Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 25, 2026

An Efficient Method for Selective Desalination of Radioactive Iodine Anions by Using Gold Nanoparticles-Embedded Membrane Filter
Published on: July 13, 2018
Iodine isotopes in precipitation: Four-year time series variations before and after 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident
Sheng Xu1, Luyuan Zhang2, Stewart P H T Freeman3
1Scottish Universities Environmental Research Center, East Kilbride, G75 0QF, UK; Fukushima University, Fukushima, 960-1296, Japan.
Abstract:
Rainwater samples were collected monthly from Fukushima, Japan, in 2012-2014 and analysed for (127)I and (129)I. These are combined with previously reported data to investigate atmospheric levels and behaviour of Fukushima-derived (129)I before and after the 2011 nuclear accident. In the new datasets, (127)I and (129)I concentrations between October 2012 and October 2014 varied from 0.5 to 10 μg/L and from 1.2 × 10(8) to 6.9 × 10(9) atoms/L respectively, resulting in (129)I/(127)I atomic ratio ranges from 3 × 10(-8) to 2 × 10(-7). The (127)I concentrations were in good agreement with those in the previous period from March 2011 to September 2012, whereas the (129)I concentrations and (129)I/(127)I ratios followed declining trends since the accident. Although (129)I concentrations in five samples during the period of 2013-2014 have approached the pre-accident levels, (129)I concentrations in most samples remained higher values in winter and spring-summer. The high (129)I levels in winter and spring-summer are most likely attributed to local resuspension of the Fukushima-derived radionuclide-bearing fine soil particles deposited on land surfaces, and re-emission through vegetation taking up (129)I from contaminated soil and water, respectively. Long-term declining rate suggests that contribution of the Fukushima-derived (129)I to the atmosphere would become less since 2014.
More Related Videos
09:18Laser-heating and Radiance Spectrometry for the Study of Nuclear Materials in Conditions Simulating a Nuclear Power Plant Accident
Published on: December 14, 2017
06:28Visualization of Low-Level Gamma Radiation Sources Using a Low-Cost, High-Sensitivity, Omnidirectional Compton Camera
Published on: January 30, 2020
Related Concept Videos
Isotopes and Radioisotopes
An isotope containing...
Precipitation of Ions
The equation that describes the equilibrium between solid calcium carbonate and its solvated ions is:
Nuclear Stability
To hold positively charged protons together...
Precipitation Titration Curve: Analysis
Isotopes
An element's atomic mass, or weight,...
Precipitation and Co-precipitation