Analysis of deposits inside "X-6 penetration" for the Unit 2 primary containment vessel at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

Yoneyama, Kai; Nitta, Ayako; Tanaka, Yasuyuki; Kodaka, Noriyasu; Kikuchi, Riku; Sakano, Takuma; Furuse, Takahiro; Sato, Soichi; Sambongi, Mitsuru; Tanaka, Kosuke

JAEA-Technology 2025-008, 44 Pages, 2025/12

JAEA-Technology-2025-008.pdf:4.3MB

At the TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (1F), an investigation inside the reactors has been carried out. In order to safely carry out the decommissioning work such as fuel debris retrieval and building demolition, it is important to estimate the contamination in primary containment vessel for control the decommissioning planning and the worker radiation exposure levels. Therefore, the analysis of the deposit inside the penetration for the 1F Unit 2 primary containment vessel ("X-6 penetration") was performed to clarify the components and activity. The smears from the deposit were used for the analysis. Non-destructive analysis such as gamma-ray spectrometry, X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) and Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) for the smear-samples were performed to determine the gamma-nuclides and the morphology of elements in the deposit. Furthermore, in order to evaluate the nuclides and nuclide composition of the deposit in detail, the smear-samples were dissolved and the quantitative analysis of gamma-nuclides, Sr-90, alpha-nuclides in the dissolved solution were conducted. The results (non-destructive analysis and quantitative analysis) were compared with the results of samples collected at different locations in the X-6 penetration in 2020. In the gamma-ray spectrometry as non-destructive analysis where the smears were analyzed directly, Co-60, Sb-125, Cs-134, Cs-137, Eu-154, Eu-155 and Am-241 were detected. In XRF results, Fe originating from construction material was detected as a major element and small amount of U and Zr originating from the fuel and fuel cladding were also detected. In SEM-EDX results, O and Fe were found as a major element of the deposit and U particles coexisting with Fe, Si, Cr, Ni and Zr were also found. These results were consistent with the SEM-EDX results of the samples collected in 2020. In radioactivity analysis, quantitative values for gamma-nuclides (Co-60, Sb-125, Cs-134, Cs-137, Eu-154, Eu-155), Sr-90, Pu-238, Pu-239+240, Am-241, Cm-244, U-235 and U-238 were obtained. Using the results, the ratios of radioactivity based on Cs-137 and U-238 were calculated. Both sets of the ratios were compared to the calculated value of the Unit 2 fuel composition from ORIGEN.

Research plan on geosphere stability for long-term isolation of radioactive waste (Scientific program for fiscal year 2025)

Asamori, Koichi; Sueoka, Shigeru; Komatsu, Tetsuya; Ogata, Manabu; Uchida, Mao; Nishiyama, Nariaki; Tanaka, Kiriha; Kobayashi, Tomoharu; Mitsuguchi, Takehiro; Murakami, Osamu; et al.

JAEA-Review 2025-035, 29 Pages, 2025/10

JAEA-Review-2025-035.pdf:1.12MB

This report is a plan of research and development (R&D) on geosphere stability for long-term isolation of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) in Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), in fiscal year 2025. The objectives and contents of this research are described in detail based on the JAEA 4th Medium- and Long-term Plan (fiscal years 2022-2028). In addition, the background of this research is described from the necessity and the significance for site investigation and safety assessment, and the past progress. The plan framework is structured into the following categories: (1) Development and systematization of investigation techniques, (2) Development of models for long-term estimation and effective assessment, (3) Development of dating techniques.

Speciation of cesium in a radiocesium-bearing microparticle emitted from Unit 1 during the Fukushima nuclear accident by XANES spectroscopy using transition edge sensor

Takahashi, Yoshio*; Miura, Hikaru*; Yamada, Shinya*; Sekizawa, Oki*; Nitta, Kiyofumi*; Hashimoto, Tadashi*; Yomogida, Takumi; Yamaguchi, Akiko; Okada, Shinji*; Itai, Takaaki*; et al.

Journal of Hazardous Materials, 495, p.139031_1 - 139031_19, 2025/09

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.139031

In this presentation, we analyzed the chemical state of cesium in radiocesium-bearing microparticles (CsMPs) released during the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident using high-resolution X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XANES) and micro X-ray fluorescence (-XRF). The results identified two forms of cesium: one dissolved in glass and the other enriched on the surfaces of internal voids. The latter is considered to have originally existed as a gas and became concentrated during the cooling and solidification of the molten glass. These findings are crucial for understanding the formation process of CsMPs during the accident, as well as for future decommissioning and safety assessments.

Effect of radon inhalation on murine brain proteins; Investigation using proteomic and multivariate analyses

Naoe, Shota*; Tanaka, Ayumi*; Kanzaki, Norie; Takenaka, Reiju*; Sakoda, Akihiro; Miyaji, Takaaki*; Yamaoka, Kiyonori*; Kataoka, Takahiro*

Acta Medica Okayama (Internet), 78(5), p.387 - 399, 2024/10

http://doi.org/10.18926/AMO/67663

Application of diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) for the dynamic speciation of radioactive cesium in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan

Tanaka, Takuro*; Fukuoka, Masafumi*; Toda, Kanako*; Nakanishi, Takahiro; Terashima, Motoki; Fujiwara, Kenso; Niwano, Yuma*; Kato, Hiroaki*; Kobayashi, Natsuko*; Tanoi, Keitaro*; et al.

ACS ES&T Water (Internet), 4(8), p.3579 - 3586, 2024/08

https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestwater.4c00453

Band gap formation in graphene by hybridization with Hex-Au(001) reconstructed surface

Terasawa, Tomoo; Matsunaga, Kazuya*; Hayashi, Naoki*; Ito, Takahiro*; Tanaka, Shinichiro*; Yasuda, Satoshi; Asaoka, Hidehito

Vacuum and Surface Science, 66(9), p.525 - 530, 2023/09

https://doi.org/10.1380/vss.66.525

As Au (001) surfaces exhibit a quasi-one-dimensional corrugated structure, Hex-Au(001), its periodicity was predicted to change the electronic structure of graphene when graphene was grown on this surface. Furthermore, the hybridization between graphene and Au is known to introduce bandgap and spin polarization into graphene. Here, we report angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and density functional theory calculation of graphene on a Hex-Au(001) surface. A bandgap of 0.2 eV in the graphene Dirac cone was observed at the crossing point of the graphene Dirac cone and Au 6sp bands, indicating that the origin of the bandgap formation was the hybridization between the graphene Dirac cone and Au 6sp band. We discussed the hybridization mechanism and anticipated spin injection into the graphene Dirac cone.

Changes in sulfur metabolism in mouse brains following radon inhalation

Kanzaki, Norie; Sakoda, Akihiro; Kataoka, Takahiro*; Sun, L.*; Tanaka, Hiroshi; Otsu, Iwao*; Yamaoka, Kiyonori*

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(17), p.10750_1 - 10750_14, 2022/09

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191710750

Reactive sulfur species (RSS) involve oxidative stress deeply and contribute anti-inflammatory effect, but no studied have focused on RSS changes after irradiation. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the metabolites, focusing on RSS in mouse brain following radon inhalation. The ratio of oxidized glutathione to reduced glutathione and proportion of RSS in GSH or cysteine increased by radon inhalation. The sulfur ion might bind to GSH or cysteine chemically under conditions of oxidative stress, even at very low-dose exposure. We performed the overall assessment of high-dimensional data by applying machine learning and showed the specific characteristics of the effects by the exposure conditions. Our results suggested that RSS could produce a biological defense against oxidative stress following radon inhalation.

Radon solubility and diffusion in the skin surface layer

Sakoda, Akihiro; Ishida, Tsuyoshi*; Kanzaki, Norie; Tanaka, Hiroshi; Kataoka, Takahiro*; Mitsunobu, Fumihiro*; Yamaoka, Kiyonori*

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(13), p.7761_1 - 7761_12, 2022/07

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19137761

In specific situations such as bathing in a radon spa, where the radon activity concentration in thermal water is far higher than that in air, it has been revealed that radon uptake via skin can occur and should be considered for more precise dose evaluation. The primary aim of the present study was to numerically demonstrate the distribution as well as the degree of diffusion of radon in the skin, with a focus on its surface layers (i.e., stratum corneum). We made a biokinetic model that included diffusion theory at the stratum corneum, and measured radon solubility in the stratum corneum to get a crucial parameter. The implementation of the model suggested that the diffusion coefficient in the stratum corneum was as low as general radon-proof sheets. The depth profile of radon in the skin was found to be that after a 20-minute immersion in water, the radon activity concentration at the top surface skin layer was approximately 1000 times higher than that at the viable skin layer. The information on the position of radon as a radiation source would contribute to special dose evaluation where specific target cell layers are assumed for the skin.

Dosimetry of radon progeny deposited on skin in air and thermal water

Sakoda, Akihiro; Ishimori, Yuu; Kanzaki, Norie; Tanaka, Hiroshi; Kataoka, Takahiro*; Mitsunobu, Fumihiro*; Yamaoka, Kiyonori*

Journal of Radiation Research (Internet), 62(4), p.634 - 644, 2021/07

https://doi.org/10.1093/jrr/rrab030

It is held that the skin dose from radon progeny is not negligibly small and that introducing cancer is a possible consequence under normal circumstances, while there are a number of uncertainties in terms of related parameters such as activity concentrations in air, target cells in skin, skin covering materials, and deposition velocities. Meanwhile, an interesting proposal emerged in that skin exposure to natural radon-rich thermal water as part of balneotherapy can produce an immune response to induce beneficial health effects. The goal of the present study was to obtain generic dose coefficients with a focus on the radon progeny deposited on the skin in air or water in relation to risk or therapeutic assessments. We thus first estimated the skin deposition velocities of radon progeny in the two media based on data from the latest human studies. Using the optimized velocities, skin dosimetry was then performed under different assumptions regarding alpha-emitting source position and target cell (i.e., basal cells or Langerhans cells). Furthermore, the impact of the radon progeny deposition on effective doses from all exposure pathways relating to "radon exposure" was assessed using various possible scenarios. It was found that in both exposure media, effective doses from radon progeny inhalation are one to four orders of magnitude higher than those from the other pathways. In addition, absorbed doses on the skin can be the highest among all pathways when the radon activity concentrations in water are two or more orders of magnitude higher than those in air.

Thermally altered subsurface material of asteroid (162173) Ryugu

Kitazato, Kohei*; Milliken, R. E.*; Iwata, Takahiro*; Abe, Masanao*; Otake, Makiko*; Matsuura, Shuji*; Takagi, Yasuhiko*; Nakamura, Tomoki*; Hiroi, Takahiro*; Matsuoka, Moe*; et al.

Nature Astronomy (Internet), 5(3), p.246 - 250, 2021/03

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-020-01271-2

Here we report observations of Ryugu's subsurface material by the Near-Infrared Spectrometer (NIRS3) on the Hayabusa2 spacecraft. Reflectance spectra of excavated material exhibit a hydroxyl (OH) absorption feature that is slightly stronger and peak-shifted compared with that observed for the surface, indicating that space weathering and/or radiative heating have caused subtle spectral changes in the uppermost surface. However, the strength and shape of the OH feature still suggests that the subsurface material experienced heating above 300 C, similar to the surface. In contrast, thermophysical modeling indicates that radiative heating does not increase the temperature above 200 C at the estimated excavation depth of 1 m, even if the semimajor axis is reduced to 0.344 au. This supports the hypothesis that primary thermal alteration occurred due to radiogenic and/or impact heating on Ryugu's parent body.