Thirty-year simulation of environmental fate of Cs in the Abukuma River basin considering the characteristics of Cs behavior in land uses

Ikenoue, Tsubasa; Shimadera, Hikari*; Nakanishi, Takahiro; Kondo, Akira*

Science of the Total Environment, 876, p.162846_1 - 162846_12, 2023/06

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162846

We conducted 30 years simulation of environmental fate of Cs in the Abukuma River basin considering the characteristics of the Cs behavior in land uses. Overall, in the Abukuma River basin, the Cs transported into the ocean for 30 years was estimated to correspond to 4.6% of the initial deposition in the basin, and the effective half-life of Cs deposited in the basin was estimated to be 3.7 years shorter (by 11.6%) than its physical half-life. These results suggested that Cs deposited from the accident could still remain for decades. Based on the analysis of the Cs behavior in land use, in 2011, the contribution of Cs export to the ocean from urban lands was estimated to correspond to 70% of the total Cs export. Meanwhile, from 2012 to 2040, the contribution of Cs export from agricultural lands was estimated to correspond to 75% of the total Cs export. The reduction ratios excluding radioactive decay of Cs remained in areas with and without human activities for 30 years after the accident, defined as the ratios of the total outflow to the initial deposition, were estimated to be 11.5%-17.7% and 0.4%-1.4%, respectively. These results suggested that human activities enhance the reduction of Cs remaining in land in the past and future.

The Tenth Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT); Key issues and why the final document could not be adopted

Tazaki, Makiko

Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai-Shi ATOMO, 65(3), p.183 - 186, 2023/03

https://doi.org/10.3327/jaesjb.65.3_183

no abstracts in English

Experimental study on the localization and estimation of radioactivity in concrete rubble using image reconstruction algorithms

Takai, Shizuka; Namekawa, Masakazu*; Shimada, Taro; Takeda, Seiji

IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, 69(7), p.1789 - 1798, 2022/07

https://doi.org/10.1109/TNS.2022.3181241

To reduce a large amount of contaminated concrete rubble stored in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station site, recycling low-radioactivity rubble within the site is a possible remedy. To promote recycling while ensuring safety, not only the average radioactivity but also the radioactivity distribution of concrete rubble should be efficiently evaluated because the details of rubble contamination caused by the accident remain unclear and likely include hotspots. However, evaluating inhomogeneous contamination of thick and/or dense materials is difficult using previous measurement systems, such as clearance monitors. This study experimentally confirmed the potential applicability of image reconstruction algorithms for radioactivity distribution evaluation in concrete rubble filled in a chamber. Radiation was measured using plastic scintillation fiber around the chamber (50 50 40 cm). Localized hotspots were simulated using standard sources of Cs, which is one of the main nuclides of contaminated rubble. The radioactivity distribution was calculated for 100 or 50 voxels (voxel size: (10 cm) or 10 10 20 cm) constituting the chamber. For 100 voxels, inner hotspots were undetected, whereas, for 50 voxels, both inner and surface hotspots were reconstructible. The distribution evaluated using the maximum likelihood expectation maximization algorithm was the most accurate; the average radioactivity was estimated within 70% accuracy in all seven cases.

Neutrons at Tokai village: New era of neutron science and technology; Opening of a concert in collaboration with an intense steady neutron source (JRR-3) and an intense pulsed neutron one (J-PARC MLF)

Takeda, Masayasu

Bunseki, 2021(11), p.611 - 615, 2021/11

no abstracts in English

Promoting nuclear fuel cycle and ensuring nuclear non-proliferation/nuclear security

Tamai, Hiroshi; Mochiji, Toshiro; Senzaki, Masao*; Iwamoto, Tomonori*; Ishiguro, Yuzuru*; Kitade, Yuta; Sato, Heigo*; Suehiro, Rie*; Taniguchi, Tomihiro*; Fukasawa, Tetsuo*; et al.

Dai-41-Kai Nihon Kaku Busshitsu Kanri Gakkai Nenji Taikai Kaigi Rombunshu (Internet), 4 Pages, 2020/11

In light of recent delay of plutonium use in Japan and the increasing criticism of nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear security in the nuclear fuel cycle, the validity of these criticisms will be examined for the sustainable development of the nuclear fuel cycle policy. Issues on the view point of nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear security are examined.

Dose estimation in recycling of removed soil as seaside protection forest (Contract research)

Sawaguchi, Takuma; Takai, Shizuka; Takeda, Seiji

JAEA-Research 2020-005, 47 Pages, 2020/06

JAEA-Research-2020-005.pdf:5.09MB

After the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident, large quantities of radiocesium-contaminated soil were generated from decontamination activities in the Fukushima prefecture. The removed soil has been stored in the prefecture until its final disposal. To complete the final disposal outside Fukushima prefecture, reducing the disposal volume through recycling can prove effective. The Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOE) has presented a policy to recycle low-radioactive removed soil as recycled materials under the management of public authority. The recycling is limited to civil engineering structures in public projects. In this study, to contribute to guideline development for removed soil recycling by MOE, dose estimation in recycling of removed soil as embankment materials of seaside protection forest was conducted. First, additional doses to workers and the public in construction and service scenarios were evaluated. From the result, the radioactive cesium concentration level of recycled materials, where all additional doses meet the radiation criterion of 1 mSv/y, was derived to be 5,000 Bq/kg. Then, construction conditions were reviewed to reduce additional doses to the public in a service scenario. With the derived radioactivity level of 5,000 Bq/kg, the covered soil thickness of 39 cm or more limited the doses to less than 10 Sv/y. Finally, additional doses in a disaster scenario were evaluated. The doses were confirmed to be below 1 mSv/y when the removed soil of 5,000 Bq/kg was used.

Nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear security in Japan, 2; Significance of sustainable progress in plutonium-thermal policy and R&D of fast reactor

Mochiji, Toshiro; Senzaki, Masao*; Tamai, Hiroshi; Iwamoto, Tomonori*; Ishiguro, Yuzuru*; Kitade, Yuta; Sato, Heigo*; Suehiro, Rie*; Taniguchi, Tomihiro*; Fukasawa, Tetsuo*; et al.

Enerugi Rebyu, 40(7), p.58 - 59, 2020/06

Japan have promoted the peaceful use of plutonium with the nuclear non-proliferation commitment based on IAEA safeguards agreement and Japan-US nuclear cooperation agreement, as well as ensuring transparency of the policy that Japan has no plutonium without purpose of use. In promoting the nuclear fuel cycle, adherence to those measures and maintaining plutonium utilization by means of plutonium-thermal, and a fast reactor cycle to achieve large-scale and long-term energy supply and environmental improvement, therefore, further research and development is essential.

Chapter 8, Human resource development in nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear security; Education at the University of Tokyo

Tamai, Hiroshi; Demachi, Kazuyuki*

Genshiryoku Heiwa Riyo To Kakufukakusan, Kakusekyuritei; NSA/Commentaries, No.25, p.199 - 202, 2020/06

Education on nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear security in the University of Tokyo is provided at the Department of Nuclear Engineering and Management for master's course graduate students and at the Nuclear Professional School for career experts. In this paper, both the courses are introduced and their education contents on nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear security are briefly described.

Nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear security in Japan, 1; Peaceful nuclear use and nuclear non-proliferation

Mochiji, Toshiro; Senzaki, Masao*; Tamai, Hiroshi; Iwamoto, Tomonori*; Ishiguro, Yuzuru*; Kitade, Yuta; Sato, Heigo*; Suehiro, Rie*; Taniguchi, Tomihiro*; Fukasawa, Tetsuo*; et al.

Enerugi Rebyu, 40(6), p.58 - 59, 2020/05

In order to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, it is important not only to ensure safety but also to ensure nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear security. Japan has contributed to the international community through strengthening nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear security capabilities with technical and human resource development. However, in the wake of the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in 2011, Japan's nuclear power plants have not restarted or plutonium use has not progressed smoothly. Concerns have been shown. Towards appropriate steps of Japan's nuclear fuel cycle policy, such concerns are examined and future efforts are summarized.

Various neutron applications of JRR-3 and establishment of user-friendly facility sharing system

Matsue, Hideaki

Hoshasen (Internet), 45(2), p.77 - 88, 2019/07

JRR-3 operated by Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) is 20 MW grade research reactor for widely used for various academic research and industrial applications in many fields from utilization of internal irradiation to utilization of neutron beam. Although JRR-3 has not been operated due to respond to the new regulation standard established after the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, JRR-3 will resume operation in October 2020. This article reports neutron utilization such as various kinds of reactor irradiation, prompt gamma-ray analysis, neutron radiography and neutron residual stress analysis, and the efforts of the JRR-3 user 's office aiming for a one - stop office.