Aerosol radioactivity record in Bratislava/Slovakia following the Fukushima accident – A comparison with global fallout and the Chernobyl accident

Results of radioactivity measurements in Bratislava aerosols following the Fukushima accident showed that at least three radioactive plumes arrived to Bratislava as indicated by 131I/137Cs activity ratios. When compared with the Chernobyl results available for the Bratislava station, the Fukushima radionuclide levels were almost five orders of magnitude lower, with the maximum values for 131I and 137Cs of 0.5 and 0.07 mBq/m3, respectively. The 131I and 137Cs vs. 7Be aerosol activity records showed that the increases in 131I and 137Cs activity concentrations were accompanied by 7Be increases, indicating that both the horizontal and vertical transports of radionuclides were responsible for observed radionuclide concentrations. The 134Cs/137Cs activity ratio was close to 1, as has also been reported by other investigators.