Radioactivity from Fukushima nuclear accident detected in Lisbon, Portugal

The radioactivity released from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear accident was transported around the globe by atmospheric processes. Several artificial radionuclides were detected and measured in aerosols and atmospheric surface depositions in the Lisbon area during late March and early April 2011. The highest concentrations measured in aerosols were those of particulate I-131, 1.39 +/- 0.08 mBq m(-3). Cesium-134, Cs-137 and Te-132 were also determined but at lower concentrations. The total atmospheric depositions on the ground were higher on the first week of April with values for I-131, Cs-134, and Cs-137 of 0.92 +/- 0.11, 0.59 +/- 0.06, and 0.62 +/- 0.12 Bq m(-2), respectively. The four artificial radionuclides measurable, I-131, Te-132 Cs-134, and Cs-137, caused little radiation exposure to the members of the public, that was five orders of magnitude lower than the ionizing radiation effective dose limits for members of the public for one year (1 mSv y(-1)). (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.