Washington, Sept 11(ANI): A new research measuring the level of radiation in Washington after the Fukushima nuclear disaster could aid similar radiation detections in future.
A University of Texas research has shown that the amount of radiation emanating from the Fukushima nuclear disaster increased the atmospheric radioactive aerosol level in Washington from 10,000 to 100,000 times above normal level.
The level was, however, below the amount considered harmful to humans and they posed no health hazard.
The research is significant as it gauges the magnitude of radiation after nuclear disaster and demonstrates significant technological advancements made by researchers to create a more sensitive nuclear monitoring system, which is capable of detecting even small amounts of radiation.
Cockrell School of Engineering Associate Professor and nuclear expert Steven Biegalski and his team of researchers detected an inert radioactive material, Xenon 133, among the effluents, Eurekalert reports.
Xenon 133 can be used to determine whether a country has conducted an illegal nuclear test explosion. Such tests are however, banned under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).
The nuclear stations within the network share information on Xenon 133 can detect secret nuclear tests.
Xenon 133 is not harmful in small doses and is used medically to study the flow of blood through the brain and the flow of air through the lungs, the researchers observed.
"The culmination of international research collaborations resulted in this very sensitive monitoring technology. These advancements will not only be beneficial for nuclear monitoring, they are also very beneficial to the emergency response teams called to disasters like Fukushima," Biegalski said. (ANI)
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