Investigations on distribution of radioactive substances owing to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Accident in the fiscal year 2021 (Contract research)

Group for Fukushima Mapping Project

JAEA-Technology 2022-026, 152 Pages, 2023/01

JAEA-Technology-2022-026.pdf:20.14MB

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 FY2021. Car-borne surveys, a flat ground measurement using survey meters, a walk survey and an unmanned helicopter survey were carried out to obtain air dose rate data to create air dose rate 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 for Fukushima Prefecture and the 80 km zone from the FDNPS, and the factors causing changes in the score when monitoring data from multiple years were used were discussed. Monitoring data in coastal area performed owing to the comprehensive radiation monitoring plan until 2020 was summarized, and temporal changes in cesium-137 were analyzed. Using the Bayesian hierarchical modeling approach, we obtained maps that integrated the air dose rate distribution data obtained in this project with respect to the region within 80 km from the FDNPS and Fukushima Prefecture. The measurement results for FY2021 were published on the "Expansion Site of Distribution Map of Radiation Dose", 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.

spectrometry of terrestrial gamma rays using portable germanium detectors in area of 80 km radius around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

Mikami, Satoshi; Tanaka, Hiroyuki*; Okuda, Naotoshi*; Sakamoto, Ryuichi*; Ochi, Kotaro; Uno, Kiichiro*; Matsuda, Norihiro; Saito, Kimiaki

Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai Wabun Rombunshi, 20(4), p.159 - 178, 2021/12

https://doi.org/10.3327/taesj.J20.010

In order to know the background radiation level where the area affected by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in 2011, terrestrial gamma rays had been measured by using portable germanium detectors repeatedly from 2013 through 2019, at 370 locations within 80 km radius area centered on the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Radioactive concentrations of Uranium 238, Thorium 232, Potassium 40 and kerma rates in air due to terrestrial gamma rays were obtained at those locations based on the method of ICRU report 53. Averaged concentrations of U, Th and K were 18.8, 22.7, 428 Bq/kg, respectively, and kerma rate in air over the area was found to be 0.0402 Gy/h. The obtained kerma rates in air were compared to those reported in literatures. It was confirmed that the data were correlated with each other, and were agreed within the range of their uncertainty. This is because the kerma rate in air due to terrestrial gamma rays is depend on geology. The similar trend to previous findings was observed that the kerma rate in air at locations geologically classified as Mesozoic era, Granite and Rhyolite were statistically significantly higher than the others.

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.

Mapping project in Fukushima and related researches, 9; Estimation of exposed dose by measurement of air dose rate considering daily activity pattern

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

no journal, , 

The life behavior patterns and the path expected when the residents returned to the evacuation order release preparation area were investigated through interviews, and the air dose rates over the path measured with KURAMA-II. The results of expectation of exposure dose received in daily life when the residents returned to the areas showed that the minimum value of the additional exposure dose of a year was 0.31[mSv] and the maximum one was 2.62[mSv], and that the additional exposure dose of a year for 47 people which is 72% of the subject 65 people was less than 1.0[mSv].

Investigation on distribution of radioactive substances in Fukushima, 7; Estimation of exposed dose by measurement of air dose rate considering daily activity pattern

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

no journal, , 

We have been continuously implementing an attempt to accurately estimate the exposure dose when residents return to areas where evacuation order was cancelled, by interview of life action route and measurement of air dose rate covering the whole action route. The survey results for 2017 and 2018 will be reported. From this study, it was found that about 85% of the surveyed people had an estimated annual additional dose of 1.0 mSv or less, and about 90% had an estimated value of 2.0 mSv or less.