UC Berkeley Nuclear Engineering Air Monitoring Station: Rain Water Results

UC Berkeley
March 20th, 2011

Results Log

3/20 (4:15pm): Rain water results show trace levels of radioactive iodine (I131,I132), cesium (Cs134, Cs137), and tellurium (Te132). The amounts show that the activity we are observing originated from one of the three operating reactors that was shut down since I-131 and Te132 half-lives are less than 10 days and the spent fuel from unit 4 has been not operating for > 130 days. The calculated exposure to the public is so low that the consuming of ~500 liters of this water would only increase dose by the same amount received by taking a cross-country airplane flight.

3/19 (8:37 pm) Initial analysis of first rain water sample has been completed. Peer review of concentration amounts and radioactivity is in progress. We expect to post results of multiple samples tomorrow. We apologize for the delay.

The UC Berkeley Department of Nuclear Engineering is currently performing measurements to detect a potential increase in radiation here in Berkeley that could be associated with the release of radioactive materials in Japan.

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