Observations of fallout from the Fukushima reactor accident in Cienfuegos, Cuba.
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 (131)I and (137)Cs. However, the fallout levels measured for these isotopes (135 ± 4.78 mBq m(-2) day(-1) for (131)I and 10.7 ± 0.38 mBq m(-2) day(-1)for (137)Cs) 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.
Centro de Estudios Ambientales de Cienfuegos, AP 5, Ciudad Nuclear, Cienfuegos, Cuba. carlos@ceac.cu
Carlos M
CM
Alonso-Hernandez
Aniel
A
Guillen-Arruebarrena
Hector
H
Cartas-Aguila
Yasser
Y
Morera-Gomez
Misael
M
Diaz-Asencio
D000392:Air Movements; D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis; D001272:Atmosphere / Q000737:chemistry; D003462:Cuba; D004190:Disasters; D055866:Earthquakes; D007564:Japan; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011847:Radioactive Fallout / Q000032:analysis*; D018788:Radioactive Hazard Release; D057192:Tsunamis
D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive; D011847:Radioactive Fallout