Low levels of radioactive particles detected in Europe, source unknown

[News_Editor]

Low levels of radioactive particles detected in Europe, source unknown

2011-11-11 20:49:38 GMT+7 (ICT)

VIENNA (BNO NEWS) -- Low levels of radioactive iodine-131 have been detected over parts of Europe in recent days, officials confirmed on Friday, but the source remains unknown. There is not believed to be a public health risk.

The radioactive particles were first detected earlier this month during routine monitoring by the State Office for Nuclear Safety (SONS) of the Czech Republic. It later informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) about its findings as it was unable to determine the source.

"Although the concentration of iodine in the air does not in any way jeopardize the health of the population, SONS has issued a directive to change the monitoring mode to obtain as much data as possible," the office said in a statement. "The situation is being closely monitored for localization and the identification of possible sources, which are likely located outside the territory of the Republic."

The IAEA said it has learned of similar observations in other locations across Europe, including in Austria where national authorities said the radioactive particles are believed to be coming from an east-southeasterly direction.

"The IAEA believes the current trace levels of iodine-131 that have been measured do not pose a public health risk and are not caused by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident in Japan," the agency said, adding that iodine-131 is a short-lived radioisotope that has a radioactive decay half-life of about eight days.

Czech authorities said it had found no concentration of other artificial radionuclides, suggesting the radioactive particles are unlikely to be originating from a nuclear power plant accident.

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