The measurements were made both in Finnmark in Norway, Kiruna in Sweden and several places throughout Finland in the period 16-23 January. BarentsObserver quoted the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authorities that stated the traces of iodnine-131 came from, or via Russian territory.
Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) launched an investigation backdating the wind- and weather information available to see wherefrom the origin of the radioactivity could be.
The data indicated Hungary as a possible source of release, and after inquiries the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority started their investigation. The result shows that the radioactive iodine originated from a plant in Budapest where radioisotopes are handles, the information from STUK reads.
During the handling of iodine packages in the production process, radioactive iodine was released into the air. According to the Hungarian authorities, the technology to handle iodine and the production in general will be improved so that a similar situation would not occur again.
The same plant had a similar increased emission of iodine-131 last autumn that was measured in several other European countries. Also then, the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority issued a press-release assuring it would not happen again.
