Predicting wildfire particulate matter and hypothetical re-emission of radiological Cs-137 contamination incidents.

ABSTRACT: Radiological release incidents can potentially contaminate widespread areas with radioactive materials and decontamination efforts are typically focused on populated areas, which means radionuclides may be left in forested areas for long periods of time. Large wildfires in contaminated forested areas have the potential to reintroduce these radionuclides into the atmosphere and cause exposure to first responders and downwind communities. One important radionuclide contaminant released from radiological incidents is radiocesium (¹³⁷Cs) due to high yields and its long half-life of 30.2 years. An Eulerian 3D photochemical transport model was used to estimate potential ambient impacts of ¹³⁷Cs re-emission due to wildfire following hypothetical radiological release scenario

SUBMITTER: Baker KR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9019821 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature