Study of the applicability of SrI(Eu) scintillation detector to in-situ gamma-ray spectrometry

Takeyasu, Masanori; Mikami, Satoshi; Ando, Masaki; Hokama, Tomonori

JAEA-Testing 2023-005, 17 Pages, 2024/03

JAEA-Testing-2023-005.pdf:1.16MB

As part of the research aimed at developing a detector to easily perform in-situ gamma-ray spectrometry, the applicability of a SrI(Eu) scintillation detector to in-situ gamma-ray spectrometry was investigated. In this study, the characteristics of the SrI(Eu) detector were evaluated for in-situ gamma-ray spectrometry. Intercomparison measurements of in-situ gamma-ray spectrometry using the SrI(Eu) detector and Ge semiconductor detectors were conducted, and the applicability of the SrI(Eu) detector was examined. To characterize the SrI(Eu) detector, the peak efficiency of the SrI(Eu) detector was measured with respect to the change of incident gamma-ray energy. The angular dependence of the peak efficiency of the SrI(Eu) detector was also measured. As the result of the intercomparison measurement of in-situ gamma-ray spectrometry, the radionuclides quantified by Ge detectors were Cs-134, Cs-137, Pb-214, Bi-214, Tl-208, Ac-228 and K-40. On the other hand, those by SrI(Eu) detector were only Cs-137 and K-40 which had relatively high radioactive intensity. The deposition density of Cs-137 and the concentration of K-40 in soil measured by the SrI(Eu) detector showed relatively good agreements with those by Ge detectors. From these results, it was suggested that the in-situ measurement using a SrI(Eu) detector was available for radionuclides which had high radioactive intensity and whose gamma-ray peaks were not interfered by those of other radionuclides in gamma-ray spectrum. During an accident at nuclear power plant, various radionuclides are released into the environment, but radionuclides with short half-life decayed and radionuclides with long half-life only exist at mid-to-long term environmental monitoring situations, when in-situ gamma-ray spectrometry using a SrI(Eu) detector is applicable.

Joint environmental radiation survey by JAEA and KAERI around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant; Performance of mobile gamma-ray spectrometry using backpack and carborne survey platforms

Ji, Y.-Y.*; Ochi, Kotaro; Hong, S. B.*; Nakama, Shigeo; Sanada, Yukihisa; Mikami, Satoshi

Health Physics, 121(6), p.613 - 620, 2021/12

https://doi.org/10.1097/HP.0000000000001471

According to the implementing arrangement between JAEA (Japan Atomic Energy Agency) and KAERI (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute) in the field of the radiation protection and environmental radiation monitoring, the joint measurement has been conducted to assess the radioactive cesium deposition in the ground around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants (FDNPP). First, mobile gamma-ray spectrometry using backpack survey platform was conducted to assess the distribution of dose rate around specific three survey sites. The carborne survey using gamma-ray spectrometers, as loading inside a vehicle, was successfully conducted to compare measured dose rates in routes from site to site and verify evaluation methods including the attenuation correction.

spectrometry of terrestrial gamma rays using portable germanium detectors in area of 80 km radius around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

Mikami, Satoshi; Tanaka, Hiroyuki*; Okuda, Naotoshi*; Sakamoto, Ryuichi*; Ochi, Kotaro; Uno, Kiichiro*; Matsuda, Norihiro; Saito, Kimiaki

Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai Wabun Rombunshi, 20(4), p.159 - 178, 2021/12

https://doi.org/10.3327/taesj.J20.010

In order to know the background radiation level where the area affected by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in 2011, terrestrial gamma rays had been measured by using portable germanium detectors repeatedly from 2013 through 2019, at 370 locations within 80 km radius area centered on the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Radioactive concentrations of Uranium 238, Thorium 232, Potassium 40 and kerma rates in air due to terrestrial gamma rays were obtained at those locations based on the method of ICRU report 53. Averaged concentrations of U, Th and K were 18.8, 22.7, 428 Bq/kg, respectively, and kerma rate in air over the area was found to be 0.0402 Gy/h. The obtained kerma rates in air were compared to those reported in literatures. It was confirmed that the data were correlated with each other, and were agreed within the range of their uncertainty. This is because the kerma rate in air due to terrestrial gamma rays is depend on geology. The similar trend to previous findings was observed that the kerma rate in air at locations geologically classified as Mesozoic era, Granite and Rhyolite were statistically significantly higher than the others.

Optimizing long-term monitoring of radiation air-dose rates after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

Sun, D.*; Wainwright-Murakami, Haruko*; Oroza, C. A.*; Seki, Akiyuki; Mikami, Satoshi; Takemiya, Hiroshi; Saito, Kimiaki

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 220-221, p.106281_1 - 106281_8, 2020/09

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2020.106281

We have developed a methodology for optimizing the monitoring locations of radiation air dose-rate monitoring. For the method, we use a Gaussian mixture model to identify the representative locations among multiple environmental variables, such as elevation and land-cover types. Next, we use a Gaussian process model to capture and estimate the heterogeneity of air-dose rates across the domain. Our results have shown that this approach allows us to select monitoring locations in a systematic manner such that the heterogeneity of air dose rates is captured by the minimal number of monitoring locations.

Guidance for gamma spectrometry intercomparison based on the information obtained through five intercomparisons during the Fukushima mapping project

Mikami, Satoshi; Ishikawa, Daisuke*; Matsuda, Hideo*; Hoshide, Yoshifumi*; Okuda, Naotoshi*; Sakamoto, Ryuichi*; Saito, Kimiaki

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 210, p.105938_1 - 105938_7, 2019/12

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.03.014

Five intercomparisons of in situ spectrometry by 6-7 participating teams have been conducted between December 2011 and August 2015 at sites in Fukushima prefecture which affected by the fallout of FDNPS accident occurred in March 2011. The evaluated deposition densities agreed within 5-6% in terms of coefficient of variation (CV) for radiocesium (Cs and Cs), by our best achievement, and the ratio of Cs/Cs in deposition density agreed within 1-2% in CV, through five intercomparisons. These results guarantee the accuracy of the measurements of the mapping project. Two different methods for intercomparison were conducted: (1) sequential measurements at an identical point; and (2) simultaneous measurements in a narrow area within 3 m radius. In a comparison between the two methods at a site, no significant difference was observed between the results. The standard protocols for the two different intercomparison methods were proposed based on our experience.

The Deposition densities of radiocesium and the air dose rates in undisturbed fields around the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant; Their temporal changes for five years after the accident

Mikami, Satoshi; Tanaka, Hiroyuki*; Matsuda, Hideo*; Sato, Shoji*; Hoshide, Yoshifumi*; Okuda, Naotoshi*; Suzuki, Takeo*; Sakamoto, Ryuichi*; Ando, Masaki; Saito, Kimiaki

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 210, p.105941_1 - 105941_12, 2019/12

AA2019-0019.pdf:2.65MB

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.03.017

The deposition densities of radiocesium and the air dose rates were repeatedly measured in a large number of undisturbed fields within the 80km zone that surrounds the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant site between 2011 and 2016, and features of their temporal changes were clarified. The average air dose rate excluding background radiation in this zone decreased to about 20% of the initial value during the period from June 2011 to August 2016, which was essentially a result of the radioactive decay of Cs with a half-life of 2.06y. The air dose rate reduction was faster than that expected from the decay of radiocesium by a factor of about two, with most of this reduction being attributed to the penetration of radiocesium into the soil. The average deposition densities of Cs and Cs in fields that were not decontaminated were found to have decreased nearly according to their expected radioactive decay, which indicated that the movement of radiocesium in the horizontal direction was relatively small. The effect of decontamination was apparently observed in the measurements of air dose rates and deposition densities. Nominally, the average air dose rates in the measurement locations were reduced by about 20% by decontamination and other human activities, of which accurate quantitative analysis is and continue to be a challenge.

Decreasing trend of ambient dose equivalent rates over a wide area in eastern Japan until 2016 evaluated by car-borne surveys using KURAMA systems

Ando, Masaki; Mikami, Satoshi; Tsuda, Shuichi; Yoshida, Tadayoshi; Matsuda, Norihiro; Saito, Kimiaki

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 192, p.385 - 398, 2018/12

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.07.009

Car-borne surveys using KURAMA systems have been conducted over a wide area in eastern Japan since 2011. The measurement data collected until 2016 was analyzed, and decreasing trend of the dose rates in regions within 80 km of Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant were examined. The averaged dose rates tended to decrease considerably with respect to the physical decay of radiocaesium, and the ecological half-lives of the fast and slow decay components were estimated. The decrease of the dose rate in the forest was slower than its decrease in other regions, and the decrease of the dose rate in urban area was the fastest. The decrease in the dose rates obtained via the car-borne survey was larger than that obtained on flat ground with few disturbances using survey meters approximately 1.5 y after the accident; hereafter, the decrease in the dose rates obtained via the car-borne survey was same as the latter measurement.

Integrating multiscale datasets for monitoring air dose rates in Fukushima

Wainwright, Haruko*; Seki, Akiyuki; Mikami, Satoshi; Saito, Kimiaki

44th Annual waste management conference (WM 2018); Nuclear and industrial robotics, remote systems and other emerging technology, Vol.8, p.5013 - 5017, 2018/08

A Bayesian hierarchical modeling approach was developed to integrate multiscale datasets, and also to estimate the spatial distribution of air dose rates in high resolution over space. In this study, we aim to extend this approach and predict the area of the evacuation zone in the future. We coupled the integrated map with the data-driven ecological decay model. Results show that the area of evacuation zone will shrink significantly in the next twenty years.

Measurements of air dose rates in and around houses in the Fukushima Prefecture in Japan after the Fukushima accident

Matsuda, Norihiro; Mikami, Satoshi; Sato, Tetsuro*; Saito, Kimiaki

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 166(Part 3), p.427 - 435, 2017/01

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.03.012

In situ spectrometry intercomparison in Fukushima, Japan

Mikami, Satoshi; Sato, Shoji*; Hoshide, Yoshifumi*; Sakamoto, Ryuichi*; Okuda, Naotoshi*; Saito, Kimiaki

Hoken Butsuri, 50(3), p.182 - 188, 2015/09

https://doi.org/10.5453/jhps.50.182

Intercomparison of in situ spectrometry was organized at a site contaminated by the radioactive fallout that originated from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. This intercomparison was conducted by eight teams from four different institutions, which have contributed to the government-led project to construct distribution maps of radionuclides deposited on the ground soil. The resultant Cs and Cs inventories evaluated by the participants agreed within 6% of the coefficient of variation, after correction for inhomogeneous distribution of the air dose rate. The evaluated K inventories agreed within 4% of the coefficient of variation. The authors estimated that these results were in good agreement for creating distribution maps of the radionuclide inventory in the ground soil.