Analysis of ambient-dose-rate trends in Fukushima; Ecological half-life, effect of snow covering

Saegusa, Jun; Yoda, Tomoyuki; Murakami, Mitsuhiro; Takeishi, Minoru

Kankyo Hoshano Josen Gakkai-Shi, 5(2), p.79 - 93, 2017/06

After the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) accident in March 2011, environmental radiation monitoring works have been continuously conducted throughout the Fukushima prefecture of Japan. Five-year transitions of ambient dose rates at 15 locations 20-60 km away from the NPPs were precisely analyzed to investigate their chronological change. Measured dose rates were successfully fitted into a function consisting of a factor reflecting the physical decay of radiocesium and the other component such as the weathering effect. The ecological half-lives derived from the function ranged from 3 to 27 years (average 10 years). The radiation shielding effect by snow covering was also studied with the obtained functions. Due to the effect, dose rates were lowered by 15-50% by 20-cm-deep snow covering, and the ambient doses integrated over the five years were found to decrease by up to 7% compared to those without the snow covering that can be predicted from the fit function.

Uncertainty in predictions of the ambient dose equivalent rates for 30 years following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident

Kinase, Sakae; Takahashi, Tomoyuki*; Sato, Satoshi; Yamamoto, Hideaki; Saito, Kimiaki

Proceedings of 17th NSFS Conference (Internet), p.27 - 33, 2016/02

Prediction of ambient dose equivalent rates for the next 30 years after the accident

Kinase, Sakae; Takahashi, Tomoyuki*; Sato, Satoshi*; Yamamoto, Hideaki; Saito, Kimiaki

Proceedings of International Symposium on Radiological Issues for Fukushima's Revitalized Future, p.40 - 43, 2015/00

http://www.rri.kyoto-u.ac.jp/anzen_kiban/outcome/Symposium'15_Proceedings_EN.pdf#page=50

To support recovery and rehabilitation in Fukushima, prediction models have been developed for ambient dose equivalent rate distribution within the 80 km-radius around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The prediction models that are based on bi-exponential functions characterized by ecological half-lives of radioactive caesium for land-use, enable Fukushima residents to obtain distribution maps of ambient dose equivalent rates for the next 30 years after the accident. Model parameters were evaluated using ambient dose equivalent rates through car-borne surveys. The model parameters in deciduous and evergreen forest areas were found to be different from those in other areas. In addition, it was found that distribution maps of ambient dose equivalent rates for the next 30 years after the accident, created by the prediction models would be useful for follow-up of the radiological situation.

Changes in ambient dose equivalent rates around roads at Kawamata town after the Fukushima accident

Kinase, Sakae; Sato, Satoshi; Sakamoto, Ryuichi*; Yamamoto, Hideaki; Saito, Kimiaki

no journal, , 

Study on distribution and migration of radioactive substances around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, 20; Prediction of ambient dose equivalent rates

Kinase, Sakae; Takahashi, Tomoyuki*; Sato, Satoshi*; Yamamoto, Hideaki; Saito, Kimiaki

no journal, , 

no abstracts in English

Prediction of ambient dose equivalent rates within 80km radius of the Fukushima NPP

Kinase, Sakae; Murakami, Yuko; Takahashi, Tomoyuki*; Suzuki, Tadakazu*; Sugita, Takeshi*; Ando, Masaki; Mikami, Satoshi; Yamamoto, Hideaki; Saito, Kimiaki

no journal, , 

no abstracts in English

Ecological half-life of radiocesium in surficial bottom sediments of ponds in Fukushima based on in-situ measurements with plastic scintillation fibers

Katengeza, E.*; Sanada, Yukihisa; Yoshimura, Kazuya; Ochi, Kotaro; Iimoto, Takeshi*

no journal, , 

The rate of temporal change of radiocesium concentration in bottom sediments is governed not only by its physical decay but also by various ecological processes. In this study, the decreasing trend of radiocesium concentration over wide pond areas of surface sediments (up to 10 cm depth), due to ecological processes, was investigated using plastic scintillation fibers (PSF) and was quantified by the ecological half life. PSF measurements were conducted between 2013 and 2019. Their conversion factors ((Bq/kg)/cps) were obtained by comparison between detected radiation counting rate obtained by PSF and the concentration of radiocesium in sediment cores collected from coinciding positions within the same ponds. A forest catchment pond exhibited the longest ecological half life and may indicate catchment derived radiocesium input as was partly evident in the spatial temporal patterns of radiocesium concentration at this pond's inlet.