Fukushima-derived radionuclides in ground-level air of Central Europe: a comparison with simulated forward and backward trajectories

Abstract

Results of forward and backward modeling of air mass transport from Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to Slovakia were compared with aerosol radioactivity measurements. Several radionuclide maxima (131I, 134Cs and 137Cs) were observed in the Bratislava ground-level air in March–April 2011. The 131I/137Cs activity ratio records showed the presence of two different fresh air masses in the Bratislava air, supported by simulations of forward and backward trajectories between Fukushima and Bratislava.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

References

  1. 1.

    TEPCO, Tokyo Electric Power Company (2011) Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Unit 2: countermeasures to stop the outflow of contaminated water and the water amount flowed out into the sea. http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/11042103-e.html. Accessed 2 June 2012

  2. 2.

    NISA, Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (2011) Regarding the evaluation of the conditions on reactor cores of unit 1, 2 and 3 related to the accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, Tokyo Electric Power Co. Inc. http://www.nisa.meti.go.jp/english/press/2011/06/en20110615-5.pdf. Accessed 2 June 2012

  3. 3.

    Chino M, Nakayama H, Nagai H, Terada H, Katata G, Yamazawa H (2011) J Nucl Sci Technol 48:1129

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. 4.

    Masson O, Baeza A, Bieringer J, Brudecki K, Bucci S, Cappai M, Carvalho FP, Connan O, Cosma C, Dalheimer A, Didier D, Depuydt G, De Geer LE, De Vismes A, Gini L, Groppi F, Gudnason K, Gurriaran R, Hainz D, Halldorsson O, Hammond D, Hanley O, Holy K, Homoki Z, Ioannidou A, Isajenko K, Jankovick M, Katzlberger C, Kettunen M, Kierepko R, Kontro R, Kwakman PJM, Lecomte M, Leon Vintro L, Leppänen AP, Lind B, Lujaniene G, Mc Ginnity P, Mc Mahon C, Mala H, Manenti S, Manolopoulou M, Mattila A, Mauring A, Mietelski JW, Møller BS, Nielsen P, Nikolick J, Overwater RMW, Palsson SE, Papastefanou C, Penev I, Pham MK, Povinec PP, Ramebäck H, Reis MC, Ringer W, Rodriguez A, Rulík P, Saey PRJ, Samsonov V, Schlosser C, Sgorbati G, Silobritiene BV, Söderström C, Sogni R, Solier L, Sonck M, Steinhauser G, Steinkopff T, Steinmann P, Stoulos S, Sykora I, Todorovic D, Tooloutalaie N, Tositti L, Tschiersch J, Ugron A, Vagena E, Vargas A, Wershofen H, Zhukova O (2011) Environ Sci Technol 45:7670

    Google Scholar 

  5. 5.

    UNSCEAR, United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (2008) Sources and effects of ionizing radiation. Report to the General Assembly. United Nations, New York

  6. 6.

    IAEA, International Atomic Energy Agency (2011) Briefings on Fukushima nuclear accident. www.iaea.org. Accessed 2 June 2012

  7. 7.

    Aarkrog A, Baxter MS, Bettencourt AO, Bojanowski R, Bologa A, Charmasson S, Cunha I, Delfanti R, Duran E, Holm E, Jeffree R, Livingston HD, Mahapanyawong S, Nies H, Osvath I, Pingyu L, Povinec PP, Sanchez A, Smith JN, Swift D (1997) J Environ Radioact 34:69

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. 8.

    Lee SH, Pham MK, Povinec PP (2002) J Radioanal Nucl Chem 254:445

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. 9.

    Ioannidou A, Papastefanou C (2006) J Environ Radioact 85:121

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. 10.

    Lujaniené G, Aninkevičius V, Lujanas V (2009) J Environ Radioact 100:108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. 11.

    Pham MK, Betti M, Nies H, Povinec PP (2011) J Environ Radioact 102:1045

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. 12.

    Sýkora I, Povinec PP, Bresťáková L, Florek M, Holý K, Masarik J (2012) J Radioanal Nucl Chem. doi:10.1007/s10967-012-1693-2

  13. 13.

    Livingston HD, Povinec PP (2000) Ocean Coast Manag 43:689

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. 14.

    Livingston HD, Povinec PP (2002) Health Phys 82:656

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. 15.

    Mascanzoni D (2009) J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2009:427

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. 16.

    Paatero J, Vesterbacka K, Makkonen U, Kyllönen K, Hellen H, Hatakka J, Anttila P (2009) J Radioanal Nucl Chem 282:473

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. 17.

    Popov L, Mihailova G, Naidenov I (2010) J Radioanal Nucl Chem 285:223

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. 18.

    Solecki J, Kruk M (2011) J Radioanal Nucl Chem 289:185

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. 19.

    Povinec P, Chudý M, Sýkora I, Szarka J, Pikna M, Holý K (1988) J Radioanal Nucl Chem Lett 126:467

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. 20.

    Beláň T, Chudý M, Ďurana L, Grgula M, Holý K, Levaiová D, Povinec P, Richtáriková M, Šivo A (1992) In: Povinec P (ed) Rare nuclear processes. World Scientific, Singapore, p 345

    Google Scholar 

  21. 21.

    Wang J, Jiang Y, Huang D, Wen T, Du J, Jing Zhang J (2012) J Radioanal Nucl Chem 292:1297

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. 22.

    Sýkora I, Ješkovský M, Janik R, Holý K, Chudý M, Povinec PP (2008) J Radioanal Nucl Chem 276:779

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. 23.

    Povinec PP (2008) J Radioanal Nucl Chem 276:771

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. 24.

    CERN (1993) GEANT detector description and simulation tool. CERN Program Library Office, CERN, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  25. 25.

    Povinec PP, Sýkora I, Porubčan V, Ješkovský M (2009) J Radioanal Nucl Chem 282:805

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. 26.

    Kováčik A, Sýkora I, Povinec PP, Porubčan V (2012) J Radioanal Nucl Chem. doi:10.1007/s10967-012-1667-4

  27. 27.

    Povinec PP, Pham MK, Sanchez-Cabeza JA, Barci-Funel G, Bojanowski R, Boshkova T, Burnett WC, Carvalho F, Chapeyron B, Cunha IL, Dahlgaard H, Galabov N, Fifield LK, Gastaud J, Geering JJ, Gomez IF, Green N, Hamilton T, Ibanez FL, Ibn Majah M, John M, Kanish G, Kenna TC, Kloster M, Korun M, Kwong LW, La Rosa J, Lee S-H, Levy-Palomo I, Malatova M, Maruo Y, Mitchell P, Murciano IV, Nelson R, Nourredine A, Oh J-S, Oregioni B, Le Petit G, Pettersson HBL, Reineking A, Smedley PA, Suckow A, van der Struijs TDB, Voors PI, Yoshimizu K, Wyse E (2007) J Radioanal Nucl Chem 273:383

    Google Scholar 

  28. 28.

    Pham MK, Betti M, Povinec PP, Benmansour M, Bojanowski R, Bouisset P, Calvo EC, Ham GJ, Holm E, Ilchmann C, Kloster M, Kanish G, Köhler M, La Rosa J, Legarda F, Llauradó M, Nourredine A, Oh J-S, Pellicciari M, Rieth U, Rodriguez Y, Baena AM, Sanchez-Cabeza JA, Satake H, Schilkowski J, Takeishi M, Thébault H, Varga Z (2010) J Radioanal Nucl Chem 283:851

    Google Scholar 

  29. 29.

    Lujaniené G, Šapolaite J, Remeikis V, Lujanas V, Jermolajev A (2006) Czechoslov J Phys 56:D55

    Google Scholar 

  30. 30.

    Pham MK, La Rosa JJ, Lee SH, Oregioni B, Povinec PP (2005) Phys Scr 71:14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. 31.

    Kirchner G, Bossew P, De Cort M (2012) J Environ Radioact. doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2011.12.016

  32. 32.

    Kawamura H, Kobayashi T, Furuno A, In T, Ishikawa Y, Nakayama T, Shima S, Awaji T (2011) J Nucl Sci Technol 48:1349

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the EU Research and Development Operational Program funded by the ERDF (projects Nos. 26240120012, 26240120026 and 26240220004).

Author information

Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to P. P. Povinec.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Povinec, P.P., Sýkora, I., Gera, M. et al. Fukushima-derived radionuclides in ground-level air of Central Europe: a comparison with simulated forward and backward trajectories. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 295, 1171–1176 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-012-1943-3

Download citation

Keywords

  • Aerosol radioactivity
  • Global fallout
  • Fukushima accident
  • Forward and backward trajectories