present. Small cell lung cancer seems to be the histological type of lung cancer most tightly related with residential radon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among radiation exposure pathways to human beings, inhalation dose is the most prominent one. Radon, thoron, and their progeny contribute more than 50 per cent to the annual effective dose due to natural radioactivity. South west coast of India is classified as a High Natural Background Radioactivity Area and large scale data on natural radioactivity and dosimetry are available from these coastal regions including the Neendakara-Chavara belt in the south of Kerala. However, similar studies and reports from the northern part of Kerala are scarce. The present study involves the data collection and analysis of radon, thoron, and progeny concentration in the Wayanad district of Kerala. The radon concentration was found to be within a range of 12-378 Bq/m3. The thoron concentration varied from 15 to 621 Bq/m3. Progeny concentration of radon and thoron and the diurnal variation of radon were also studied. In order to assess source term, wall and floor exhalation studies have been done for the houses showing elevated concentration of radon and thoron. The average values of radon, thoron, and their progeny are found to be above the Indian average as well as the average values reported from the High Natural Background Radioactivity Areas of Kerala. Exhalation studies of the soil samples collected from the vicinity of the houses show that radon mass exhalation rate varied from below detectable limit (BDL) to a maximum of 80 mBq/kg/h. The thoron surface exhalation rate ranged from BDL to 17470 Bq/m2/h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air monitoring is a continuous process which is needed to monitor for knowing the concentration of radionuclides present in the air. During this study, forty air samples were collected from different areas such as Hazaribagh Tannery Area, Plastic Goli Islambagh, Sayedabad Bus Terminal etc. which have been evaluated using high resolution gamma-ray spectrometry at Atomic Energy Center (AEC), Dhaka. From the obtained results it is found that the radioactivity concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K in the air samples varied from 3.93± 0.49 mBq/m³ to 1784 ± 87.16 mBq/m³, 0.0 to 399 ± 27.04 mBq/m³, 0.0 to 256 ± 3.81 mBq/m³ and the average values are 448 ± 16.09 mBq/m³, 90.71 ± 8.56 mBq/m³ and 97 ± 3.54 mBq/m³ respectively. The artificial radionuclide such as 137Cs was not observed. The construction of Rooppur nuclear power plant is going on in Bangladesh. The concentrations of different radionuclides in air particle of present study will be helpful to monitor and compare the concentration of radionuclides in air samples around Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. The main purpose of the present research is to measure the radioactivity concentrations of different radionuclides in air particle which is helpful to establish the base line data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which investigated the possible effects of neutron cosmic ray activity (CRA) and air pollution nanoparticles on cardiovascular events in humans separately or in combination.

Oropharyngeal cancer is a multifactorial disease. Alcohol and tobacco are the main risk factors. Radon is a human carcinogen linked to lung cancer risk, but its influence in other cancers is not well known. We aim to assess the effect of radon exposure on the risk of oral and pharyngeal cancer through a systematic review of the scientific literature. This review performs a qualitative analysis of the available studies. 13 cohort studies were included, most of them mortality studies, which analysed the relationship between occupational or residential radon exposure with oropharyngeal cancer mortality or incidence. Most of the included studies found no association between radon exposure and oral and pharyngeal cancer. This lack of effect was observed in miners studies and in general population studies. Further research is necessary to quantify if this association really exists and its magnitude, specially performing studies in general population, preferably living in areas with high radon levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies show that short-term exposure to ambient particulate matter is associated with more emergency department visits and hospitalizations for pneumonia as well as increased mortality and increased health care costs among older adults. Moreover, exposure to ambient particulate matter is shown to be connected with an increased rate of daily mortality and hospitalizations due to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The association between short-term exposures to particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) and ozone [at levels below the current daily National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)] and mortality in the continental United States has been recently addressed by some researchers. Although exposure to radon is usually known to cause late health effects such as lung cancer, some studies show a significant association between radon exposure and cerebrovascular disease (CeVD) mortality. In some residential areas with high levels of radon, it has been found that the incidences of respiratory, nervous system and cardiovascular system diseases exceed the average. Studies that calculated the radiation dose to blood and the walls of coronary arteries from radon and progeny also indicate that exposure to radon can increase the incidence of CVDs. Based on the evidence provided in this short communication, it can be concluded that ignoring the key role of radon in non-cancer mortality can easily affect the validity of the studies aimed at investigating the association between exposure to ambient fine particulate matter and mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anomalous radon readings in air have been reported before an earthquake activity. However, careful measurements of atmospheric radon concentrations during a normal period are required to identify anomalous variations in a precursor period. In this study, we obtained radon concentration data for 5 years (2003–2007) that can be considered a normal period and compared it with data from the precursory period of 2008 until March 2011, when the 2011 Tohoku-Oki Earthquake occurred. Then, we established a model for seasonal variation by fitting a sinusoidal model to the radon concentration data during the normal period, considering that the seasonal variation was affected by atmospheric turbulence. By determining the amplitude in the sinusoidal model, the normal variation of the radon concentration can be estimated. Thus, the results of this method can be applied to identify anomalous radon variations before an earthquake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of UV light and air exposure on the photoluminescent properties of nonthermal plasma-synthesized silicon nanocrystals (Si NCs) were investigated. Si NCs with high-efficiency photoluminescence (PL) have been achieved via a post-synthesis hydrosilylation process. Photobleaching is observed within the first few hours of ultra-violet (UV) irradiation. Equilibrium is reached after ∼4 h of UV exposure wherein the Si NCs are able to retain 52% of the initially measured PL quantum yield (PLQY). UV-treated Si NCs showed recovery of PL with time. Gas-phase passivation of Si NCs by hydrogen afterglow injection improves PLQY and PL stability against UV and air exposure. Additionally, phosphorous doping can also improve UV stability of photoluminescent Si NCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The absolute value of the air-fluorescence yield is a key parameter for the energy reconstruction of extensive air showers registered by fluorescence telescopes. In previous publications, we reported a detailed Monte Carlo simulation of the air-fluorescence generation that allowed the theoretical evaluation of this parameter. This simulation has been upgraded in the present work. As a result, we determined an updated absolute value of the fluorescence yield of ph/MeV for the band at 337nm in dry air at 800hPa and 293K, in agreement with experimental values. We have also performed a critical analysis of available absolute measurements of the fluorescence yield with the assistance of our simulation. Corrections have been applied to some measurements to account for a bias in the evaluation of the energy deposition. Possible effects of other experimental aspects have also been discussed. From this analysis, we determined an average fluorescence yield of ph/MeV at the above conditions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Radioactive contamination in air dust particles of Cairo atmosphere from the Fukushima accident was detected by the gamma-ray spectroscopy technique. Analysis of the spectra obtained by using an High-Purity Germanium detector showed that there were some traces of131I and134, 137Cs. Estimate and study of concentration of those radionuclides were done over a period of about 5 months after the accident. Comparison with corresponding results in different countries all over the world has been performed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Chemical transport models played key roles in understanding the atmospheric behaviors and deposition patterns of radioactive materials emitted from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant after the nuclear accident that accompanied the great Tohoku earthquake and tsunami on 11 March 2011. However, model results could not be sufficiently evaluated because of limited observational data. We assess the model performance to simulate the deposition patterns of radiocesium (137Cs) by making use of airborne monitoring survey data for the first time. We conducted ten sensitivity simulations to evaluate the atmospheric model uncertainties associated with key model settings including emission data and wet deposition modules. We found that simulation using emissions estimated with a regional-scale (500 km) model better reproduced the observed 137Cs deposition pattern in eastern Japan than simulation using emissions estimated with local-scale (50 km) or global-scale models. In addition, simulation using a process-based wet deposition module reproduced the observations well, whereas simulation using scavenging coefficients showed large uncertainties associated with empirical parameters. The best-available simulation reproduced the observed 137Cs deposition rates in high-deposition areas (=10 kBq m-2) within 1 order of magnitude and showed that deposition of radiocesium over land occurred predominantly during 15-16, 20-23, and 30-31 March 2011. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Data on the concentration of radionuclides in air for March following the reactor failures at the Fukushima NPP were available for Takasaki, Chiba and Tokyo. Gamma dose data for the same/close locations and for fixed locations in other prefectures were also obtained. Gamma dose data was used to calculate the cumulative gamma dose, during 2 weeks (15th–28th March) following the power plant failures. Corresponding doses were calculated for sites in other Japanese prefectures – except Fukushima Prefecture, for which equivalent monitoring data was not published. For Takasaki, Chiba and Tokyo air concentration data and ICRP dose coefficients were used to calculate inhalation committed effective doses (CED, E 50) and thyroid equivalent doses (H) for adult members of the public. Average ratios of gamma dose to inhalation CED and inhalation CED from iodine isotopes to thyroid equivalent dose, determined for Takasaki, Chiba and Tokyo, were then used to predict these quantities for sites in other prefectures. Cumulative gamma dose profiles were used to identify dose increments that could be attributed to Fukushima releases within 11 prefectures (excluding Fukushima Prefecture). The most impacted of these were located in Gunma, Ibaraki, Tochigi and Saitama Prefectures – to the south of Fukushima – and in Miyagi Prefecture – to the north of Fukushima. Calculated total doses ranged from 16 μSv in Shizuoka (Shizuoka) to 400 μSv in Ibaraki (Mito). The total doses calculated for the major population centres of Tokyo and Chiba were 97 μSv and 80 μSv, respectively. For all prefecture locations the largest calculated contribution to total dose, during the period of assessment, was from inhalation (∼80%). Estimated thyroid equivalent doses ranged from 5.9 mSv in Ibaraki to 200 μSv in Shizuoka. All total doses calculated were probably overestimates – since no allowances were made for shielding and shelter during the passage of radioactive clouds. Minor contributions to dose from the ingestion of contaminated food and water were not calculated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: After the earthquake and the tsunami occurred in Japan on March 2011, four of the Fukushima reactors had released in air a large amount of radioactive isotopes that diffused all over the world. The presence of airborne 131I, 134Cs, and 137Cs in air particulate due to this accident were detected and measured in the Low Radioactivity Laboratory operating in the Department of Environmental Sciences of the University of Milano-Bicocca. The sensitivity of the detecting apparatus is of 0.2 uBq/m3 of air. Concentration and time distribution of these radiocontaminations ranging from a few to 400 uBq/m3 for the 131I and of a few tens of uBq/m3 for the 137Cs and 134Cs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The follow-up of Fukushima radioactive plume resulting from the 11th March 2011 devastating tsunami is discussed for two Italian stations in the northern Apennines: Mt. Cimone (Modena) and Montecuccolino (Bologna). Radioactivity data collected at both stations are described, including comparison between local natural background of airborne particulate and artificial radioactivity referable to the arrival of the radioactive plume and its persistence and evolution. Analysis of back-trajectories was used to confirm the arrival of artificial radionuclides following atmospheric transport and processing. The Fukushima plume was first detected on 3rd April 2011 when high volume sampling revealed the presence of the artificial radionuclides 131I, 137Cs and 134Cs. The highest activity concentrations of these nuclides were detected on 5th April 2011 at the Montecuccolino site. Fukushima radioactivity data at the two stations were usually comparable, suggesting a good vertical mixing of the plume; discrepancies were occasional and attributed to different occurrence of wet removal, typically characterized by a scattered spatial pattern. To understand the relevance to the local population of the extra dose due to the Fukushima plume, atmospheric activities of the related artificial nuclides were compared to those of the main natural radionuclides in ambient particulate, and found to be lower by over one order of magnitude. Radiation doses referable to Fukushima, maximized for a whole year occurrence at the highest activity level observed at our stations in the weeks affected by the Japanese plume, were estimated at 1.1 μSv/year. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper presents measurements of the effect of the atmospheric radioactive release from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power station at three sites belonging to the Spanish environmental monitoring system. Measured values varied depending on the locations of the sites in Spain and their respective climatic characteristics. 134Cs, 136Cs, 137Cs, 131I, and 132Te activity concentrations in filter samples were studied and associated levels of 131I fallout were estimated from wet and dry deposition. Particulate aerosol activity concentrations ranges, in μBq/m3, were 1.63–3080 (131I), 2.8–690 (137Cs), 1.3–620 (134Cs) and 3.6–330 (132Te), while the associated 131I fallout was roughly estimated to be less than 20 Bq/m2, Gaseous 131I was also detected and the 131I-gaseous/131I-total ratio increased at the three stations from approximately 0.75 at the end of March to 0.85–0.9 during the first few days of April. Finally, the presence of 131I in some crucial parts of the food chain was also studied. 131I was detected in samples from goat''s and cow''s milk (maximum levels of 1.11 Bq/L) and in broadleaf plants (maximum level 1.42 Bq/kg). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: As a result of the nuclear accident in Fukushima Dai-ichi power plant, which started on March 11, 2011, radioactive pollutants were transferred by air masses to various regions of the Northern hemisphere, including Europe. Very low concentrations of 131I, 137Cs and 134Cs in airborne particulate matter were measured in Athens, Greece during the period of March 24 to April 28, 2011. The maximum air concentration of 131I was measured on April 6, 2011 and equaled 490 ± 35 μBq m−3. The maximum values of the two cesium isotopes were measured on the same day and equaled 180 ± 40 μBq m−3 for 137Cs and 160 ± 30 μBq m−3 for 134Cs. The average activity ratio of 131I/137Cs in air was 3.0 ± 0.5, while the corresponding ratio of 137Cs/134Cs equaled 1.1 ± 0.3. No artificial radionuclides could be detected in air after April 28, 2011. Traces of 131I as a result of radioactive deposition were measured in grass, soil, sheep milk and meat. The total deposition of 131I (dry + wet) was 34 ± 4 Bq m−2, and of 137Cs was less than 10 Bq m−2. The maximum concentration of 131I in grass was 2.1 ± 0.4 Bg kg−1, while 134Cs was not detected. The maximum concentrations of 131I and 137Cs in sheep milk were 1.7 ± 0.16 Bq kg−1 and 0.6 ± 0.12 Bq kg−1 respectively. Concentrations of 131I up to 1.3 ± 0.2 Bq kg−1 were measured in sheep meat. Traces of 131I were found in a number of soil samples. The radiological impact of the Fukushima nuclear accident in Athens region was practically negligible, especially as compared to that of the Chernobyl accident and also to that of natural radioactivity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Daily air monitoring of radionuclides in the Principality of Monaco (43°73′N, 7°43′E) after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident showed that only Iodine-131 (131I) and Caesium isotopes (134Cs and 137Cs) were detected. The peak of 131I varied and reached its maximum between March 29th and April 5th, meanwhile both peaks of 134Cs and 137Cs arrived later and attained a maximum between April 1st and 4th. Their maximum activity concentrations in air were 354, 30, and 37 μBq m−3 respectively. The 134Cs to 137Cs activity ratio was close to 1, which is different from that one observed after the Chernobyl accident (around 0.54). Up to 95% of caesium isotopes were washed out by wet scavenging during 27–28th of March, where the maximum deposition rates of 134Cs and 137Cs (13.7 and 19.1 mBq m−2 day−1, respectively) were observed. The significant input of 134Cs and 137Cs into the Mediterranean seawater column (30 m depth) was detected later, on the 24th of May. Radioisotopes of caesium and iodine were found far above the applied detection limits, but still with no concern for harmful radiation exposure and public health. The contamination gradually decreased in air and activity concentrations returned to background values after one or two months. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Following the Fukushima power plants accident on the 11th March 2011, the radioactivity monitoring programme at the Italian ENEA research centres was activated in order to detect the possible new input of radionuclides through atmospheric transport and precipitation. Measurements of 131I and 134,137Cs were carried out on atmospheric particulate, atmospheric deposition, seawater and mussels and sheep milk. In the daily samples of air particulate, 131I was detectable between March 28 and April 12, with extremely low concentrations (<1 mBq m−3; the detection limit for 131I was ∼0.2 mBq m−3) while Cs isotopes were always below the detection limit (<0.2 mBq m−3). The two main episodes of 131I atmospheric deposition were registered in La Spezia research centre, around March 28 and April 15, reaching values of 17.8 ± 1.1 and 8.0 ± 2.5 Bq m−2 respectively; maximum values of 134Cs and 137Cs were 0.11 ± 0.03 and 0.17 ± 0.02 Bq m−2, respectively, detected in Brasimone research centre in April (reference date April 15). Mussels and seawater were collected in the Gulf of La Spezia: only mussels after the main 131I deposition, on March 28, contained a measurable, although very small, amount of 131I (0.18 ± 0.05 Bq kg−1, detection limit 131I = 0.03 Bq kg−1 wet weight – soft parts). The 131I was also detected in sheep milk in Rome (Casaccia research centre) until May 5, showing a maximum concentration of 4.9 ± 0.4 Bq L−1. As for other European Countries for which data are available, activity levels remain of no concern for public health. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The results obtained with the monitoring system set up to assess the impact of the Fukushima accident on the environment of Vojvodina (Northern Province of Serbia) are presented and discussed. Aerosol, rain, fresh milk and spinach samples were collected daily in the weeks following the accident. In the aerosol samples, 131I activity concentrations of several mBq m−3 were measured, while in rain, milk and spinach samples, 131I levels had values in a range of (0.3–1.7) Bq kg−1. These are the first results on the impact of the Fukushima accident on the Pannonian basin region. Our results are compared with the reported values from other parts of the world. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]