Radionuclides from Fukushima accident in Thessaloniki, Greece (40°N) and Milano,Italy (45°)

131I, 137Cs and 134Cs were ob served in environmental samples in Milano (40 N), Italy and Thessaloniki (45N), Greece, soon after the nuclear accident in Fukushima, Japan. The radionuclide concentrations were determined and studied as a function of time. In Thessaloniki the 131I in air was observed for the first time on March 24, 2011. In Milano, the first evidence of Fukushima fallout has been confirmed with 131I and 137Cs measured in wet precipitation collected 2 days later. The maximum 131I activity concentration in air of 467±25l Bq m-3, observed in Milano on April 3–4, 2011, was almost similar to the highest value of 497±53l Bq m-3 observed in Thessaloniki. The 134Cs/137Cs activity ratio values in air were around 1 in both regions. Soil, grass and milk samples were contaminated with 131I and 137Cs at a low level. Finally, a dose assessment for these two areas showed clearly that the detected activities in all environmental samples were far below levels of concern.