Investigations on distribution of radioactive substances owing to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Accident in the fiscal year 2022 (Contract research)

Group for Fukushima Mapping Project

JAEA-Technology 2023-024, 176 Pages, 2024/03

JAEA-Technology-2023-024.pdf:22.16MB

This report presents results of the investigations on the distribution-mapping project of radioactive substances owing to TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) conducted in FY2022. Car-borne surveys, a measurement using survey meters, a walk survey and an unmanned helicopter survey were carried out to obtain air dose rate data to create their distribution maps, and temporal changes of the air dose rates were analyzed. Surveys on depth profile of radiocesium and in-situ measurements as for radiocesium deposition were performed. Based on these measurement results, effective half-lives of the temporal changes in the air dose rates and the deposition were evaluated. Score maps to classify the importance of the measurement points were created, and the factors causing changes in the score when monitoring data from multiple years were used were discussed. The range of fluctuation of past tritium concentration data in seawater was determined, and the causes of the fluctuation were discussed. Monitoring data in coastal area performed in 2022 owing to the comprehensive radiation monitoring plan was summarized, and temporal changes in cesium-137 were analyzed. Using the Bayesian hierarchical modeling approach, we obtained maps that integrated air dose rate distribution data acquired through surveys such as car-borne and walk surveys with respect to the region within 80 km from the FDNPS and Fukushima Prefecture. The measurement results for FY2022 were published on the "Database for Radioactive Substance Monitoring Data", and measurement data were stored as CSV format. Radiation monitoring and analysis of environmental samples owing to the comprehensive radiation monitoring plan were carried out.

Result of measurement of the ambient dose equivalent rates by car-borne surveys using KURAMA-II from 2012 until 2019

Ando, Masaki; Saito, Kimiaki

JAEA-Technology 2021-032, 66 Pages, 2022/03

JAEA-Technology-2021-032.pdf:3.84MB

Since the occurrence of the accident at the TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has been conducting a series of car-borne survey over a wide area in the eastern part of Japan using the monitoring system KURAMAII. In this report, outline of the car-borne surveys are summarized and the following characteristics of the temporal changes in each prefecture and region were investigated using the measured data obtained from 2012 to 2019; 1) Average and maximum values for each prefecture for the six years from 2014 to 2019, 2) Average values for each prefecture from 2012 to 2019, 3) Average values for each evacuation order area category, regional category, and northern Soso-area municipality in Fukushima Prefecture from 2012 to 2019, and 4) Average and maximum values for each municipality in each prefecture for four times (at almost two-year intervals) of the measurement results from 2012 to 2018.

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).

External dose evaluation based on detailed air dose rate measurements in living environments

Sato, Tetsuro*; Ando, Masaki; Sato, Masako*; Saito, Kimiaki

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 210, p.105973_1 - 105973_7, 2019/12

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.05.005

A method was devised for estimation of external doses of Fukushima residents expected to return to their homes after evacuation orders are lifted. 211 residents expected to return to six towns and villages were surveyed in FY 2014, FY 2015, and FY2016. Interviewing returning residents about their expected life patterns after returning, air dose rate were measured along the reported personal trails representing their patterns of movement in daily life. Excluding 15 residents from whose homes we were unable to take air dose rate measurements, the maximum external effective dose and the average external effective dose were estimated respectively as 4.9 mSv/y and 0.86 mSv/y. Although the mean values and dispersion of external effective doses differ depending on the evacuation level, for 93.3% of all residents, the estimated external effective doses were less than 2 mSv/y. The average exposure dose at home accounts for 66.8% of the annual exposure dose.

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.

Measurement of ambient dose equivalent rates by walk survey around Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant using KURAMA-II until 2016

Ando, Masaki; Yamamoto, Hideaki*; Kanno, Takashi*; Saito, Kimiaki

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 190-191, p.111 - 121, 2018/10

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.04.025

Ambient dose equivalent rates in various environments related to human lives were measured by walk surveys using the KURAMA-II systems from 2013 to 2016 around the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant. The dose rate of the locations where the walk survey was performed decreased to about 38% of its initial value in the 42 months, which was beyond that attributable to the physical decay. The air dose rates decreased depending on the level of the evacuation areas, and the decrease was slightly larger in populated areas where humans are active. The comparison of walk survey data with car-borne survey data indicated that the air dose rate varies largely even within a 100 m square area. The dose rates measured by the walk surveys were estimated to be medial of those along roads and those of undisturbed flat ground. The air dose rates measured by the walk surveys decreased quickly compared with the air dose rate from the flat ground measurement.

Study on decreasing trend of air dose rates observed in Fukushima Prefecture and neighboring prefectures

Ando, Masaki; Kanno, Takashi; Saito, Kimiaki

JAEA-Technology 2015-060, 40 Pages, 2016/03

JAEA-Technology-2015-060.pdf:50.1MB

The ratios of air dose rate averaged in prefecture-wise measured by car borne surveys in wide area has been performed by with the use of the KURAMA and KURAMA-II systems were investigated. The changes in air dose rate from the first (June 2011) car borne survey to the fourth (September 2012) and seventh (November 2013) car borne surveys in Fukushima Prefecture was similar to those in Tochigi Prefecture, and the ratio in Miyagi Prefecture showed quicker decay than those in the other prefectures in the groups of less than 0.5Sv/h. Distribution maps of the ratios of air dose rate obtained in 100m mesh wise in Fukushima, Tochigi and Miyagi prefectures showed that the ratios (i.e. decreasing rates) were depending on the area or road. Further, decreasing in the air dose rate was quicker than the physical decay in the big cities where population is big and the traffic is huge.

Study on distribution and migration of radioactive substances around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, 4; Measurement of air dose rate maps by a series of car-borne surveys

Ando, Masaki; Matsuda, Norihiro; Sato, Tetsuro*; Saito, Kimiaki

no journal, , 

A series of measurements of air-dose rate has been performed with a car-borne survey system KURAMA-II over wide areas in eastern Japan since 2011 to obtain data to grasp distribution of air dose rates and the decreasing tendency. Air dose rate maps were constructed by the seven car-borne surveys. It was found that the decreasing trend of air dose rates measured through car-borne surveys was found to be more pronounced than those expected on the basis of the physical decay of radioactive cesium and of the air dose rates measured using NaI (Tl) survey meters in the areas surrounding the roadways. In addition, it was found that the extent of decrease in air dose rates was moderated through the car-borne surveys performed in 2013.

Study on distribution and migration of radioactive substances around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, 5; Survey of the air dose rates using a man-borne survey method

Sato, Tetsuro*; Ando, Masaki; Uno, Kiichiro; Nakano, Masakazu; Kanno, Takashi; Yamamoto, Hideaki; Matsumoto, Shinichiro; Saito, Kimiaki

no journal, , 

The distribution of radioactive cesium were examined by man borne survey method by using KURAMA-II monitoring system. The correlation between the air dose rate measured by man borne survey method and the air dose rate measured by survey meters at 1 m above ground were examined. The correlation between the air dose rate measured by man borne survey method and the air dose rate measured by car borne survey were examined.

Study on distribution and migration of radioactive substances around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, 3; Distinction between natural and artificial radioactive nuclides using KURAMA-II

Ando, Masaki; Saito, Kimiaki; Matsuda, Norihiro

no journal, , 

To evaluate contribution of natural radioactive nuclides to the air dose rate measured by car-borne survey in relatively low air dose range, a rapid method to distinguish natural radioactive nuclides was applied to a car-borne survey system KURAMA-II, and the availability was evaluated.