Abstract
Following the recent accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan, radioactive contamination was observed near the reactor site. As a contribution towards the understanding of the worldwide impact of the accident, we collected fallout samples in Cienfuegos, Cuba, and examined them for the presence of above normal amounts of radioactivity. Gamma ray spectra measured from these samples showed clear evidence of fission products 131I and 137Cs. However, the fallout levels measured for these isotopes (135 ± 4.78 mBq m−2 day−1 for 131I and 10.7 ± 0.38 mBq m−2 day−1for 137Cs) were very low and posed no health risk to the public. The doses received as consequence to the Fukushima fallout by the Cienfuegos population’s (0.002 mSv per year) don’t overcome the limit of dose (1 mSv per year) fixed for the public in Cuba.
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References
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Acknowledgments
This research work was undertaken in the framework of the IAEA TC Project CUB/7/008 “Strengthening the National System for Analysis of the Risks and Vulnerability of Cuba’s Coastal Zone through the Application of Nuclear and Isotopic Techniques”. Special gratitude goes to Dr. Federica Pannacciulli for her great help during the elaboration of the manuscript.
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Alonso-Hernandez, C.M., Guillen-Arruebarrena, A., Cartas-Aguila, H. et al. Observations of Fallout from the Fukushima Reactor Accident in Cienfuegos, Cuba. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 88, 752–754 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-012-0542-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-012-0542-x