Low Levels of Iodine Detected in Europe

Full text: The IAEA has received information from the State Office for Nuclear Safety of the Czech Republic that very low levels of iodine-131 have been measured in the atmosphere over the Czech Republic in recent days. The IAEA has learned about similar measurements in other locations across Europe. The IAEA believes the current trace levels of iodine-131 that have been measured do not pose a public health risk and are not caused by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident in Japan. Iodine-131 is a short-lived radioisotope that has a radioactive decay half-life of about eight days. The IAEA is working with its counterparts to determine the cause and origin of the iodine-131. The IAEA will provide further information via its Website as it becomes available. (IAEA)