SFU Radiation Presentation

Monitoring radiation levels in the Pacific Northwest
The Fukushima Nuclear Crisis:Separating Fact from Fiction
Simon Fraser University
April 11, 2011
Krzysztof Starosta (SFU) The Fukushima Nuclear Crisis April 11, 2011 1 / 22
The nuclei
The nuclear chart

Number of protons Z
Number of neutrons N
Nuclear decay
Nuclear decay half-life
0 1 2 3 4
T1/2 T1/2 T1/2 T1/2
131
I 8 days
137
Cs 30 years
239
Pu 24100 years
Nuclear fission
Nuclear fission
Nuclear fission
Fission fragments
239
Pu
Number of protons Z
235
U
238
U
232
Th
Nuclear fission
The nuclear chart

Number of protons Z
Fuel release
Fresh and spent nuclear fuel
Fuel release
Nuclear chain reaction
Fuel release
Plutonium
Plutonium (Pu) is a man made, radioactive, heavy element containing

94 protons.
239
Pu is produced in fuel containing 238 U.
239
Pu is the material of choice for nuclear weapons.
Mixed Oxide nuclear fuel used in one of the Fukushima reactors

contains Pu/U mixture.
The element of Pu is highly toxic when inhaled, (less toxic when

ingested).
Animal studies found that an accumulated dose of a few milligram of

plutonium per kilogram of tissue is lethal.
Traces of Pu were reported to be found at the Fukushima site (but not

talked about recently).
Fission fragments release
Radio-iodine 131 I
131
I is a man made radioactive isotope of Iodine.
131
I has a half life of 8 days.
131
I is an abundant fission fragment.
131
I is used in radiotherapy of cancer.
131
I is not found in the atmosphere in normal conditions .
131
I is a good indicator of radioactivity release in reactor accidents,
the signal is not obstructed by background.
Iodine accumulates in the thyroid, thus large scale exposure to 131 I is

a potential health hazard.
Radioactive 137 Cs
137
Cs is a man made radioactive isotope of Cesium.
137
Cs has a half life of 30 years.
137
Cs is an abundant fission fragment.
137
Cs is used in radiotherapy of cancer and in food irradiation.
137
Cs was not present in the environment before 1940’s when fission
started to be used for nuclear power releases.
137
Cs background from nuclear weapon tests and previous nuclear
accidents obscures the signal from Fukushima.
Contamination with 137 Cs is long lasting.
Nuclear weapon tests
∼2000 reported tests ∼550 atmospheric explosions
Release depends critically on the accident scenario.
Fission fragments which exists as gases, vapours, or aerosols are

released first.
The Three Mile Island accident released gases only, including 131 I.
The explosions and fires following the Chernobyl accident resulted in

a release of 6 tons of fragmented fuel along with radioactive gases.
The release of 131 I from the Chernobyl was 2.4 million times larger
than from the Three Mile Island accident.
The crisis management at Fukushima successfully prevented

large-scale radioactivity release in the past month, however, the
cooling operates under emergency conditions.
Radiation detection
Characteristic decay spectra

137
Blue: Cs Red:60 Co
2000
1000
500
200
Counts per Channel
100
50
20
10
200 600 1000 1400 1800

Energy [arb.]
Radiation detection
GEARS: Germanium detector

for Elemental Analysis and Radioactivity Studies
Radiation detection
Background suppression
Blue: shielded Red: unshielded
1460
352
293
609
911
10 4
1121
511
2611
970
1764
728
1237
1376
Counts per Channel
2202
1508
1726
10 3
2103
1847
182
236
91
2444
10 2
10 1
200 600 1000 1400 1800 2200 2600

Energy (keV)
Monitoring of Fukushima releases
131
I signature in the SFU rainwater
511
250 March 18
352
Counts
365
150
50
511
250 March 20
352
Counts
365
150
50
511
250 March 29
352
Counts
365
150
50
340 380 420 460 500 540

Energy [keV]
Time profile of the 131 I signature in Burnaby rainwater

Specific activity of 131I in Burnaby rainwater
Specific activity [Bq/l]
16
14
12
10
0
03/11 03/18 03/25 04/01 04/08
Date
131
I sampling in seaweed
131
I signature in the North Vancouver seaweed
Blue: March 15 Red: March 22
511
250
352
Counts
150
50
511
250
365
352
Counts
150
50
340 380 420 460 500 540

Energy [keV]
Time profile of the 131 I signature in seaweed

Specific activity of 131I in seaweed
500
Specific activity [Bq/kg]
SFU North Vancouver
Bamfield Marine Science Center

400
300
200
100
0
03/11 03/18 03/25 04/01 04/08
Date
Time profile of the 131 I signature

Specific activity of 131I
25
Specific activity [arbitrary]
rainwater
seaweed NV
20 seaweed BMSC
15
10
0
03/11 03/18 03/25 04/01 04/08
Date

SFU Radiation Presentation

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

SFU Radiation Presentation

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Monitoring radiation levels in the Pacific Northwest

The Fukushima Nuclear Crisis:Separating Fact from Fiction

Simon Fraser University

April 11, 2011

The nuclear chart

Nuclear decay half-life

The nuclear chart

Fresh and spent nuclear fuel

Nuclear chain reaction

Plutonium (Pu) is a man made, radioactive, heavy element containing

Mixed Oxide nuclear fuel used in one of the Fukushima reactors

The element of Pu is highly toxic when inhaled, (less toxic when

Animal studies found that an accumulated dose of a few milligram of

Traces of Pu were reported to be found at the Fukushima site (but not

Iodine accumulates in the thyroid, thus large scale exposure to 131 I is

Contamination with 137 Cs is long lasting.

Nuclear weapon tests

∼2000 reported tests ∼550 atmospheric explosions

Fission fragments release

Release depends critically on the accident scenario.

Fission fragments which exists as gases, vapours, or aerosols are

The explosions and fires following the Chernobyl accident resulted in

The crisis management at Fukushima successfully prevented

Characteristic decay spectra

200 600 1000 1400 1800

GEARS: Germanium detector

Blue: shielded Red: unshielded

200 600 1000 1400 1800 2200 2600

340 380 420 460 500 540

Time profile of the 131 I signature in Burnaby rainwater

Blue: March 15 Red: March 22

340 380 420 460 500 540

Time profile of the 131 I signature in seaweed

SFU North Vancouver

Bamfield Marine Science Center

Time profile of the 131 I signature

You might also like