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

131 I, 137 Cs and 134 Cs were observed in environmental samples in Milano (40°N), Italy and Thessaloniki (45°N), Greece, soon after the nuclear accident in Fukushima, Japan. The radionuclide concentrations were determined and studied as a function of time. In Thessaloniki the 131 I in air was observed for the first time on March 24, 2011. In Milano, the first evidence of Fukushima fallout has been confirmed with 131 I and 137 Cs measured in wet precipitation collected 2 days later. The maximum 131 I activity concentration in air of 467 ± 25 μBq m −3 , observed in Milano on April 3–4, 2011, was almost similar to the highest value of 497 ± 53 μBq m −3 observed in Thessaloniki. The 134 Cs/ 137 Cs activity ratio values in air were around 1 in both regions. Soil, grass and milk samples were contaminated with 131 I and 137 Cs 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.