Icelandic Radiation Safety Authority
Radionuclides in aerosols in Reykjavík, from the Fukushima accident (updated summary, valid 1 June 2011)
The radionuclide aerosol monitoring station in Reykjavík was the first station in Europe where radionuclides from the Fukushima accident were observed. It is operated by the Icelandic Radiation Safety Authority for the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Organization (CTBTO). The results for the main radionuclides of concern, Cs-137 and I-131 are given in the figure below (only results higher than the minimum detectable activity are given).
No I-131 has been detected since May 7th and no antropogenic radionuclided have been detected since May 18th. The results show that the levels were very low and comparible to what has been seen on the European continent. The highest value for I-131 was less than 1/1000 of what was often seen in western Europe following the Chernobyl accident in 1986.
March 22nd 2011.
Needless to fear radioactivity levels in Iceland
In response to multiple requests, the Icelandic Radiation Safety Authority (IRSA) notes that there is no reason to worry about radioactivity levels in Iceland, nor anywhere in Europe, resulting from the nuclear accident in Japan.
A plume carrying radioactive materials from the Fukushima plant has reached Europe. IRSA has verified that a trace amounts of radioactivity from the plant has been detected at an air sampling station in Reykjavik operated by IRSA. One can expect that radioactive materials will continue to be measured in Iceland and elsewhere in Europe in the coming days and weeks. This in part reflects that highly sensitive air monitoring networks have been established world wide and in Europe. They can detect trace amount of radioactive materials, far below levels that would pose risk to human health.
The concentration of I-131 in air now detected in Iceland is less than a millionth of what was detected in European countries following the Chernobyl accident and thus poses no health risk.
This is the web page of the Icelandic Radiation Safety Authority.
Our address is: Raudararstigur 10, 150 Reykjavik, Iceland.
Telephone number: + 354 440 8200
Fax number: + 354 552 8202
e-mail: gr@gr.is
Available material in English:
Law: Act on Radiation protection no. 44 of 18 April 2002 (with alteration 2008).
Please note new name in English:
Icelandic Radiation Safety Authority
As of 1 June 2009, Geislavarnir ríkisins is using "Icelandic Radiation
Safety Authority" as the English translation of its Icelandic name instead
of “Icelandic Radiation Protection Institute” as used previously. All other
contact information remains the same, including the name in Icelandic,
telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and postal addresses, since this
does not involve any organisational change.
