Traces of fission products in southeast Spain after the Fukushima nuclear accident

Traces of 131I, 134Cs and 137Cs were measured after the Fukushima nuclear accident between 23 March and 13 April 2011 in southeast Spain. The movement of the radioactive cloud toward southeast Spain was reconstructed based on the backward and forward trajectory cluster analyses. Polar maritime air masses which had originated over North America transported the radioactive plume toward the southeast Spain. Aerosols, rainwater, vegetables and cheese were analyzed to determine the radioactive risk. The highest concentrations of 131I, 134Cs and 137Cs in air samples were 2.63 ± 0.12 mBq/m3; 0.10 ± 0.03 mBq/m3; 0.09 ± 0.02 mBq/m3, respectively. After precipitation on April 3rd, the maximum concentrations of 131I, 134Cs and 137Cs were detected in rainwater samples, 1.10 ± 0.16 mBq/L; 0.022 ± 0.003 mBq/L; 0.05 ± 0.03 mBq/L, respectively. As a consequence, 131I was transferred to the human food chain, and found in chard and goat cheese, 0.97 ± 0.20 Bq/kg and 0.52 ± 0.08 Bq/kg, respectively. The traces of 131I, 134Cs and 137Cs detected in the different samples were so low, that there is no impact on human health or the environment in Spain after the Fukushima nuclear accident.

► Fission products were detected in southeast Spain after Fukushima nuclear accident.
► There is no radioactive risk for the Spanish population after the accident.
► The trajectory cluster analyses demonstrate the transport of the radioactive plume.
► Bulk deposition and air masses play an important role in the transport of nuclides.