Research on US nuclear levels after Fukushima could aid in future nuclear detection

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-09/uota-rou090911.php

Public release date: 9-Sep-2011

Contact: Melissa Mixon
[e-mail]
512-471-2129
http://www.utexas.edu/">University of Texas at Austin

Research on US nuclear levels after Fukushima could aid in future nuclear detection

The amount of radiation released during the Fukushima nuclear disaster was so great that the level of atmospheric radioactive aerosols in Washington state was 10,000 to 100,000 times greater than normal levels in the week following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that triggered the disaster.

Despite the increase, the levels were still well below the amount considered harmful to humans and they posed no health risks to residents at the time, according to researchers at The University of Texas at Austin.

The findings, published by a mechanical engineering professor at the Cockrell School of Engineering and researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), provide important insight into the magnitude of the disaster. They also demonstrate huge advancements in the technology that's used for monitoring nuclear material and detecting covert nuclear operations around the world.

…

"As the measurements came in sooner and at higher concentrations than we initially expected, we quickly came to the conclusion that there were some major core melts at those facilities," Biegalski said. "I remember being in the lab thinking, 'Wow, if this is all true we have a far more bigger accident than what we're hearing right now."

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[SpoonFed]

1. Were these academics just sitting on their hands until Sep 8th? n/t

[OKIsItJustMe]

2. No

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2011.08.007

Development of a new aerosol monitoring system and its application in Fukushima nuclear accident related aerosol radioactivity measurement at the CTBT radionuclide station in Sidney of Canada

Weihua Zhang, Marc Bean, Mike Benotto, Jeff Cheung, Kurt Ungar, Brian Ahier

Radiation Protection Bureau, Health Canada, 775 Brookfield Road, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 1C1

Received 7 July 2011; revised 5 August 2011; Accepted 8 August 2011. Available online 26 August 2011.

Abstract

A high volume aerosol sampler ("Grey Owl") has been designed and developed at the Radiation Protection Bureau, Health Canada. Its design guidance is based on the need for a low operational cost and reliable sampler to provide daily aerosol monitoring samples that can be used as reference samples for radiological studies. It has been developed to provide a constant air flow rate at low pressure drops (∼3 kPa for a day sampling) with variations of less than ±1% of the full scale flow rate. Its energy consumption is only about 1.5 kW for a filter sampling over 22,000 standard cubic meter of air. It has been demonstrated in this Fukushima nuclear accident related aerosol radioactivity monitoring study at Sidney station, B.C. that the sampler is robust and reliable. The results provided by the new monitoring system have been used to support decision-making in Canada during an emergency response.

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[jberryhill]

3. Yeah, because when we lose a city, it would be great to detect that!