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Measurements of Fission Products from the Fukushima Daiichi Incident in San Francisco Bay Area Air Filters, Automobile Filters, Rainwater, and Food
Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, USA
1Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, USA; 2Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, USA
1Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, USA; 2Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, USA
Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, USA
Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, USA
Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, USA
Department of Physics, University of S?o Paulo, S?o Paulo, Brazil
Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, USA
- 1 Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, USA
- 2 1Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, USA; 2Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, USA
- 3 1Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, USA; 2Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, USA
- 4 Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, USA
- 5 Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, USA
- 6 Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, USA
- 7 Department of Physics, University of S?o Paulo, S?o Paulo, Brazil
- 8 Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, USA
Journal of Environmental Protection·Volume 05 (2014)·Pages 207–221·Published 28 February 2014·DOI10.4236/jep.2014.53025
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Abstract
A variety of environmental media were analyzed for fallout radionuclides resulting from the Fukushima nuclear accident by the Low Background Facility (LBF) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) in Berkeley, CA. Monitoring activities in air and rainwater began soon after the onset of the March 11, 2011 tsunami and are reported here through the end of 2012. Observed fallout isotopes include 131 I, 132 I, 132 Te, 134 Cs, 136 Cs, and 137 Cs. Isotopes were measured on environmental air filters, automobile filters, and in rainwater. An additional analysis of rainwater in search of 90 Sr is also presented. Last, a series of food measurements conducted in September of 2013 are included due to extended media concerns of 134,137 Cs in fish. Similar measurements of fallout from the Chernobyl disaster at LBNL, previously unpublished publicly, are also presented here as a comparison with the Fukushima incident. All measurements presented also include natural radionuclides found in the environment to provide a basis for comparison.
KeywordsFukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power PlantFukushimaFalloutAir MonitoringRainwaterAutomobile FiltersChernobyl
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