Observations of Fukushima fallout in Great Britain.
Following the Fukushima accident in March 2011, grass samples were collected from 42 sites around Great Britain during April 2011. Iodine-131 was measurable in grass samples across the country with activity concentrations ranging from 10 to 55 Bq kg(-1) dry matter. Concentrations were similar to those reported in other European countries. Rainwater and some foodstuffs were also analysed from a limited number of sites. Of these, (131)I was only detectable in sheep's milk (c. 2 Bq kg(-1)). Caesium-134, which can be attributed to releases from the Fukushima reactors, was detectable in six of the grass samples (4-8 Bq kg(-1) dry matter); (137)Cs was detected in a larger number of grass samples although previous release sources (atmospheric weapons test and the 1986 Chernobyl and 1957 Windscale accidents) are likely to have contributed to this.
Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Av., Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, United Kingdom. nab@ceh.ac.uk
N A
NA
Beresford
C L
CL
Barnett
B J
BJ
Howard
D C
DC
Howard
C
C
Wells
A N
AN
Tyler
S
S
Bradley
D
D
Copplestone
D000490:Allium / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D001937:Brassica / Q000737:chemistry; D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes; D002645:Chickens; D004531:Eggs / Q000032:analysis; D005507:Food Contamination, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D062406:Fukushima Nuclear Accident; D006041:Goats; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D007564:Japan; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry; D006109:Poaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011848:Radioactive Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D011891:Rain / Q000737:chemistry; D012756:Sheep; D006113:United Kingdom
D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D011848:Radioactive Pollutants