Measurement of the 129I/131I ratio in Chernobyl fallout

W. Kutschera, D. Fink, M. Paul, G. Hollos, A. Kaufman

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Abstract

Rainwater collected in the Munich area approximately one week after the Chernobyl reactor accident was investigated for its content of the radio-isotopes 129I(T1/2= 1.6 ȕ 107yr) and 131I(T1/2= 8.04d). For the time of release, an isotopic ratio of 129I/131I = 19 ŷ 5 was found. This value was obtained from a gamma-ray activity measurement of 131I with a Ge detector and a concentration measurement of 129I with accelerator mass spectrometry. From the measured ratio an operating time of the reactor prior to the accident in the vicinity of two years can be estimated, which is in fair agreement with estimates from other long-lived to short-lived radioisotope ratios in the Chernobyl fallout. Some measurements of 131I activity in thyroids of persons living in the Munich area are also reported.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)310-313
Number of pages4
JournalPhysica Scripta
Volume37
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Feb 1988

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