Soil dust and bioaerosols as potential sources for resuspended Cs occurring near the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant

Ota, Masakazu; Takahara, Shogo; Yoshimura, Kazuya; Nagakubo, Azusa; Hirouchi, Jun; Hayashi, Naho; Abe, Tomohisa; Funaki, Hironori; Nagai, Haruyasu

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 264, p.107198_1 - 107198_15, 2023/08

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107198

One of the current major radiation exposure pathways from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident-fallout is inhalation of the re-suspended Cs occurring in air. While wind-induced soil particle resuspension has been recognized as a primary mechanism of Cs resuspension, studies following the FDNPP accident suggested that fungal spores can be a significant source of the atmospheric Cs particularly in the rural areas such as difficult-to-return zone (DRZ). To elucidate the relative importance of the two resuspension phenomena, we propose a model simulating resuspension of Cs as soil particles and fungal spores, and applied it to DRZ. Our model's calculation showed that soil particle resuspension was responsible for the surface-air Cs observed during winter-spring, but could not account for the higher Cs concentrations observed in summer-autumn. The higher concentrations in the summer-autumn were in general reproduced by implementing fungal spore Cs emission, that replenished low soil particle Cs resuspension in that period. According to our model's concept, Cs accumulation in fungal spores and high spore emission rate characterized by the rural environment were likely responsible for the abundance of spore Cs in the air. It was inferred that the influence of the fungal spores on the atmospheric Cs would last longer since un-decontaminated forests still exist in DRZ.

Evaluation of external dose exposure of workers during house demolition and dose reduction work in a difficult-to-return zone

Sanada, Yukihisa; Tokiyoshi, Masanori*; Nishiyama, Kyohei*; Sato, Rina; Yoshimura, Kazuya; Funaki, Hironori; Abe, Tomohisa; Ishida, Mutsushi*; Nagamine, Haruo*; Fujisaka, Motoyuki*

Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai Wabun Rombunshi (Internet), 22(2), p.87 - 96, 2023/04

https://doi.org/10.3327/taesj.J22.011

Since the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, many decontamination works have been carried out, but it is difficult to say that much data on workers' exposure has necessarily been analyzed in detail. In this paper, based on the GPS location information carried by the workers together with their personal dosimeters, the air dose rate in the work area and the characteristics of each type of work were analyzed. The results showed that more than 50% of the measured actual doses were more than twice the median planned dose calculated from the air dose rate and actual working hours. Furthermore, as a result of the analysis by work type, it was found that the exposure doses of demolition workers tended to be high, and that this was due to the fact that most of the work was carried out before the work was carried out to reduce the dose at the work site. In addition, when the conversion from air dose to effective dose was taken into account, there were many cases of underestimation where the planned values were lower than the measured values, and it is considered important for management to set appropriate working factor.

Validation study of ambient dose equivalent conversion coefficients for radiocaesium distributed in the ground; Lessons from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident

Ochi, Kotaro; Funaki, Hironori; Yoshimura, Kazuya; Iimoto, Takeshi*; Matsuda, Norihiro; Sanada, Yukihisa

Radiation and Environmental Biophysics, 61(1), p.147 - 159, 2022/03

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00411-022-00969-3

Characterization of radiocesium-bearing microparticles with different morphologies in soil around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

Hagiwara, Hiroki; Funaki, Hironori; Shiribiki, Natsu*; Kanno, Marina*; Sanada, Yukihisa

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 331(1), p.415 - 426, 2022/01

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-021-08061-8

Design, construction and monitoring of temporary storage facilities for removed contaminants

Saegusa, Hiromitsu*; Funaki, Hironori; Kurikami, Hiroshi; Sakamoto, Yoshiaki; Tokizawa, Takayuki*

Insights Concerning the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Accident, Vol.4; Endeavors by Scientists, p.170 - 187, 2021/10

Removed contaminants including soil, grass and trees are to be stored safely at temporary storage facilities for several years, after which they will be transferred to a planned interim storage facility. The decontamination pilot project was carried out in both the restricted and planned evacuation areas in order to assess decontamination methods and demonstrate measures for radiation protection of workers. Fourteen temporary storage facilities of different technical specifications were designed and constructed under various topographic conditions and land use. In order to support the design, construction and monitoring of temporary storage facilities for removed contaminants during the full-scale decontamination within the prefecture of Fukushima, technical know-how obtained during the decontamination pilot project has been identified and summarized in this paper.

Factors affecting Cs concentrations in river water under base-flow conditions near the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant

Nakanishi, Takahiro; Funaki, Hironori; Sakuma, Kazuyuki

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 328(3), p.1243 - 1251, 2021/06

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-021-07735-7

To confirm factors affecting Cs concentration in river water after the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident, this study conducted monthly observations of nine rivers near the FDNPP from April 2017 to March 2018 under base-flow conditions. The annual mean dissolved and particulate Cs concentrations correlated well with the mean Cs deposition in the catchment. The normalized Cs concentrations in both phases by dividing by the mean Cs deposition in the catchment showed significant negative correlations with the Cs deposition ratio for forests. The inflow from the downstream plain areas increased the Cs concentrations near the FDNPP.

Evaluation of bioavailable radiocesium in the sediment in forest river and dam reservoir

Takechi, Seiichi*; Tsuji, Hideki*; Koshikawa, Masami*; Ito, Shoko*; Funaki, Hironori; Hayashi, Seiji*

Rikusuigaku Zasshi, 82(1), p.1 - 16, 2021/02

Since the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in 2011, soil minerals and organic matter including radiocesium have been deposited in the dam lakes near the nuclear power plant. There is concern that radiocesium will gradually leach from the lake bottom into the lake water, resulting in prolonged radioactive contamination of the freshwater ecosystems especially in downstream of the dams. In this study, we collected undisturbed sediment core samples at the center of the Yokokawa Dam lake in Fukushima Prefecture and suspended sediment in the inflowing river of the dam for 4 years and evaluated the amount of bioavailable form of radiocesium (exchanged, oxidized, and organic forms) in these samples by sequential extraction tests using the BCR method focusing on the temporal change.

Status of study of long-term assessment of transport of radioactive contaminants in the environment of Fukushima (FY2018) (Translated document)

Nagao, Fumiya; Niizato, Tadafumi; Sasaki, Yoshito; Ito, Satomi; Watanabe, Takayoshi; Dohi, Terumi; Nakanishi, Takahiro; Sakuma, Kazuyuki; Hagiwara, Hiroki; Funaki, Hironori; et al.

JAEA-Research 2020-007, 249 Pages, 2020/10

JAEA-Research-2020-007.pdf:15.83MB

The accident of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. occurred due to the Great East Japan Earthquake, Sanriku offshore earthquake, of 9.0 magnitude and the accompanying tsunami. As a result, large amount of radioactive materials was released into the environment. Under these circumstances, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has been conducting "Long-term Assessment of Transport of Radioactive Contaminants in the Environment of Fukushima" concerning radioactive materials released in environment, especially migration behavior of radioactive cesium since November 2012. This report is a summary of the research results that have been obtained in environmental dynamics research conducted by JAEA in Fukushima Prefecture.

Applied research for the establishment of radiation monitoring and evaluation of exposure dose of residence at the zone designated for reconstruction and recovery

Funaki, Hironori; Takahara, Shogo; Sasaki, Miyuki; Yoshimura, Kazuya; Nakama, Shigeo; Sanada, Yukihisa

JAEA-Research 2018-016, 48 Pages, 2019/03

JAEA-Research-2018-016.pdf:29.73MB

Cabinet Office Nuclear Emergency Response Headquarters starts to consider radiation protection in the "specific reconstruction reproduction base area" of which evacuation order will be lifted by 2023. It is essential to grab the present situations of radiation contamination and evaluate exposure dose in the area to realize the plan. Many surveys have evaluated the distributions of air dose rate and exposure dose has been estimated based on the results since the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. Nevertheless, more detailed information on exposure is needed for the areas because its radiation level is relatively high. That is also to help make prudent evaluation plan. This study aimed to evaluate the detailed contamination situation there and estimate exposure dose with considering areal circumstances. Investigations were carried out for (1) airborne survey of air dose rate using an unmanned helicopter (2) evaluation of airborne radiocesium and (3) estimation of external/internal effective doses for typical activity patterns assumed. Additionally, we applied new methods for the airborne survey to evaluate exposure dose. Our study showed a detailed three-dimensional map of air dose rate and clarified the distribution pattern in the areas. Results of effective dose estimation suggested that the internal effective dose due to inhalation accounts for less than 1% of the external effective dose.

Applicability of for modelling dissolved Cs concentrations in Fukushima river water; Case study of the upstream Ota River

Sakuma, Kazuyuki; Tsuji, Hideki*; Hayashi, Seiji*; Funaki, Hironori; Malins, A.; Yoshimura, Kazuya; Kurikami, Hiroshi; Kitamura, Akihiro; Iijima, Kazuki; Hosomi, Masaaki*

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 184-185, p.53 - 62, 2018/04

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.01.001

A study is presented on the applicability of the distribution coefficient () absorption/desorption model to simulate dissolved Cs concentrations in Fukushima river water. The simulation results were in good agreement with the observations on water and suspended sediment fluxes, and on particulate bound Cs concentrations under both ambient and high flow conditions. By contrast the measured concentrations of dissolved Cs in the river water were much harder to reproduce with the simulations. By tuning the values for large particles, it was possible to reproduce the mean dissolved Cs concentrations during base flow periods (observation: 0.32 Bq/L, simulation: 0.36 Bq/L). However neither the seasonal variability in the base flow dissolved Cs concentrations (0.14-0.53 Bq/L), nor the peaks in concentration that occurred during storms (0.18-0.88 Bq/L, mean: 0.55 Bq/L), could be reproduced with realistic simulation parameters.