Measurements of Fukushima Fallout by the Berkeley Radiological Air and Water Monitoring Project

The massive earthquake and tsunami off the coast of Japan on March 11, 2011 caused extensive damage at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. During subsequent venting and explosions at the reactor site, there were releases of fission products such as 131I, 134Cs, 136Cs, 137Cs, and 132Te. Trace amounts of these isotopes were detectable in California around March 17. In the days after the disaster, the Berkeley Radiological Air and Water Monitoring (BRAWM) Project was started to measure the amounts of radioisotopes in the local environment around Berkeley. BRAWM has detected radioactive isotopes from Fukushima Daiichi in the air, rainwater, creek runoff, milk, soil, berries, and leafy vegetables. The team continues to monitor fallout levels in order to understand the nature of the radioactive releases from Fukushima as well as quantify the dilution or accumulation of the radioisotopes as they make their way through the environment and food chain.