IAEA: The emergence of low levels of radiation in Europe is still a mystery
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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In a number of European countries over the past few weeks low levels of radioactive iodine-131 have been detected. The source of this exposure has not yet been found, said the UN representative for nuclear energy.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Friday November 11 announced that traces of radioactive iodine-131 were discovered in Europe, following alarming statements by the authorities of the Czech Republic.
The IAEA stated that the recorded levels of radiation do not pose a threat to public health and that the Fukushima nuclear power plant (Japan) is not a source of radiation. The origin of particles remains a mystery. Representatives of the IAEA report that active work is now being carried out with all EU countries to find the source of radiation.
"The authorities of the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Germany, Sweden, France and Poland in recent days continue to record very low levels of iodine-131 in their atmosphere," the IAEA said in a statement.
Iodine-131 is a short-lived radioisotope with a half-life of about eight days. And the observed levels of iodine-131 are now very low.
If a person inhaled these levels throughout the year, he would receive an annual radiation dose of less than 0.1 μSv. For comparison, the average annual radiation background is 2,400 μSv per year, the document says.
Iodine-131 in high doses can lead to the development of cancer, contaminating such foods as milk and vegetables.
Experts said that radiation sources that had been spreading for almost three weeks could be many objects, ranging from medical laboratories, hospitals, pharmaceutical plants and nuclear submarines.
The French Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) said on Thursday that the probable source of radiation is in central or eastern Europe, particularly in the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, Russia or Ukraine.
The IRSN is currently conducting calculations to track the trajectories of air masses to determine the origin of the leak. "We have to find an answer by the middle of next week," a representative of the IRSN agency said, excluding the hypothesis that the leak could have come from the nuclear power plant. "If the radiation came from the reactor, we would find other elements in the air."
