Contamination of Austrian soil with caesium-137.
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.
Bossew
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P
University of Salzburg, Institute of Physics and Biophysics, A-5020 Salzburg, Heubrunner Strasse 34, Austria. p.bossew@nextra.at
Ditto
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M
Falkner
T
T
Henrich
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E
Kienzl
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K
Rappelsberger
U
U
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
D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes; D012987:Soil; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive