Development of an analytical method for estimating three-dimensional distribution of sediment-associated radiocesium at a reservoir bottom

Ochi, Kotaro; Urabe, Yoshimi*; Yamada, Tsutomu*; Sanada, Yukihisa

Analytical Chemistry, 90(18), p.10795 - 10802, 2018/09

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.8b01746

After the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident, the distributions of sediment-associated radiocesium have been investigated to evaluate the dispersion and accumulation of radiocesium in the reservoir field. To develop an analytical method for measuring the horizontal and vertical distributions of radiocesium on a wide scale, we obtained 253 -ray spectra using a NaI(Tl) scintillation detector at the bottom of 64 ponds in Fukushima during 2014-2016. The depth profile of sediment-associated radiocesium was found to be correlated with intensities of scattered and photo peaks. In parallel, core sediments were collected in same ponds to validate the estimates. Good agreement was observed between the results of in situ spectrometry and core sampling. These results indicated that our developed method would be a good approach for understanding the behavior of radiocesium and determining whether decontamination of reservoirs is required.