title: Contamination of Austrian soil with caesium-137.
abstract: Austria ranks among the countries that have been most strongly affected by the Chernobyl fallout. The mean contamination with 137Cs is 21.0 kBq/m2, of which 18.7 kBq/m2 is due to the Chernobyl accident, whereas global fallout contributes 2.3 kBq/m2. Maximum values of total 137Cs contamination are nearly 200 kBq/m2. Total deposition of Chernobyl 137Cs on Austrian territory is 1.6 PBq or a fraction of around 2% of the 137Cs released from the reactor. 2115 measurements were used to draw the Austrian "caesium map". The geographical pattern of fallout distribution shows regional differences of contamination as high as 1:100.
authors.affiliation: University of Salzburg, Institute of Physics and Biophysics, A-5020 Salzburg, Heubrunner Strasse 34, Austria. p.bossew@nextra.at
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bossew
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ditto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Falkner
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Henrich
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kienzl
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Rappelsberger
mesh_terms: D001317:Austria; D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D004463:Ecology; D006207:Half-Life; D010944:Plants / Q000528:radiation effects; D011210:Power Plants; D018788:Radioactive Hazard Release; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D014455:Ukraine; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D014876:Water Pollution; D014878:Water Pollution, Radioactive
chemical_list: D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes; D012987:Soil; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive