Retrospective measurements of airborne super(129)Iodine in Austria

The knowledge about the distribution of anthropogenic super(129)I is crucial for a successful establishment of transport mechanisms, fate and behaviour in the environment. In present study, the historical record of dry deposition of super(129)I in Austria over four decades back to the 1960s is recon...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of environmental radioactivity 2012-10, Vol.112, p.90-95
Main Authors: Jabbar, Tania, Wallner, Gabriele, Steier, Peter, Katzlberger, Christian, Kandler, Norbert
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Austria
Beta
Ingestion
Inhalation
Radioactivity
Risk
Signatures
Toxicity
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The knowledge about the distribution of anthropogenic super(129)I is crucial for a successful establishment of transport mechanisms, fate and behaviour in the environment. In present study, the historical record of dry deposition of super(129)I in Austria over four decades back to the 1960s is reconstructed. The super(129)I/ super(127)I isotopic ratio of the order of 10 super(-9)-10 super(-7) in airborne particles revealed a prominent anthropogenic super(129)I signature. The time profile of airborne super(129)I follows directly the pattern of the gaseous emissions from European reprocessing plants. Furthermore, temporal variations of super(129)I were traced monthly over two years. The potential risks of internal exposure to super(129)I are associated with both inhalation and ingestion. Since dose via inhalation was found insignificant, the thyroid equivalent dose from the internal exposure of super(129)I using a value of 10 super(-8) for the isotopic ratio super(129)I/ super(127)I in the thyroid and ICRP reference man was calculated. The corresponding thyroid cancer risk factor of 10 super(-11) for an adult from life-time exposure is one order of magnitude higher than for a 1-year old child. Due to low radiation toxicity of super(129)I the annual dose is 8 x 10 super(4) times lower than the dose limit of the National Research Council, USA which is 0.04 mSv y super(-1) to whole body or any organ for a combined beta and photon emitting radionuclide.
ISSN:0265-931X
DOI:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2012.05.010