Water to atmosphere fluxes of 131I in relation with alkyl-iodide compounds from the Seine Estuary (France)

This study presents an original work on measurements of stable and radioactive iodinated species in the Seine estuary (France), with estimates fluxes of volatile gaseous species from water to the atmosphere. Various iodinated compounds were identified in water and air in particular 131I in water, what is unusual. Concentrations and behaviour of iodinated elements in the Seine estuary seem similar to what has been observed in other European estuaries. MeI (Methyl Iodide) and Total Volatile Iodine (TVI) fluxes from water to air vary between 392 and 13949 pmol m−2 d−1 and between 1279 and 16484 pmol m−2 d−1, respectively. Water to air flux of TVI for the Seine river was estimated in the range 4–46 kg y−1. Measurements of 131I in water varying between 0.4 and 11.9 Bq m−3. Fluxes of 131I from water to atmosphere are in the range 2.4 × 105–1.3 × 107 Bq y−1, close to an annual discharge of 131I by a nuclear reactor.