Re: Iodine 131

["Ron L. Kathren" <rkathren@tricity.wsu.edu>]

I-131 is prduced both as a direct fission product and from ingrowth from
Te-131 and precursers.  The total fission yield is a relatively high 5.4%.
As it is constantly being produced by the fission process, there will be a
considerable amount in an operating nuclear reactor.  However, when the
reactor  is shut down, the I-131 will decay with its characteristic
half-life of 8.05 days, and after a few months there will be relatively
little I-131 remaining in the spent fuel.

Ron Kathren


----- Original Message -----
From: Steven Dapra <sjd@swcp.com>
To: Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
Sent: Friday, August 18, 2000 9:13 PM
Subject: Iodine 131


> Aug. 18
>
> What is the source of the vast quantities of I-131 that is produced in
> power reactors, and why is there so much of it?
>
> Steven Dapra
> sjd@swcp.com
>
>
> ************************************************************************
> The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
> information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html

************************************************************************
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html