Analysis of particles containing alpha-emitters in stagnant water at torus room of Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station's Unit 2 reactor

Yomogida, Takumi; Ouchi, Kazuki; Oka, Toshitaka; Kitatsuji, Yoshihiro; Koma, Yoshikazu; Konno, Katsuhiro*

Scientific Reports (Internet), 12(1), p.7191_1 - 7191_10, 2022/05

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-11334-1

Particles containing alpha () nuclides were identified from sediment in stagnant water at the torus room of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station (FDiNPS)'s Unit 2 reactor. Several uranium-bearing particles were identified by SEM observation. These particles contained Zr and other elements which constituted fuel cladding and structural materials. The U/U isotope ratio in the solid fractions that included U particles was consistent with the nuclear fuel in the Unit 2 reactor, which indicated that the U particles had been derived from nuclear fuel. The particles with alpha-emitters detected by alpha track analysis were several tens to several hundred m in size. The EDX spectra showed that these particles mainly comprised iron, which indicated Pu, Am, and Cm were adsorbed on the Fe-baring particles. This study clarifies that the major morphologies of U and other -nuclides were differed in the sediment of stagnant water in the torus room of FDiNPS's Unit 2 reactor.

Radiocesium transfer into freshwater planktonic spp. microalgae in a pond near the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant

Sasaki, Yoshito; Funaki, Hironori; Fujiwara, Kenso

Limnology, 23(1), p.1 - 7, 2022/01

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10201-021-00674-y

We investigated the transfer behavior of radiocesium in living cells and remains of a bloom of microalgae ( sp.) in a pond located about 5 km from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant. As a positive correlation was detected between the cell number of microalgae and the radiocesium concentration (Bq/L) in the 0.45-m fraction, microalgae were the controlling factor for the radiocesium concentration of the 0.45-m fraction. The transfer factor of water-to-algae [(Cs concentration Bq/kg 0.45-m fraction) (Cs concentration Bq/L water)] was 1.6 10. The radiocesium concentration of microalgae remains was the same as that in intact cells.

Determination of parameters for an equation to obtain natural background radiation using KURAMA-II loaded with C12137-01 type CsI(Tl) detector

Ando, Masaki; Matsuda, Norihiro; Saito, Kimiaki

Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai Wabun Rombunshi, 20(1), p.34 - 39, 2021/03

https://doi.org/10.3327/taesj.J20.007

We measured count rates and air dose rates at 11 measurement points where the influence of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident could be ignored to obtain parameters for a background equation applying to KURAMA-II loaded with the high sensitivity CsI(Tl) detector, C12137-01. It was found that the sensitivity of KURAMA-II (C12137-01) was about 10 times or more for background measurement, compared with KURAMA-II loaded with the standard type CsI(Tl) detector, C12137. A background equation for the energy range of 1400-2000 keV was determined as, y (Sv/h)=0.062 x (cps). We evaluated background air dose rates using KURAMA-II (C12137-01) for 71 municipalities and compared them with the previous study using KURAMA-II (C12137). Evaluated background air dose rates in this study were almost equal to those in the previous study. We confirmed that the background equation evaluated in this study was applicable for the KURAMA-II (C12137-01).

Analysis of debris samples of Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

Task Force on Research Strategy for Debris of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

JAEA-Review 2020-004, 140 Pages, 2020/05

JAEA-Review-2020-004.pdf:4.22MB

Design, planning and control of debris-related processes, namely retrieval, storage management, processing and disposal of the debris, are required for the safe and steady decommissioning of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (1F). Status inside primary containment vessel of 1F must be known by the PCV investigation and fuel debris sample analysis. Continuous updating and improvement of the process design are important through ascertainment of the cause of the accident. The roadmap for the 1F decommissioning have shown the milestone of commencement of trial retrieval of fuels debris within 2021, which indicates the analysis of fuel debris sample begin in earnest. This report recommends required debris analysis in relation with issues for the retrieval, storage management, processing and disposal, and ascertainment of the cause of the 1F accident. Practical analysis plan is expected to be prepared based on this report.

Summary of temporal changes in air dose rates and radionuclide deposition densities in the 80 km zone over five years after the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant accident

Saito, Kimiaki; Mikami, Satoshi; Ando, Masaki; Matsuda, Norihiro; Kinase, Sakae; Tsuda, Shuichi; Yoshida, Tadayoshi; Sato, Tetsuro*; Seki, Akiyuki; Yamamoto, Hideaki*; et al.

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 210, p.105878_1 - 105878_12, 2019/12

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.12.020

Numerical study of transport pathways of Cs from forests to freshwater fish living in mountain streams in Fukushima, Japan

Kurikami, Hiroshi; Sakuma, Kazuyuki; Malins, A.; Sasaki, Yoshito; Niizato, Tadafumi

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 208-209, p.106005_1 - 106005_11, 2019/11

AA2018-0485.pdf:1.87MB

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.106005

To assess the uptake of Cs-137 (Cs) by freshwater fish, we developed a compartment model for the migration of Cs on the catchment scale from forests to river water. We modelled a generic forest catchment with Fukushima-like parameters to ascertain the importance of export pathways of Cs from forests to river water for the uptake of Cs by freshwater fish. The results suggest that the decreasing trend of Cs in river water and freshwater fish was due to combination of the decreasing trend in the forest leaves/needles and litter compartments, and the increasing trend in soil. The Cs concentrations within these forest compartments plateau at around ten years after the fallout due to Cs circulation in forests reaching an equilibrium state.

Separation of radiocaesium-bearing micro particle from environmental samples; Application to litter samples

Tagomori, Hisaya; Dohi, Terumi; Ishii, Yasuo; Kanaizuka, Seiichi*; Fujiwara, Kenso; Iijima, Kazuki

JAEA-Technology 2019-001, 37 Pages, 2019/03

JAEA-Technology-2019-001.pdf:26.85MB

An efficient methodology for separating the radiocaesium-bearing micro particles (CsMPs) released by the TEPCO's Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station accident is required to investigate their spatial distribution and physicochemical properties. In this report we developed an efficiency separation method for CsMP from litters since the radiocaesium in litter may affect the radiocaesium cycling in forest ecosystem. One CsMP separation from litter containing lots of soil particles was attained within three days using electron microscopic analysis with digestion treatment of organic matter. This methodology is expected as CsMPs efficient separation method for not only forest floor litter but also barks and leaves of living tree, and other organic materials in the forested environment.

Development of the unmanned surface vehicle for radiation monitoring at seabed; Observation of temporal change of radiocesium concentration in the sea bottom sediment at coastal zone of Fukushima

Sanada, Yukihisa; Miyamoto, Kenji*; Ochi, Kotaro; Matsuzaki, Koji*; Ogawa, Toshihiro*; Senga, Yasuhiro*

Kaiyo Riko Gakkai-Shi, 24(2), p.9 - 18, 2018/12

https://doi.org/10.14928/amstec.24.2_9

Seven years passed since Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station accident which was caused large amount of radionuclide release to the sea. Elucidation of behavior mechanism of radiocesium in the seabed is required for restarting fishing industry. We developed radiation detection system using the unmanned surface vehicle for in-situ measurement of radiocesium concentration in seabed sediment. This system is able to automatically navigate to measurement point and obtain the radiation data on the bottom sediment. The detector was calibrated by comparing the actual sediment samples. The periodical measurement off-shore the Fukushima Prefecture was performed using developed this system. As these results, distribution of radiocesium concentration was changed due to oceanographic condition. However, radiocesium inventory was tendency to decrease according to radiocesium half-life in measurement area. This system is effective for elucidation of behavior mechanism of radiocesium because it can easily measure the radiocesium concentration in the bottom sediment.

Measurements and evaluations of air dose rates around the Fukushima NPP site, 6; Status and issues on evaluation of individual doses due to external exposures

Saito, Kimiaki; Kurihara, Osamu*; Matsuda, Norihiro; Takahara, Shogo; Sato, Tetsuro*

Radioisotopes, 65(2), p.93 - 112, 2016/02

https://doi.org/10.3769/radioisotopes.65.93

Late information is introduced on dose evaluation due to external exposures which employ an important role in the exposures due to the Fukushima accident. First, merits and demerits of the currently used two methods, that is the estimation based air dose rates and the measurements using personal dosimeters, are discussed indicating some basic data after a fundamental concept of external dose evaluation is provided. Next, main activities are summarized on external dose measurements and evaluations after the accident. Finally, a new trial on dose evaluation in introduced.

Radiation dose assessment data for external exposures from radioactive cesium in environment

Takahashi, Fumiaki

no journal, , 

JAEA has developed a radiation transport calculation code PHITS and Japanese adult models that enable us to perform computation dosimetry. In recent years, we have analyzed radiation dose assessment data by PHITS for public external exposure from radioactive cesium following the Fukushima Dai-ichi NPP accident. Here, a numerical method was developed to simulate transport of photons in environment and conversion coefficient data were analyzed to estimate effective dose for public including various ages. An integral dose assessment method was developed to predict radiation dose in future by taking account for cesium transfer and indoor dose reduction data were assessed by PHITS. In addition, the relationship between and effective dose and dosimeter reading was clarified for public exposure. These data were useful to make discussions on returning of habitants and to confirm verification of individual monitoring. These results and future plans on computational dosimetry are to be reported in this presentation.