Campbell science experiment detects miniscule amounts of radiation from Japanese explosion

Buies Creek, N.C.—Campbell University Physics Professor Jason Ezell expected radioactive particles to reach the United States’ atmosphere after the March 12 accident at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. On Tuesday, March 29, Ezell believes he found them.

“There are minute, miniscule amounts, probably only 20,000 counts above background noise registering in the detector. However it’s at an energy where there was nothing before,” said Ezell. “It is not enough to become even remotely hazardous, but I’m pretty sure it’s Iodine 131 from the Japan explosion.”

Using a device called a Gamma Ray Spectrometer, Ezell began measuring air samples on March 14th.

“I’ve spoken to officials from Progress Energy and they expect their weekly measurements to reveal similar results,” Ezell said. “I was running mine daily so that I could pinpoint when the radiation actually arrived here. That means I’m looking for stuff that’s barely there at all.”

Since there are a lot of naturally occurring isotopes in the atmosphere such as Lead, Bismuth and Radon, Ezell said he wanted to establish a baseline of data that could be compared to additional data. Radioactive isotopes such as Iodine 131 are man-made, by-products of nuclear fission made by splitting the atom. As such, these particles are short lived, having a half life of only approximately eight days.

Comparing his baseline with the data collected on March 29, Ezell found additional isotopes.

 “There was definitely something here yesterday that wasn’t here before,” Ezell said. “I have a high degree of confidence that it’s Iodine 131.”

There is no reason for residents to be alarmed. To put his discovery into perspective, people should be more worried about wearing a seatbelt when driving or changing the batteries in their smoke detectors, Ezell explained.

“It’s an interesting Physics problem. But from time to time I stop and think, ‘If I can see this in the atmosphere from 12,000 miles away, it has got to be a horrific experience for Japan.’”

 Jason Ezell earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Campbell University and a Master’s degree in Nuclear Physics from North Carolina State University. His research interests include using nuclear microanalysis methods as well as identifying naturally occurring radio nuclides in the environment. Ezell teaches both calculus and algebra based on introductory physics as well as an introductory astronomy course.

 

Photo Copy: Campbell Physics and Chemistry Instructor Jason Ezell holds the air sample, dated March 29, and a graph he used to track the amount of radioactive particles from the Japan nuclear plant explosion present in our atmosphere.