Inflammatory signaling and DNA damage responses after local exposure to an insoluble radioactive microparticle

Matsuya, Yusuke; Hamada, Nobuyuki*; Yachi, Yoshie*; Satou, Yukihiko; Ishikawa, Masayori*; Date, Hiroyuki*; Sato, Tatsuhiko

Cancers (Internet), 14(4), p.1045_1 - 1045_15, 2022/02

https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14041045

An insoluble cesium-bearing microparticle (Cs-BMP) was discovered after the incident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Radiation risk by intake of internal exposure to radioactive cesium is conventionally estimated from organ dose, assuming that soluble cesium is uniformly distributed throughout human body. Meanwhile, such Cs-BMPs are assumed to adhere in the long term to normal tissue, leading to chronic non-uniform exposure. In this study, to clarify the normal tissue effects for Cs-BMP exposure, we investigated the relationship between the inflammatory responses and DNA damage induction. From experiments focusing on the inflammatory signaling pathways such as NF-B p65 and COX-2, compared to the uniform exposure to -rays, NF-B p65 tended to be more activated in the cells proximal to the Cs-BMP, while both NF-B p65 and COX-2 were significantly activated in the distal cells. Experiments with inhibitors for NF-B p65 and COX-2 suggested involvement of such inflammatory responses both in the reduced radiosensitivity of the cells proximal to Cs-BMP and the enhanced radiosensitivity of the cells distal from Cs-BMP. These results suggested that radiation effects for Cs-BMP exposure can differ from that estimated based on conventional uniform exposure to normal tissues.

Deposition and dispersion of radio-cesium released due to the Fukushima Nuclear accident, 2; Sensitivity to aerosol microphysical properties of Cs-bearing microparticles (CsMPs)

Kajino, Mizuo*; Adachi, Koji*; Igarashi, Yasuhito*; Satou, Yukihiko; Sawada, Morihiro*; Sekiyama, Tsuyoshi*; Zaizen, Yuji*; Saya, Akane*; Tsuruta, Haruo*; Moriguchi, Yuichi*

Journal of Geophysical Research; Atmospheres, 126(1), p.e2020JD033460_1 - e2020JD033460_23, 2021/01

https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JD033460

Structural and compositional characteristics of Fukushima release particulate material from Units 1 and 3 elucidates release mechanisms, accident chronology and future decommissioning strategy

Martin, P. G.*; Jones, C. P.*; Bartlett, S.*; Ignatyev, K.*; Megson-Smith, D.*; Satou, Yukihiko; Cipiccia, S.*; Batey, D. J.*; Rau, C.*; Sueki, Keisuke*; et al.

Scientific Reports (Internet), 10, p.22056_1 - 22056_17, 2020/12

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-79169-2

Assessment of the mode of occurrence and radiological impact of radionuclides in Nigerian coal and resultant post-combustion coal ash using scanning electron microscopy and gamma-ray spectroscopy

Okeme, I. C.*; Scott, T. B.*; Martin, P. G.*; Satou, Yukihiko; Ojonimi, T. I.*; Olaluwoye, M. O.*

Minerals (Internet), 10(3), p.241_1 - 241_15, 2020/03

https://doi.org/10.3390/min10030241

Pre- and post-accident C activities in tree rings near the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant

Matsunaka, Tetsuya*; Sasa, Kimikazu*; Takahashi, Tsutomu*; Matsumura, Masumi*; Satou, Yukihiko; Shen, H.*; Sueki, Keisuke*; Matsuzaki, Hiroyuki*

Radiocarbon, 61(6), p.1633 - 1642, 2019/12

https://doi.org/10.1017/RDC.2019.147

A Review of Cs-bearing microparticles in the environment emitted by the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident

Igarashi, Yasuhito*; Kogure, Toshihiro*; Kuribara, Yuichi; Miura, Hikaru*; Okumura, Taiga*; Satou, Yukihiko; Takahashi, Yoshio*; Yamaguchi, Noriko*

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 205-206, p.101 - 118, 2019/09

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.04.011

Scientists face challenge in identifying the radioactive materials which are found as dotted images on various imaging plate (IP) autoradiographic photos of radioactively contaminated materials by the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (F1NPP, or FDNPP) accident, such as air filter, fugitive dust, surface soil, agricultural materials, and water-shed samples. It has been revealed that they are minute particles with distinct morphology and elemental composition with high specific radioactivity, and different from those of the so-called Chernobyl hot particles. Basically, they are glassy particles once molten, composed of Si, O, Fe, Zn etc. with highly concentrated radiocaesium, which can be called as radiocaesium-bearing microparticles (CsMP). At present, CsMP can be classified into two types, Types-A and -B, which are characterized by different specific radioactivity, Cs/Cs ratio, size and morphology, and geographic distribution around F1NPP. Such studies on the CsMP from various aspects have provided valuable information about what happened in the nuclear reactors during the F1NPP accident and fates of the CsMP in the environment. This review first provides a retrospective view on the research history of the CsMP, which is helpful to understand the unique character of the CsMP. Subsequently, more details about the current understanding of the natures of these hot particles, such as origin, morphology, chemical compositions, thermal properties, water-solubility, and secondary migration of CsMP in river and ocean systems are described with future prospects.

First determination of Pu isotopes (Pu, Pu and Pu) in radioactive particles derived from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident

Igarashi, Junya*; Zheng, J.*; Zhang, Z.*; Ninomiya, Kazuhiko*; Satou, Yukihiko; Fukuda, Miho*; Ni, Y.*; Aono, Tatsuo*; Shinohara, Atsushi*

Scientific Reports (Internet), 9(1), p.11807_1 - 11807_10, 2019/08

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-48210-4

Radioactive particles were released into the environment during the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident. Many studies have been conducted to elucidate the chemical composition of released radioactive particles in order to understand their formation process. However, whether radioactive particles contain nuclear fuel radionuclides remains to be investigated. Here, we report the first determination of Pu isotopes in radioactive particles. To determine the Pu isotopes (Pu, Pu and Pu) in radioactive particles derived from the FDNPP accident which were free from the influence of global fallout, radiochemical analysis and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry measurements were conducted. Radioactive particles derived from unit 1 and unit 2 or 3 were analyzed. For the radioactive particles derived from unit 1, activities of Pu and Pu were (1.70-7.06)10 Bq and (4.10-8.10)10 Bq, respectively and atom ratios of Pu/Pu and Pu/Pu were 0.330-0.415 and 0.162-0.178, respectively. These ratios were consistent with the simulation results from ORIGEN code and measurements from various environmental samples. In contrast, Pu was not detected in the radioactive particles derived from unit 2 or 3. The difference in Pu contents is clear evidence towards different formation processes of radioactive particles, and detailed formation processes can be investigated from Pu analysis.

Provenance of uranium particulate contained within Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 ejecta material

Martin, P. G.*; Louvel, M.*; Cipiccia, S.*; Jones, C. P.*; Batey, D. J.*; Hallam, K. R.*; Yang, I. A. X.*; Satou, Yukihiko; Rau, C.*; Mosselmans, J. F. W.*; et al.

Nature Communications (Internet), 10, p.2801_1 - 2801_7, 2019/06

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-10937-z

Synchrotron radiation (SR) analysis techniques alongside secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) measurements have been made on sub-mm particulate material derived from reactor Unit 1 of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP). Using these methods, it has been possible to investigate the distribution, state and isotopic composition of micron-scale U particulate contained within the larger Si-based ejecta material. Through combined SR micro-focused X-ray fluorescence (SR-micro-XRF) and absorption contrast SR micro-focused X-ray tomography (SR-micro-XRT), the U particulate was found to be located around the exterior circumference of the highly-porous particle. Synchrotron radiation micro-focused X-ray absorption near edge structure (SR-micro-XANES) analysis of a number of these entrapped particles revealed them to exist within the U(IV) oxidation state, as UO, and identical in structure to reactor fuel. Confirmation that this U was of nuclear origin (U-enriched) was provided through secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) analysis with an isotopic enrichment ratio characteristic of a provenance from reactor Unit 1 at the FDNPP. These results provide clear evidence of the event scenario (that a degree of core fragmentation and release occurred from reactor Unit 1), with such spent fuel ejecta existing; (i) within the stable U(IV) oxidation state; and (ii) contained within a bulk Si-based particle. While this U is unlikely to represent an environmental or health hazard, such assertions would likely change, however, should break-up of the Si-containing bulk particle occur. However, more important to the long-term decommissioning of the reactors (and clean-up) on the FDNPP, is the knowledge that core integrity of reactor Unit 1 was compromised with nuclear material existing outside of the reactors primary containment.

Activity of Sr in fallout particles collected in the difficult-to-return zone around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

Zhang, Z.*; Igarashi, Junya*; Satou, Yukihiko; Ninomiya, Kazuhiko*; Sueki, Keisuke*; Shinohara, Atsushi*

Environmental Science & Technology, 53(10), p.5868 - 5876, 2019/05

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.8b06769

The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident released abundant radioactive particles into the surrounding environment. Herein, we analyzed the activity of Sr in these particles to estimate the contribution of this radionuclide to the overall radiation exposure and shed light on the processes that occurred during the accident. Seven radioactive particles were isolated from the dust and soil samples collected from areas surrounding the FDNPP, and the minimum/maximum Cs activities were determined as 224/4,100 Bq. Based on the size, specific activity, and Cs/Cs activity ratios, we concluded that six of the seven radioactive particles were released from the Unit 1 reactor, while one particle was released from the Unit 3 reactor by a hydrogen explosion. Strontium-90 was detected in all radioactive particles, and the minimal/maximal Sr activities were determined as 0.046/1.4 Bq. Cs/Sr activity ratios above 1000 were observed for all seven particles, that is, compared to Cs, Sr had negligible contribution to the overall radiation exposure. The Cs/Sr activity ratios of the radioactive particles were similar to those of terrestrial environmental samples and were higher for particles released from the Unit 1 reactor than for samples collected from the Unit 1 reactor building, which indicates possibility of additional Sr -rich contamination after release of the particles.

Radiocarbon variations in tree rings since 1960 near the Tokai nuclear facility, Japan

Matsunaka, Tetsuya*; Sasa, Kimikazu*; Takahashi, Tsutomu*; Hosoya, Seiji*; Matsumura, Masumi*; Satou, Yukihiko; Shen, H.*; Sueki, Keisuke*

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B, 439, p.64 - 69, 2019/01

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2018.12.009

no abstracts in English