RESUMEN
Assessing the impact of radioactive iodine on humans subsequent to a nuclear accident requires a better understanding of its behaviour in the environment. An original approach aimed at developing a model constrained by data collected during experimental campaigns has been developed. These experimental campaigns, named MIOSEC 2 and MIOSEC 3 respectively, were conducted in the middle of grassland. They are based on emissions of gaseous elemental iodine (I2) into the atmosphere above the grassland to determine the dry deposition velocities of iodine on the grass and to model these velocities as a function of the environmental conditions, particularly wind friction velocity, sensible heat flux, and stomatal resistance. The measured dry deposition velocities were between 0.02 and 0.49â¯cmâ¯s-1 during MIOSEC 2, varying by more than one order of magnitude, and between 0.48 and 1.25â¯cmâ¯s-1 during MIOSEC 3. The dry deposition model for iodine developed as a result of these experiments relies on the micrometeorological characteristics of the atmospheric surface layer, the pertinent physical and chemical properties of the iodine and the surface properties of the grass; all these parameters were measured at the time of the experiments. Given the experimental conditions, the modelled dry deposition velocities varied between 0.11 and 0.51â¯cmâ¯s-1 during MIOSEC 2 and between 0.31 and 1.6â¯cmâ¯s-1 during MIOSEC 3. The dry deposition model for iodine indicates that the variations in deposition velocity are induced by the mechanical turbulence, since there is significant correlation between the dry deposition velocities of iodine and the wind friction velocities on grass. The model also shows that the higher deposition velocity values during MIOSEC 3 are due to the fact that the stomata were more open during the experiments. There is also significant correlation between the experimental results and modelled values both for MIOSEC 2 (R2â¯=â¯0.61) and for MIOSEC 3 (R2â¯=â¯0.71).
Asunto(s)
Poaceae , Monitoreo de Radiación , Contaminantes Atmosféricos , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Radioisótopos de YodoRESUMEN
Traditionally, iodine has been delivered as a solution, tablet or resin to disinfect water. In this study we evaluated the "I2 vapor infusion" (I2VP) technology which passes an airstream through a matrix containing elemental iodine (I2) to produce I2 vapor as an innovative method of iodine delivery for water disinfection. Pressured air was provided either by a compressor or hand pump. Testing was performed with water inoculated with either Gram-negative (Escherichia, Salmonella) or Gram-positive (Enterococcus) bacteria or with pre-formed Acinetobacter or Staphylococcus biofilms. Bacterial colony forming units were used to assess efficacy of the device. In distilled water all bacteria and biofilms were eliminated after brief exposures (<90 s). Culturable bacteria were also eliminated from pond and municipal sewer water, but the technology was mostly ineffective against dairy lagoon water with high turbidity and organic particulate. Longer duration infusion and higher air volumes used to overcome interference from organic matter were also associated with higher concentrations of residual iodine. We conclude that I2 vapor infusion has the potential to be useful for emergency water treatment and potentially for reducing microbiological contamination of some waste streams.
Asunto(s)
Yodo , Purificación del Agua , Biopelículas , Desinfección , AguaRESUMEN
Interest is increasing in the radiological consequences of a release of aerosol and gaseous iodine, especially after the Fukushima accident and also because of new interpretations of the results of recent severe accident experiments. This work provides a brief review of the history of iodine chemistry in containment and suggests an approach to include gaseous iodine, namely in the forms of elemental iodine and organic iodide, in consequence analyses using the MACCS code. As dry deposition is an important characteristic to distinguish each chemical form of iodine when performing a consequence analysis, the mechanisms and mathematical formulas expressing dry deposition are also investigated. The proposed approach is demonstrated by performing consequence analyses with a unit release of 131I, with the resulting trends of concentration and dose for the different chemical forms of iodine presented and discussed. For the same amount of iodine release, there is a higher surface deposition of elemental iodine (I2) because it has a higher dry deposition velocity, while the air concentration of a representative organic iodide (CH3I) is higher due to its lower dry deposition velocity, which means a lower depletion of the air concentration. Despite elemental iodine having a lower air concentration, its higher dose coefficients for the inhalation pathway compensates for this when calculating doses. Further, inhaled doses increase when considering resuspension inhalation for extended durations of exposure. The approach proposed in this study is expected to be used flexibly to perform consequence analyses incorporating both aerosol and gaseous forms of iodine.