Ingestion doses from radionuclides in seafood before and after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident

Mori, Airi; Johansen, M. P.*; McGinnity, P.*; Takahara, Shogo

Communications Earth & Environment (Internet), 6, p.356_1 - 356_11, 2025/05

https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02338-6

Investigations on distribution of radioactive substances owing to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Accident in the fiscal year 2023 (Contract research)

Group for Fukushima Mapping Project

JAEA-Technology 2024-017, 208 Pages, 2025/03

JAEA-Technology-2024-017.pdf:27.32MB

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 FY2023. 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 temporal changes in the score were analyzed. A system to report the tritium concentration level in seawater to the Nuclear Regulation Authority was operated, and the variation of tritium concentration before and after the discharge of ALPS treated water to the ocean was analyzed. Monitoring data in coastal area performed owing to the comprehensive radiation monitoring plan until FY2023 was 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. Representative life patterns that can be expected after the return to the evacuation-designated restricted area were set, and the cumulative exposure doses were evaluated for the local governments and residents in the area. The measurement results for FY2023 were published on the Web site 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.

Development of a high-resolution imaging camera for alpha dust and high-dose rate monitor (Contract research); FY2022 Nuclear Energy Science & Technology and Human Resource Development Project

Collaborative Laboratories for Advanced Decommissioning Science; Tohoku University*

JAEA-Review 2024-016, 61 Pages, 2024/12

JAEA-Review-2024-016.pdf:2.88MB

The Collaborative Laboratories for Advanced Decommissioning Science (CLADS), Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), had been conducting the Nuclear Energy Science & Technology and Human Resource Development Project (hereafter referred to "the Project") in FY2022. The Project aims to contribute to solving problems in the nuclear energy field represented by the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. (TEPCO). For this purpose, intelligence was collected from all over the world, and basic research and human resource development were promoted by closely integrating/collaborating knowledge and experiences in various fields beyond the barrier of conventional organizations and research fields. The sponsor of the Project was moved from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to JAEA since the newly adopted proposals in FY2018. On this occasion, JAEA constructed a new research system where JAEA-academia collaboration is reinforced and medium-to-long term research/development and human resource development contributing to the decommissioning are stably and consecutively implemented. Among the adopted proposals in FY2022, this report summarizes the research results of the "Development of a high-resolution imaging camera for alpha dust and high-dose rate monitor" conducted in FY2022. The present study aims to develop a high-resolution imaging camera for alpha dust and a high-dose rate monitor. To realize the high-resolution imaging camera for alpha dust, we have developed novel scintillation materials with emission bands of 500-800 nm. Moreover, we have prepared several materials for the camera and software. We have also developed novel scintillation materials with emission bands of 650-1,000 nm, and simulation studies have been conducted for the high-dose-rate monitor system consisting of optical fiber.

Effect of neutron beam properties on dose distributions in a water phantom for boron neutron capture therapy

Ishikawa, Akihisa; Tanaka, Hiroki*; Nakamura, Satoshi*; Kumada, Hiroaki*; Sakurai, Yoshinori*; Watanabe, Kenichi*; Yoshihashi, Sachiko*; Tanagami, Yuki*; Uritani, Akira*; Kiyanagi, Yoshiaki*

Journal of Radiation Research (Internet), 65(6), p.765 - 775, 2024/11

https://doi.org/10.1093/jrr/rrae076

Analysis of the relationship between ambient dose, ambient dose equivalent and effective dose in operational neutron spectra

Endo, Akira

Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 200(13), p.1266 - 1273, 2024/08

https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/ncae157

This study examines the relationship between ambient dose , ambient dose equivalent , and effective dose for external neutron irradiation over 163 operational spectra from different workplaces. The results show that provides a reasonable estimate with a controlled margin, even if overestimated, to assess effective dose compared with , which can lead to a significant overestimation or underestimation of effective dose depending on the neutron spectra. The results highlight the limitations of and the superiority of in estimating effective dose according to the requirements of the operational quantity, especially in environments with high-energy neutrons.

Evaluation of radiation dose caused by bremsstrahlung photons generated by high-energy beta rays using the PHITS and GEANT4 simulation codes

Shikaze, Yoshiaki

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 61(7), p.894 - 910, 2024/07

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2023.2285934

Among the radioactive nuclides inside the nuclear reactor buildings emitted by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactor accident, high-energy beta-ray sources, such as strontium-90 and yttrium-90, generate bremsstrahlung photons in the building materials, comprising the wall, floor, and interior structure. Therefore, evaluating the radiation dose of the bremsstrahlung to the workers in the nuclear reactor building is crucial for radiation protection. The precision of the evaluation calculation of the bremsstrahlung dose was investigated by comparing the Particle and Heavy Ion Transport code System (PHITS) and the GEometry ANd Tracking (GEANT4) simulation code results. In the calculation, behind various shielding plates (lead, copper, aluminum, glass, and polyethylene, with thicknesses ranging from 1.0 to 40 mm), the water cylinder was set as the evaluated material, the absorbed dose and the deposited energy spectrum by the bremsstrahlung photons were obtained, and the characteristics and differences for both simulation codes were investigated. In the comparison results of the deposited energy spectrum, the spectral shapes have consistent trends. In the energy range below several tens of keV, a peak is seen in the PHITS spectrum for the lead shielding material. In comparing the absorbed dose under various conditions of the shielding plate for generating bremsstrahlung photons, most results for both codes correlate within an 10% difference for 2.280 MeV beta-ray sources and an 20% difference for 0.5459 MeV beta-ray sources, except for 30% for 20 mm thick lead. Although there were differences in some cases, the evaluation results of the two simulation codes were concluded to correlate well with the above precision.

Characteristics of smartphone-wirelessly-connected personal dosemeters

Mikami, Satoshi; Tokiyoshi, Masanori*; Sato, Rina*; Tanaka, Daisuke*; Yoshimura, Kazuya

Nihon Hoshasen Anzen Kanri Gakkai-Shi, 23(1), p.10 - 17, 2024/06

https://doi.org/10.11269/jjrsm.23.10

Taisei Corporation and Infocube LAFLA Co., Ltd. have developed the smartphone-wirelessly-connected dosemeters, aiming to apply it to real-time exposure management of multiple decontamination workers. In order to grasp the basic characteristics of the developed dosemeters, they were calibrated and tested their characteristics such as energy dependency, angle of incidence dependency, etc. at photon calibration fields in Japan Atomic Energy Agency. The results showed generally good characteristics in each test. We evaluated that the dosemeters can be effectively used for decontamination work.

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.

Survey of air dose rate distribution inside and outside of wooden houses in Fukushima Prefecture; Actual condition of dose reduction factor

Kim, M.; Malins, A.*; Machida, Masahiko; Yoshimura, Kazuya; Saito, Kimiaki; Yoshida, Hiroko*

Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai Wabun Rombunshi (Internet), 22(4), p.156 - 169, 2023/11

https://doi.org/10.3327/taesj.J23.001

Dose reduction factor of a Japanese house is important information in the external exposure estimation of returning residents. In 2019, a total of 19 wooden houses were surveyed in Iitate Village and Namie Town using a gamma plotter that can continuously measure the air dose rate. In addition, the characteristics of the reduction factor were investigated from the measured air dose rate. In the vicinity of houses, uncontaminated areas exist underneath houses and, the ratio of paved surfaces such as asphalt roads is relatively high; furthermore, the pavement has a tendency for the radiation source to decay quickly. Therefore, the air dose rate near the house showed a relatively low value in common at all sites. Air dose rates above unpaved surfaces showed higher values and larger variations than those above paved surfaces within a radius of 50 m form the center of a house. The reduction factor was widely distributed even for one house, if the ratio of every air dose rate observed inside and outside the house is considered. It is suggested that a realistic reduction factor may not be obtained when the reduction factor is obtained based on the measured values at a small number of points that do not have the representativeness of the radiation field to be measured.

A Source-related approach for discussion on using radionuclide-contaminated materials in post-accident rehabilitation

Miwa, Kazuji; Iimoto, Takeshi*

Journal of Radiation Protection and Research, 48(2), p.68 - 76, 2023/06

https://doi.org/10.14407/jrpr.2022.00045

In the process of discussion on possibility of using radionuclide-contaminated soil and debris generated by radiation disasters, strategy on the proper management of radiation exposure protection while considering the source of the contaminated materials is necessary. We proposed five interpretations of radiation protection to contribute the promotion of discussion on possibility of using a part of low-level-radionuclide-contaminated soil and debris in post-accident rehabilitation. Interpretations I to III are based on the idea of "using a reference level to protect the public in post-accident rehabilitation," whereas IV and V are based on the idea of "using the dose constraint to protect the public in post-accident rehabilitation when the sources are handled in a planned activity."