Activity review of Working Group on Accidents Relating X-ray Equipment, Japan Health Physics Society

Igarashi, Yu; Yamaguchi, Ichiro*; Oda, Keiji*; Fukushi, Masahiro*; Sakama, Minoru*; Iimoto, Takeshi*

Nihon Hoshasen Anzen Kanri Gakkai-Shi, 21(2), p.74 - 76, 2022/11

https://doi.org//10.11269/jjrsm.21.69

no abstracts in English

Status of radon exposure in Bangladeshi locations and dwellings

Hasan, M. M.*; Janik, M.*; Sakoda, Akihiro; Iimoto, Takeshi*

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 193(12), p.770_1 - 770_10, 2021/12

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-021-09571-4

Potentially higher cancer risk due to exposure from natural background radiation was indicated for Bangladeshi population by estimations based on the countrywide study. Several regions with elevated natural background exhibited higher soil radium and thorium contents than the world average. Being the decay products of these radioactive elements, natural radon isotopes could constitute environmental risk factors for internal radiation exposure to the lungs of people living in these areas. Although lung cancer is one of most prevalent types of cancer in Bangladesh, its status and features are still unclear. To clarify the present status of one of the potential risk factors for lung cancer in the country, this review intends to ascertain the countrywide radon exposure, and its pathways by types of local dwelling and by regions; which would provide an indication of the internal exposures in areas of elevated natural background radiation and radionuclides of soil as well as an understanding of the preliminary contribution of environmental radon on the country's lung cancer prevalence. In this review, countrywide air radon exposures for Bangladeshi dwellings and workplaces are organized from peer-reviewed published papers. Radon has been identified as one of influential sources of radiation dose in Bangladesh with its higher radon exhalation and emanation rate from soil. A novel nationwide depiction of the overall indoor and soil radon levels for Bangladesh has been made through radiation maps. This would be helpful for designing future systematic radon/radiological surveys and research on the country's lung cancer prevalence.

Development of emergency monitoring system for alpha-particle-emitting radionuclides in the air

Hokama, Tomonori; Fujita, Hiroki; Nakano, Masanao; Iimoto, Takeshi*

Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 196(3-4), p.136 - 140, 2021/11

https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/ncab139

During the early phase of a nuclear accident, major radioactive materials are released into the environment, necessitating the prompt deployment of various protective actions to avoid or reduce radiation exposure. To implement these actions, the levels of radioactivity in the environment should be determined. However, the radioactivity concentrations of artificial alpha-particle-emitting radionuclides such as plutonium are difficult to measure in airborne samples, because they are interfered with natural radionuclides such as uranium decay products. Therefore, chemical separation is required to measure the concentrations. This study presents a new emergency monitoring system for airborne samples, which performs multiple-pulse time-interval analysis (MTA) without chemical separation. The system is used in conjunction with an alpha/beta-particle survey meter and adopted an analysis method focusing on the detected time interval of each particle. Its features are that a short time to output measurement result, easy handling and nondestructive. The estimated detection limit of the system was 9.510 Bq m. The MTA-based monitoring system could be useful in situations requiring prompt measurement and screening of samples.

The Ecological half-life of radiocesium in surficial bottom sediments of five ponds in Fukushima based on measurements with Plastic Scintillation Fibers

Katengeza, E. W.*; Sanada, Yukihisa; Yoshimura, Kazuya; Ochi, Kotaro; Iimoto, Takeshi*

Environmental Science; Processes & Impacts, 22(7), p.1566 - 1576, 2020/07

https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EM00160K

Integrating radiation protection criteria for radioactive waste management into remediation procedures in existing exposure situations after a nuclear accident

Sugiyama, Daisuke*; Kimura, Hideo; Tachikawa, Hirokazu*; Iimoto, Takeshi*; Kawata, Yosuke*; Ogino, Haruyuki*; Okoshi, Minoru*

Journal of Radiological Protection, 38(1), p.456 - 462, 2018/03

https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6498/aaa155

Experience after the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station has shown that there is a need to establish radiation protection criteria for radioactive waste management consistent with the criteria adopted for the remediation of existing exposure situations. A stepwise approach to setting such criteria is proposed. Initially, a reference level for annual effective dose from waste management activities in the range 1-10 mSv should be set, with the reference level being less than the reference level for ambient dose. Subsequently, the reference level for annual effective dose from waste management activities should be reduced in one or more steps to achieve a final target value of 1 mSv. The dose criteria at each stage should be determined with relevant stakeholder involvement. Illustrative case studies show how this stepwise approach might be applied in practice.

Summary of study on environmental radioactivity effected from the accident at the TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in 5 years after the accident

Iimoto, Takeshi*; Kinoshita, Norikazu*; Sakaguchi, Aya*; Sugihara, Shinji*; Takamiya, Koichi*; Tagami, Keiko*; Nagao, Seiya*; Bessho, Kotaro*; Matsumura, Hiroshi*; Miura, Taichi*; et al.

KEK Report 2016-3, 134 Pages, 2017/03

https://lib-extopc.kek.jp/preprints/PDF/2016/1624/1624003.pdf

This report is summary of study on environmental radioactivity effected from the accident at the TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in 5 years after the accident. It was compiled efforts related to the accident reported from the 13th to the 17th "Workshop on Environmental Radioactivity" which was held at the High Energy Accelerator Research and Development Organization.

Interim report of the JHPS expert committee on radiation protection of the lens of the eye, 2; The Dosimetry method for the lens of the eye of workers in Japan

Akahane, Keiichi*; Iimoto, Takeshi*; Ichiji, Takeshi*; Iwai, Satoshi*; Oguchi, Hiroyuki*; Ono, Kazuko*; Kawaura, Chiyo*; Tatsuzaki, Hideo*; Tsujimura, Norio; Hamada, Nobuyuki*; et al.

Hoken Butsuri, 49(3), p.153 - 156, 2014/09

https://doi.org/10.5453/jhps.49.153

A brief review is given of the history and methodology of external dosimetry for the lens of the eye. Under the 1989 revision to domestic radiological protection regulations, the concept on the effective dose equivalent and the dose limit to the lens of the eye (150 mSv/y) both introduced in ICRP 1977 recommendations has changed nationwide the external monitoring methodology in non-uniform exposure situations to the trunk of a radiological worker. In such situations, often created by the presence of a protective apron, the worker is required to use at least two personal dosemeters, one worn on the trunk under the apron and the other, typically, at the collar over the apron. The latter dosemeter serves the dual purpose of providing the dose profile across the trunk for improved effective dose equivalent assessment and of estimating the dose to lens of the eye. The greater or appropriate value between (10) and (0.07), given by the dosemeter, is generally used as a surrogate of (3).

AESJ-KNS exchange work of students and young researchers; Subcommittee on students and young researchers exchange program

Ishibashi, Kenji*; Uesaka, Mitsuru*; Morita, Koji*; Sato, Yasushi*; Iimoto, Takeshi*; Watanabe, Yukinobu*; Unesaki, Hironobu*; Yamano, Hidemasa

Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai-Shi ATOMO, 55(7), p.403 - 406, 2013/07

Japan-Korea Exchange program has been successful and their joint sessions have been accompanying conferences. With this background, younger generation's communication has been recognized as important role in Japan and Korea's joint cooperation. Thus students and young researchers support program has started. Understanding the achievements and the current status is important, expecting unrelated areas and working groups to show interest and hopefully join this area of work.

Applicability of convex hull in multiple detector response space for neutron dose measurements

Hashimoto, Makoto; Iimoto, Takeshi*; Kosako, Toshiso*

Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 136(1), p.1 - 10, 2009/07

https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/ncp134

A novel neutron dose measurement method which flexibly responds to variations of neutron field is being developed in JAEA. This is an implementation of the multi-detector method (first introduced in early 1970s) for neutron dose evaluation using convex hull in the response space defined for multiple detectors. The convex hull provides range of possible neutron dose corresponding to the incident neutron spectrum. Feasibility of the method was studied using simulated response of mixed-gas proportional counter. Monochromatic neutrons are shown to be fundamentally suitable for mapping the convex hull. The convex hull can be further reduced taking into consideration information about physically possible incident neutron spectra, for example, theoretically derived moderated neutron spectra originated from a fission neutron source.

Epidemiological studies on indoor radon risk; A Review and current issues

Yonehara, Hidenori*; Ishimori, Yuu; Akiba, Suminori*; Iida, Takao*; Iimoto, Takeshi*; Kai, Michiaki*; Shimo, Michikuni*; Tokonami, Shinji*; Yamada, Yuji*; Yoshinaga, Shinji*; et al.

Hoken Butsuri, 42(3), p.201 - 213, 2007/09

https://doi.org/10.5453/jhps.42.201

The pooled analysis recently carried out in European countries and North American countries showed the excess relative risk of lung cancer increased by 10-20% per 100 Bqm increase in indoor radon concentration. The Scientific Committee on Indoor Radon Risk and Response to the Issue established by the Japan Health Physic Society reviewed the scientific evidence on the indoor radon risk obtained so far and evaluated the pooled analysis results from the viewpoint of estimating the risk coefficient in Japan. The committee concludes that the risk shown by the pooled analysis results has the consistency from miners risk analysis, and that it is probably not low in the reliability and validity, although the value may include the uncertainties caused from the correction of radon concentration measured, from the effect of thoron on measurement results, from the differences of environmental parameters in exposure, and so on.