Activity for improvement of reprocessing plant quality assurance system; Transition to decommissioning stage, complying with new regulatory requirements for new inspection program, giving up ISO 9001 certification; Operations report FY 2012-2019

Yoshinaka, Kazuyuki; Shimizu, Kazuyuki; Sugiyama, Takayuki

JAEA-Review 2021-008, 112 Pages, 2021/07

JAEA-Review-2021-008.pdf:5.99MB

We had drastically been improving quality assurance system for Tokai Reprocessing Plant (TRP), through applying new regulatory requirements, giving up ISO certification from FY2012 to 2019. In revising QA system, it is obviously necessary to satisfy the regulatory requirements, but it is important to continuously improve the QA system considering effectiveness to safety performance based on earlier experiences. In this report, the background of QA system revision, interpretation and thinking way of conformation and application to new regulation and "Application Guide to Quality Assurance Code for Safety in Nuclear Power Plants (JEAC 4111)" to TRP, issues considered. And matters that require attention for future QA activities are described. Key points are "in work processes planning, relationship with other sections and responsibility boundaries should be clearly defined with such as flow chart", "to manage decision-making processes is important, including input information, judgment criteria and so on", "concerning process monitoring and measurement, not only focusing on scheduling but also viewpoints toward conditions of facilities/systems, conformance to regulatory requirements and process improvement are necessary", and "in documentation, matching for existing system, clear relation to other fundamental documents are necessary".

Morphological reproductive characteristics of testes and fertilization capacity of cryopreserved sperm after the Fukushima accident in raccoon ()

Komatsu, Kazuki*; Iwasaki, Tsugumi*; Murata, Kosuke*; Yamashiro, Hideaki*; Goh, V. S. T.*; Nakayama, Ryo*; Fujishima, Yohei*; Ono, Takumi*; Kino, Yasushi*; Shimizu, Yoshinaka*; et al.

Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 56(3), p.484 - 497, 2021/03

https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.13887

We have established an archive system of livestock and wild animals from the surrounding ex-evacuation zone. Wildlife within the alert zone have been exposed to low-dose-rate (LDR) radiation for a long and continuous time. In this study, we analysed the morphological characteristics of the testes and in vitro fertilization (IVF) capacity of cryopreserved sperm of raccoons from the ex-evacuation zone of the FDNPP accident. This study revealed that the chronic and LDR radiation exposure associated with the FDNPP accident had no adverse effect on the reproductive characteristics and functions of male raccoons.

2016 Professional Engineer (PE) test preparation course "Nuclear and Radiation Technical Disciplines"

Takahashi, Naoki; Yoshinaka, Kazuyuki; Harada, Akio; Yamanaka, Atsushi; Ueno, Takashi; Kurihara, Ryoichi; Suzuki, Soju; Takamatsu, Misao; Maeda, Shigetaka; Iseki, Atsushi; et al.

Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai Homu Peji (Internet), 64 Pages, 2016/00

no abstracts in English

Incorporation record of radionuclides in teeth and otoliths

Koarai, Kazuma; Matsueda, Makoto; Fujiwara, Kenso; Ono, Takumi*; Kino, Yasushi*; Oka, Toshitaka; Okutsu, Kenichi*; Takahashi, Atsushi*; Suzuki, Toshihiko*; Shimizu, Yoshinaka*; et al.

no journal, , 

We have investigated incorporation of Sr and Cs in teeth of cattle and otoliths of fish. Specific activity of Sr in the dentin tissue was higher than that in the enamel tissue. The result shows change of Sr incorporation in cattle even within a tooth. Concentrations of stable Sr and Cs were 94 ppm and 3 ppb. Distributions of stable Sr and Cs were uniform in the otolith of fish. If distribution of Sr and Cs in the otolith was measured, change of Sr and Cs incorporation into the fish would be found. These findings suggest that distribution patterns of Sr and Cs in the environment could be estimated from distribution of the radionuclides in the tooth and otolith.

External exposure dose of Japanese macaque captured in Fukushima prefecture

Oka, Toshitaka; Takahashi, Atsushi*; Koarai, Kazuma; Mitsuyasu, Yusuke*; Kino, Yasushi*; Sekine, Tsutomu*; Shimizu, Yoshinaka*; Chiba, Mirei*; Suzuki, Toshihiko*; Osaka, Ken*; et al.

no journal, , 

Due to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, the exposure dose estimation for human is examined by the whole body counter or by the Fukushima Health Management Survey, however, the precise estimated dose cannot obtained by such methods. We applied electron spin resonance (ESR) dosimetry for the external dose estimation using tooth enamel of human/animal. As we reported last year, we improved the detection limit of ESR dosimetry down to 43 mGy. We used this improved ESR dosimetry system and attempted to estimate the external dose of wild Japanese macaque capture in Fukushima prefecture, however, the metal component which may obstruct the ESR measurement was observed, so that we cannot estimate the external dose. In this work, we investigated how to remove such metal components, obtain the clear ESR spectrum, and estimate the external dose.

Sample preparation procedure for ESR dosimetry using teeth of wild animal

Oka, Toshitaka; Mitsuyasu, Yusuke*; Takahashi, Atsushi*; Koarai, Kazuma; Kino, Yasushi*; Sekine, Tsutomu*; Okutsu, Kenichi*; Yamashita, Takuma*; Shimizu, Yoshinaka*; Chiba, Mirei*; et al.

no journal, , 

Releases of the radioactive materials from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident result in a low dose exposure to wild animals. The external dose of wild animals is commonly estimated by the external dose rate of the captured point, but the estimated exposure dose has huge uncertainties because the size of the habitat and/or the movement of the wild animals are not included in the estimation. To estimate the external dose precisely, we utilize electron spin resonance (ESR) dosimetry. In this work, we investigated the sample preparation procedure of wild animals. The ESR spectrum of enamel of racoon captured in Namie-town, Fukushima has a broad ESR signal due to metal components. The linear relationship between the Co intensity and the absorbed dose that we can apply ESR dosimetry for racoon teeth. Using this relationship, the external exposure dose was estimated.

Assessment of chromosome translocation in wild Japanese macaques in Fukushima

Fujishima, Yohei*; Suzuki, Masatoshi*; Goh, V. S. T.*; Ariyoshi, Kentaro*; Kasai, Kosuke*; Nakata, Akifumi*; Kino, Yasushi*; Oka, Toshitaka; Shinoda, Hisashi*; Shimizu, Yoshinaka*; et al.

no journal, , 

After the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, the surrounding environment was contaminated with radionuclides. Although the ambient dose rates are decreasing, prolonged effects of chronic low-dose exposure on animals are expected to be seen in the coming years. It is necessary to assess the effects of radioactivity on the wild animals in this area to better understand about the risk of low dose radiation. The chromosome translocation frequency of Japanese macaques were significantly higher in Fukushima groups comparing from control groups in Miyagi. Furthermore, chromosome translocation frequencies tended to correlate between external doses or internal dose-rates. However, chromosome translocation frequency was decreasing year by year, which may reflect restoration of environments such as decreasing of ambient dose-rates and decontamination efforts.