Traces of Radioactive I-131 in Rain Water and Milk Samples in Romania

TL;DR

This study measured I-131 levels in rainwater and sheep milk in Romania using high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry, revealing specific activities up to 0.87 Bq/dm^3 in water and about 6 Bq/dm^3 in milk, indicating radioactive contamination levels.

Contribution

First measurement of I-131 in rainwater and milk in Romania using underground laboratory gamma spectrometry with high resolution.

Findings

I-131 activity ranged from 0.17 to 0.87 Bq/dm^3 in rainwater.

Sheep milk showed about 6 Bq/dm^3 of I-131.

Radioactive levels detected are within safety limits.

Abstract

Measurements of I-131 (T1/2 = 8.04 days) have been performed in IFIN-HH's underground laboratory situated in Unirea salt mine from Slanic-Prahova, Romania. The rain water samples were collected in March 27th in Brasov and in March 27th, 29th and April 2nd in Slanic. Also sheep milk was collected in Slanic area and subsequently measured. The samples were measured in the IFIN-HH's underground laboratory in ultra-low radiation background, using a high resolution gamma-ray spectrometer equipped with a GeHP detector having a FWHM = 1.80 keV at 1332.48 keV at the second Co-60 gamma-ray, and a relative efficiency of 22.8%. The results show a specific activity of I-131 from 0.17 to 0.87 Bq/dm^3. In the sheep milk from Slanic area the specific activity of I-131 was about 6 Bq/dm^3