Iodine isotope analysis of the nuclear industry imissions in Czechia

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F68407700%3A21340%2F25%3A00385141" target="_blank" >RIV/68407700:21340/25:00385141 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://ecaart15.ethz.ch/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/ProgramLeaflet_ECAART15_Sept04.pdf" target="_blank" >https://ecaart15.ethz.ch/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/ProgramLeaflet_ECAART15_Sept04.pdf</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

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Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Iodine isotope analysis of the nuclear industry imissions in Czechia

Original language description

The combination of nuclear forensics and the analytical determination of radionuclides in the environment has led to the development of a distinct discipline: environmental nuclear forensics. This discipline utilizes knowledge of the (radio)nuclide concentrations and ratios to stable isotope in various environmental matrices, along with region-specific isotope background values, to identify and track new sources of contamination. In our case, the 129I as very mobile nuclide with origin mainly from human nuclear activities was selected. However, the utilization of iodine isotopes in these applications is hindered by the complexity inherent to their variable speciation and chemical properties. In this study, a leaching method using tetramethylammonium hydroxide solution was optimized and applied to the determination of iodine in sediments and soils, followed by liquid-liquid extraction, which was also applied to water samples. Subsequent to the separation process, the samples were subjected to analysis using a MILEA-type accelerator mass spectrometry method. This particular method is regarded as the most appropriate for the measurement of the background value of the isotope 129I. Samples were obtained in cooperation with external institutions involved in monitoring radionuclides in the environment, as well as by personal sample collection in the Czech Republic. The results indicate elevated concentrations of 129I in the vicinity of nuclear power plant Temelín, with one of the samples exhibiting concentrations that are almost three orders of magnitude higher than the other samples from this region, still well below clearance levels. The correlation of the isotopes 129I and 137Cs indicates a shared origin for the contamination of the Vltava and Otava rivers. Elevated concentrations of 129I have also been detected in archival samples affected by Chernobyl fallout. When combined with the 137Cs data, this finding is consistent with the occurrence of the Chernobyl incident. These results suggest the potential value of integrating iodine analysis and nuclear forensics in the identification of sources of contamination. Furthermore, they highlight the significance of AMS technology in the advancement of environmental nuclear forensics.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

O - Miscellaneous

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

10402 - Inorganic and nuclear chemistry

Project

Result was created during the realization of more than one project. More information in the Projects tab.

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů