Radionuclides in ground level air in Sweden. Year 2007

Authors:

  • Catharina Söderström
  • Stefan Ban
  • Karin Lindh

Publish date: 2008-05-13

Report number: FOI-R--2502--SE

Pages: 14

Written in: English

Keywords:

  • airborne radionuclides
  • deposition
  • 7Be
  • 137Cs
  • windscale

Abstract

Filtering of ground level air is performed continuously at six different locations in Sweden: Kiruna, Umeå, Gävle, Kista, Visby and Ljungbyhed. The filters are pressed into weekly samples and the contents of different radionuclides are measured by gamma spectroscopy. Precipitation is also collected at four of the stations: Kiruna, Gävle, Kista and Ljungbyhed, the samples are ashed and the contents of radionuclides are measured. The levels of Be-7 and Cs-137 during 2007 in air and precipitation are presented for the different stations. Other antropogenic radionuclides detected, if any, are also presented. Fifty years ago, in 1957, the first nuclear accident took place at Windscale, UK. Activity released from the accident was measured at the station in Stockholm that had just started. Since then sampling has been performed continuously in Sweden, however the number of stations in the sampling network has varied over the years.