Radioactive iodine analysis in environmental samples around nuclear facilities and sewage treatment plants

Abstract

Many radionuclides exist in normal environment and artificial radionuclides also can be detected. The radionuclides (131I) are widely used for labeling compounds and radiation therapy. In Korea, the radionuclide (131I) is produced at the Radioisotope Production Facility (RIPF) at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute in Daejeon. The residents around the RIPF assume that 131I detected in environmental samples is produced from RIPF. To ensure the safety of the residents, the radioactive concentration of 131I near the RIPF was investigated by monitoring environmental samples along the Gap River. The selected geographical places are near the nuclear installation, another possible location for 131I detection, and downstream of the Gap River. The first selected places are the “front gate of KAERI”, and the “Donghwa bridge”. The second selected place is the sewage treatment plant. Therefore, the Wonchon bridge is selected for the upstream of the plant and the sewage treatment plant is selected for the downstream of the plant. The last selected places are the downstream where the two paths converged, which is Yongshin bridge (in front of the cogeneration plant). In these places, environmental samples, including sediment, fish, surface water, and aquatic plants, were collected. In this study, the radioactive iodine (131I) detection along the Gap River will be investigated.