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Detection of radioactive iodine at trace levels in Europe in January 2017

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Re: Detection of radioactive iodine at trace levels in Europe in January 2017

#31

Post by patall »

bitL wrote: post #4

Poland has the highest reading - something going awry at Chernobyl or somebody testing low yield nukes? I am also really disappointed this wasn't anywhere in the news, at least people could have taken some iodine. I understand the level is low but there is still non-zero probability of somebody going ill from it.

Yeah, but taking too much iodine also results in a non-zero probability of side effects (I mean it is already not recommended to take pills for anyone over 45). If there is no real risk assumed, such news would only serve to spread panic and sensationalism. As long as it is not buried, I rather prefer it like this.

Re: Detection of radioactive iodine at trace levels in Europe in January 2017

#32

Post by aftbit »

en wrote: post #5

The releases of January 2017 are 10,000 times lower than those observed (in France) following the Fukushima incident[0] CRIIRAD[1] believes that the meteorological conditions (and air pollution actually in Europe) and (legal) authorizations of iodine-131 releases by the industry are the cause of this event which could have passed unnoticed[0] It is an unimportant event. [0] http://www.criirad.org/balises/CRIIRAD_1702…

Do you have any more info about the authorized iodine-131 releases? Was there a single underlying event?

Re: Detection of radioactive iodine at trace levels in Europe in January 2017

#33

Post by matthewmcg »

iSnow wrote: post #16
bitL wrote: post #4

Poland has the highest reading - something going awry at Chernobyl or somebody testing low yield nukes? I am also really disappointed this wasn't anywhere in the news, at least people could have taken some iodine. I understand the level is low but there is still non-zero probability of somebody going ill from it.

I think we can rule out low-yield nukes, those test would still create a noticeable signal. If I had to place a bet, then I'd put it on some low to medium accident at a nuclear power station in Russia that led to an emergency release of contaminated steam.

Somewhat of a digression, but this very technical discussion about nuclear test monitoring by the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization is really interesting: http://omegataupodcast.net/185-nuclear-test-monitoring-and-t...

Re: Detection of radioactive iodine at trace levels in Europe in January 2017

#34

Post by kkarp »

bitL wrote: post #4

Poland has the highest reading - something going awry at Chernobyl or somebody testing low yield nukes? I am also really disappointed this wasn't anywhere in the news, at least people could have taken some iodine. I understand the level is low but there is still non-zero probability of somebody going ill from it.

This is a map of air pollution in Europe.

http://www.zzit.pl/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Powietrze.jpg

Poland is struggling right now because of huge smog. This makes me believe in this part of an article, which says that higher iodine detection might be caused by accumulation in smog.

Re: Detection of radioactive iodine at trace levels in Europe in January 2017

#36

Post by dragonwriter »

Keyframe wrote: post #3

Can this be related to explosion in French nuclear power plant a week or so ago?

Since this was measured in early January, it certainly can't be caused by an event more recent than that, absent a temporal anomaly that would be a bigger deal than the nuclear event.

Re: Detection of radioactive iodine at trace levels in Europe in January 2017

#37

Post by nazgob »

bitL wrote: post #9
jshmrsn wrote: post #2

Can someone describe the significance/insignificance/context of this?

I guess something happened in the eastern part of Europe, possibly Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, Poland etc. The event was small, yet it was certainly nuclear due to a sudden increase of iodine, even if within range considered still healthy. Obviously nobody reported anything before it was picked up by detectors.

Poland does not have any significant nuclear industry, only single small research reactor (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_reactor).

Re: Detection of radioactive iodine at trace levels in Europe in January 2017

#38

Post by dgut »

iSnow wrote: post #16
bitL wrote: post #4

Poland has the highest reading - something going awry at Chernobyl or somebody testing low yield nukes? I am also really disappointed this wasn't anywhere in the news, at least people could have taken some iodine. I understand the level is low but there is still non-zero probability of somebody going ill from it.

I think we can rule out low-yield nukes, those test would still create a noticeable signal. If I had to place a bet, then I'd put it on some low to medium accident at a nuclear power station in Russia that led to an emergency release of contaminated steam.

I don't think there's much point in guessing.

Re: Detection of radioactive iodine at trace levels in Europe in January 2017

#39

Post by en »

aftbit wrote: post #32
en wrote: post #5

The releases of January 2017 are 10,000 times lower than those observed (in France) following the Fukushima incident[0] CRIIRAD[1] believes that the meteorological conditions (and air pollution actually in Europe) and (legal) authorizations of iodine-131 releases by the industry are the cause of this event which could have passed unnoticed[0] It is an unimportant event. [0] http://www.criirad.org/balises/CRIIRAD_1702…

Do you have any more info about the authorized iodine-131 releases? Was there a single underlying event?

Many installations in Europe and neighboring countries are allowed to reject iodine-131 in the air. From Nuclear power plants (nuclear power stations, nuclear fuel reprocessing plant, etc.) to medical field (isotope reactors, nuclear medicine, waste incinerators, etc.).

source : http://www.criirad.org/balises/CRIIRAD_170214%20_I131_Europe... (french)

Re: Detection of radioactive iodine at trace levels in Europe in January 2017

#40

Post by chinathrow »

moogly wrote: post #27
sneak wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe unimportant from a health standpoint. I'm not worried at all for safety but I sure as hell want to know the root cause. It is extremely anomalous.

Same thing happened in 2015.

Same thing with or without known cause?
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