Application of radiocaesium microscale observation methodology to parmelioid lichen and ultrastructural analyses using STEM-EDS

Dohi, Terumi; Iijima, Kazuki; Machida, Masahiko; Suno, Hiroya*; Omura, Yoshihito*; Fujiwara, Kenso; Kimura, Shigeru*; Kanno, Futoshi*

Environmental Radiochemical Analysis VII, p.50 - 57, 2023/12

https://doi.org/10.1039/9781837670758

Simulation study on H behavior in the Fukushima coastal region; Comparison of influences of discharges from the Fukushima Daiichi and rivers

Sakuma, Kazuyuki; Yamada, Susumu; Machida, Masahiko; Kurikami, Hiroshi; Misono, Toshiharu; Nakanishi, Takahiro; Iijima, Kazuki

Marine Pollution Bulletin, 192, p.115054_1 - 115054_10, 2023/07

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115054

The Laboratory Operation Based on ISO/IEC 17025; Radioactivity analysis of environmental samples by germanium semiconductor detectors

Urushidate, Tadayuki*; Yoda, Tomoyuki; Otani, Shuichi*; Yamaguchi, Toshio*; Kunii, Nobuaki*; Kuriki, Kazuki*; Fujiwara, Kenso; Niizato, Tadafumi; Kitamura, Akihiro; Iijima, Kazuki

JAEA-Review 2022-023, 8 Pages, 2022/09

JAEA-Review-2022-023.pdf:1.19MB

After the accident of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency has newly set up a laboratory in Fukushima and started measuring radioactivity concentrations of environmental samples. In October 2015, Fukushima Radiation Measurement Group has been accredited the ISO/IEC 17025 standard by the Japan Accreditation Board (JAB) as a testing laboratory for radioactivity analysis (Cs, Cs) based on Gamma-ray spectrometry with germanium semiconductor detectors. The laboratory has measured approximately 60,000 of various environmental samples at the end of March 2022. The laboratory quality control and measurement techniques have been accredited by regular surveillance of JAB. In September 2019, the laboratory renewed accreditation as a testing laboratory for radioactivity analysis.

Using CO Reactions to Achieve Mass-spectrometric Discrimination in Simultaneous Plutonium-isotope Speciation with Inductively Coupled Plasma-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Matsueda, Makoto; Kawakami, Tomohiko*; Koarai, Kazuma; Terashima, Motoki; Fujiwara, Kenso; Iijima, Kazuki; Furukawa, Makoto*; Takagai, Yoshitaka*

Chemistry Letters, 51(7), p.678 - 682, 2022/07

https://doi.org/10.1246/cl.220160

New methodology for a simultaneous isotope speciation of various Pu isotopes without complicated isobaric interferences is developed by using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). In analyzing ICP tandem MS (ICP-MS/MS), CO gas reactions in a dynamic reaction cell (DRC) almost eliminated the background noise intensity produced by isobaric interference from isotopes originating from actinides such as Am, Cm, and U at the locations (m/z) of significant Pu isotopes (Pu, Pu, Pu, Pu, Pu).

A Modeling approach to estimate H discharge from rivers; Comparison of discharge from the Fukushima Dai-ichi and inventory in seawater in the Fukushima coastal region

Sakuma, Kazuyuki; Machida, Masahiko; Kurikami, Hiroshi; Iwata, Ayako; Yamada, Susumu; Iijima, Kazuki

Science of the Total Environment, 806, Part 3, p.151344_1 - 151344_8, 2022/02

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151344

Dynamics of Cs in water and phyto- and zooplankton in a reservoir affected by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident

Tsuji, Hideki*; Nakagawa, Megumi*; Iijima, Kazuki; Funaki, Hironori; Yoshimura, Kazuya; Sakuma, Kazuyuki; Hayashi, Seiji*

Global Environmental Research (Internet), 24(2), p.115 - 127, 2021/06

Lake water, phytoplankton and zooplankton were sampled by a total of 12 quarterly surveys from August 2014 to May 2017 at a dam lake in the Fukushima nuclear disaster area, and variations of dissolved form of Cs and planktonic Cs were observed. Seasonal variations in dissolved Cs concentration with high in summer and low in winter were observed in the upstream, midstream and downstream areas of the lake, but no seasonal or site specific differences in planktonic Cs concentrations and dominant species were found. The amount of planktonic form of Cs in the water was less than 1.4% of the total Cs in the lake water, therefore the effect of plankton on the dynamics of Cs in the lake was minimal.

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.

Key factors controlling radiocesium sorption and fixation in river sediments around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, 1; Insights from sediment properties and radiocesium distributions

Tachi, Yukio; Sato, Tomofumi*; Akagi, Yosuke*; Kawamura, Makoto*; Nakane, Hideji*; Terashima, Motoki; Fujiwara, Kenso; Iijima, Kazuki

Science of the Total Environment, 724, p.138098_1 - 138098_11, 2020/07

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138098

To understand and predict radiocesium transport behaviors in the environment, highly contaminated sediments from Ukedo and Odaka rivers around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant were investigated systematically focusing on key factors controlling radiocesium sorption and fixation, including particle size, clay mineralogy and organic matter.

Mineral composition characteristics of radiocesium sorbed and transported sediments within the Tomioka river basin in Fukushima Prefecture

Hagiwara, Hiroki; Konishi, Hiromi*; Nakanishi, Takahiro; Fujiwara, Kenso; Iijima, Kazuki; Kitamura, Akihiro

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 211, p.106042_1 - 106042_10, 2020/01

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.106042

Temporal decrease in air dose rate in the sub-urban area affected by the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident during four years after decontamination works

Nakama, Shigeo; Yoshimura, Kazuya; Fujiwara, Kenso; Ishikawa, Hiroyasu; Iijima, Kazuki

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 208-209, p.106013_1 - 106013_8, 2019/11

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.106013

Trends of air dose rate decrease after decontamination works and factors which affect them constitute essential information for radiation protection, such as prediction of external exposure to the public and implementation of measures to reduce such exposure. This study investigated the decrease of air dose rate (ambient dose rate at 1 m above the ground) at 163 points across sub-urban areas in the evacuation zone around the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant over the period of four years following the decontamination works carried out in November 2012. The air dose rate on the asphalt pavement decreased faster than on soil surfaces. In addition, air dose rates near the forest decreased at a slower pace than in open fields. These results suggest that the air dose rate in urbanized areas can decrease faster than in other types of land, even after decontamination. Based on comparisons with decrease rates obtained in other studies, the air dose rate tends to decrease faster outside the evacuation zone than inside it. The decrease in air dose rate after decontamination was slower than before decontamination. The contribution of the weathering effect and human activity was estimated to be about 80% and 20% of the ecological decrease rate, respectively.