1
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Inoue M, Mashita K, Mitsunushi H, Nagao S, Kumamoto Y. Unique transport paths of 137Cs from the Indian to Southern Oceans. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 201:116168. [PMID: 38412795 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
To assess ocean-scale transport systems, we examined the latitudinal cross-sectional distribution of 137Cs activity concentrations in the Indian and Southern Oceans between December 2019 and January 2020 using low-background γ-spectrometry. At 0°-20°S, 137Cs concentrations exhibited a gradual decrease below the mixing layer (1-0.1 mBq/L). However, the concentrations steeply decreased toward the Southern Ocean along a transect of 30°-60°S (from 0.8 to 0.02 mBq/L) with minor vertical variation at each site. For the 137Cs inventories (0-800 m depth) from 15 to 600 Bq/m2, a maximum value was recorded at 30°S, indicating the downwelling of 137Cs as a reservoir for the Subantarctic Mode Water. The significantly low concentrations (0.02 mBq/L) at 60°S suggest minimal transport of 137Cs to the Southern Ocean. These findings assist in understanding 137Cs circulation patterns and provide valuable insights into the transport pathways of soluble contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mutsuo Inoue
- Low Level Radioactivity Laboratory, Kanazawa University, Wake O-24, Nomi, Ishikawa 923-1224, Japan.
| | - Kaisei Mashita
- Low Level Radioactivity Laboratory, Kanazawa University, Wake O-24, Nomi, Ishikawa 923-1224, Japan
| | - Hayata Mitsunushi
- Low Level Radioactivity Laboratory, Kanazawa University, Wake O-24, Nomi, Ishikawa 923-1224, Japan
| | - Seiya Nagao
- Low Level Radioactivity Laboratory, Kanazawa University, Wake O-24, Nomi, Ishikawa 923-1224, Japan
| | - Yuichiro Kumamoto
- Research and Development Center for Global Change, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, 2-15 Natushima-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 237-0061, Japan
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2
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Ferreira MF, Turner A, Vernon EL, Grisolia C, Lebaron-Jacobs L, Malard V, Jha AN. Tritium: Its relevance, sources and impacts on non-human biota. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 876:162816. [PMID: 36921857 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Tritium (3H) is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen that is abundantly released from nuclear industries. It is extremely mobile in the environment and in all biological systems, representing an increasing concern for the health of both humans and non-human biota (NHB). The present review examines the sources and characteristics of tritium in the environment, and evaluates available information pertaining to its biological effects at different levels of biological organisation in NHB. Despite an increasing number of publications in the tritium radiobiology field, there exists a significant disparity between data available for the different taxonomic groups and species, and observations are heavily biased towards marine bivalves, fish and mammals (rodents). Further limitations relate to the scarcity of information in the field relative to the laboratory, and lack of studies that employ forms of tritium other than tritiated water (HTO). Within these constraints, different responses to HTO exposure, from molecular to behavioural, have been reported during early life stages, but the potential transgenerational effects are unclear. The application of rapidly developing "omics" techniques could help to fill these knowledge gaps and further elucidate the relationships between molecular and organismal level responses through the development of radiation specific adverse outcome pathways (AOPs). The use of a greater diversity of keystone species and exposures to multiple stressors, elucidating other novel effects (e.g., by-stander, germ-line, transgenerational and epigenetic effects) offers opportunities to improve environmental risk assessments for the radionuclide. These could be combined with artificial intelligence (AI) including machine learning (ML) and ecosystem-based approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Florencia Ferreira
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Andrew Turner
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Emily L Vernon
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
| | | | | | - Veronique Malard
- Aix Marseille Univ, CEA, CNRS, BIAM, IPM, F-13108 Saint Paul-Lez-Durance, France
| | - Awadhesh N Jha
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK.
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3
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Verification of the NACAC atmospheric dispersion calculation using a hypothetical accident in a neighboring nuclear power plant. PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR ENERGY 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pnucene.2022.104532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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4
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Wang KY, Nedelec P, Clark H, Harris N, Kajino M, Igarashi Y. Impacts on air dose rates after the Fukushima accident over the North Pacific from 19 March 2011 to 2 September 2015. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0272937. [PMID: 36001589 PMCID: PMC9401177 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A fleet of thirteen in-service global container ships continuously measured the air dose rates over the North Pacific after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) accident. The results showed that the elevated air dose rates over the Port of Tokyo and the FDNPS emissions are significantly correlated (log(emission fluxes) = 54.98 x (air dose rates) (R = 0.95, P-value<0.01), and they are also significantly correlated with the Tsukuba deposition fluxes (log(deposition fluxes) = 0.47 + 30.98 (air dose rates) (R = 0.91, P-value<0.01). These results demonstrate the direct impact of the FDNPS emissions on the depositions of radionuclides and the air dose rates over the Port of Tokyo. Over the North Pacific, the correlation equations are log(emission fluxes) = -2.72 + 202.36 x (air dose rates over the northwestern Pacific) (R = 0.40, P-value<0.01), and log(emission fluxes) = -0.55 + 80.19 x (air dose rates over the northeastern Pacific) (R = 0.29, P-value = 0.0424). These results indicate that the resuspension of the deposited radionuclides have become a dominant source in the transport of radionuclides across the North Pacific. Model simulations show underestimated air dose rates during the periods of 22-25 March 2011 and 27-30 March 2011 indicating the lack of mechanisms, such as the resuspension of radionuclides, in the model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuo-Ying Wang
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences, National Central University, Chung-Li, Taiwan
- * E-mail:
| | - Philippe Nedelec
- Laboratoire d’Aérologie, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, Toulouse, France
| | | | - Neil Harris
- Centre for Environment and Agricultural Informatics, Cranfield University, Cranfield, United Kingdom
| | - Mizuo Kajino
- Meteorological Research Institute (MRI), Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Yasuhito Igarashi
- Division of Nuclear Engineering Science, Institute for Integrated Radiation and Nuclear Science, Kyoto University (KURNS), Osaka, Japan
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5
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Raj P, Padiyath N, Semioshkina N, Addad Y, Foulon F, Francis D, Voigt G. Conceptualization of arid region radioecology strategies for agricultural ecosystems of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 832:154965. [PMID: 35381239 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Since the last decade, ambitious nuclear power programmes have begun maturing in the Arab countries, most importantly in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The region's environment and population, therefore, are prone to adverse, long-term impacts of radionuclide discharges. To calculate the associated exposure scenarios, to estimate doses and their consequences, and finally, to lay out a radiological emergency management plan, arid region radioecology is taking shape in the UAE as a major field of research. Geography, demography, food habits, weather, soil, water, flora, and fauna of the desert-marine regions are quite distinct from their temperate counterparts. This results in the need to increase the knowhows of environmental migration and bioaccumulation of radionuclides in the region's agricultural ecosystems. In this paper, we present a detailed review of the measured data from the UAE and nearby nations, generating insights for the soil radioactivity and soil-to-plant transfer phenomena under local arid conditions. In the literature, the radionuclide activity concentrations (in Bq kg-1) vary over five orders of magnitude depending on nuclide type, sample type, and locality. Variabilities over six orders of magnitude are observed for transfer parameters too, and in-depth studies on the transfer mechanisms are usually scarce. We discuss the recent progresses made in root and foliar uptake studies with methods relatively new to sandy soils, like controlled potting, and soil Kd measurements. Showing the serious gaps in the data and interpretations, we provide a justification for the immediate experimentation in the understudied aspects of radioecology in the UAE and in arid lands in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prasoon Raj
- Emirates Nuclear Technology Center (ENTC), Department of Nuclear Engineering, Khalifa University, PO box: 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Nemeer Padiyath
- Emirates Nuclear Technology Center (ENTC), Department of Nuclear Engineering, Khalifa University, PO box: 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | | | - Yacine Addad
- Emirates Nuclear Technology Center (ENTC), Department of Nuclear Engineering, Khalifa University, PO box: 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Francois Foulon
- Emirates Nuclear Technology Center (ENTC), Department of Nuclear Engineering, Khalifa University, PO box: 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Diana Francis
- Emirates Nuclear Technology Center (ENTC), Department of Nuclear Engineering, Khalifa University, PO box: 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Gabriele Voigt
- Cognitive Radioecology, r.e.m. GbR, Liebigstr. 3, 80538 Munich, Germany
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6
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Chen L, Chen W, Lin J, Chen C, Luo Y, Tao L. Inverse model investigation of radionuclide dispersion in a ventilated room based on the adjoint probability method. ANN NUCL ENERGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anucene.2021.108929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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7
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Yakovlev E, Puchkov A, Bykov V. Assessing the natural and anthropogenic radionuclide activities of the Pechora River estuary: Bottom sediments and water (Arctic Ocean Basin). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 172:112765. [PMID: 34364142 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This paper studies the activity of natural and technogenic radionuclides in bottom sediments and surface water of the Pechora River estuary, which is the largest Arctic river within the European part of Russia. The relevance of conducting radioecological studies of this region is associated with active oil and gas activities in the Pechora basin and the presence of potential sources of radiation hazard. The average activities of 137Cs, 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in bottom sediments were 0.16, 18.72, 13.36, and 373.59 Bq·kg-1, respectively. The average activity of 226Ra in the bottom sediments of the Pechora delta was two times higher than in other rivers of the Arctic basin of the European part of Russia, which is associated with oil and gas activities that are carried out in the Pechora basin. This is due to the fact that the decay products of uranium are the main by-products of oil and gas production. The specific activity of technogenic 137Cs in bottom sediments of the Pechora River delta was low and did not exceed 2.2 Bq·kg-1. We did not detect any radioactive 90Sr in bottom sediments. The low 137Cs activity in the bottom sediments of the Pechora delta was associated with both the larger granulometric composition of the sediments in comparison with the estuaries of the Siberian rivers, and with low concentrations of 137Cs in the terrigenous material (soil) entering the river from the catchment area. This was due to the low levels of 137Cs contamination in the soil of the Pechora river basin. We did not find any negative radiation effects of the underground nuclear explosion "Pyrite" carried out in the northern part of the delta, since there were no other technogenic radionuclides. The values of the radionuclides 3H, 137Cs, 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, as well as the total alpha activity in the surface waters of the Pechora River delta, turned out to be below the detection limit. In surface waters, we were able to determine only the total beta activity, which varied over a range from 19.6 to 59.6 Bq·m-3 with an average value of 33.9 Bq·m-3, which was significantly lower than the radiation safety standards. The values of the radiation hazard parameters were below the world average levels and were not significantly hazardous to the health of people living in the area of the Pechora River delta. We concluded that at present, in the Pechora River delta, there are pastures for reindeer with low levels of natural and man-made radioactivity. These conducted studies are the source material in a series of comprehensive studies of the current radioecological state of the tundra territories of the European part of Russia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgeny Yakovlev
- N. Laverov Federal Centre for Integrated Arctic Research of Russian Academy of Sciences, 109 Severnoj Dviny Emb., Arkhangelsk 163000, Russia.
| | - Andrey Puchkov
- N. Laverov Federal Centre for Integrated Arctic Research of Russian Academy of Sciences, 109 Severnoj Dviny Emb., Arkhangelsk 163000, Russia
| | - Vladimir Bykov
- N. Laverov Federal Centre for Integrated Arctic Research of Russian Academy of Sciences, 109 Severnoj Dviny Emb., Arkhangelsk 163000, Russia
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8
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Silva K, Krisanangkura P, Phungsara K, Chaiyasaen C, Udomsomporn S. Systematic Approach to Transboundary Radioactivity Monitoring for Accidents in External Nuclear Power Plants. JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR ENGINEERING AND RADIATION SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4049279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Past nuclear accidents demonstrated that radioactive materials from an accident in a nuclear power station (NPS) can disperse to other countries or even across the globe. This means all countries need to be prepared to respond to a nuclear power emergency even if they have no nuclear power program. This study aims to propose a structured framework to enable transboundary radio activity monitoring of accidental releases in external NPSs in such a country with limited calculation resources. A trial calculation of a hypothetical release from an interfacing system loss of coolant accident (ISLOCA) in Unit 1 of Fangchenggang NPS during different representative meteorological scenarios is carried out to demonstrate the usability of the proposed framework. It was found that a relatively large release can reach the border of Thailand within 24 h when the wind along the dispersion pathway is basically in northeast direction with significant amount of rainfall, though it may not be able to trigger the alarm at the radiation monitoring stations. However, it is highly likely that the release that fulfills the aforementioned conditions be detected by one of the stations within 48 h-timeframe. As the trial calculation could deliver insightful findings with limited calculation resources, the proposed transboundary atmospheric dispersion calculation framework can be used in other nonnuclear power countries to prepare for emergency response to accidents in external NPSs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kampanart Silva
- Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Research Team, National Energy Technology Center, National Science and Technology Development Center, 114 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Road, Khlong Nueng, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
| | - Piyawan Krisanangkura
- Bureau of Technical Support for Safety Regulation, Office of Atoms for Peace, 16 Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road, Lat Yao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Krirerk Phungsara
- Numerical Weather Prediction Division, Weather Forecast Bureau, 4353 Sukhumvit Rd., Bangna, Bangkok 10260, Thailand
| | - Chatchai Chaiyasaen
- Numerical Weather Prediction Division, Weather Forecast Bureau, 4353 Sukhumvit Rd., Bangna, Bangkok 10260, Thailand
| | - Suchin Udomsomporn
- Office of Atoms for Peace, 16 Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road, Lat Yao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
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9
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Inter-comparison of transboundary atmospheric dispersion calculations: A summary of outputs from the ASEAN NPSR benchmark exercise. PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR ENERGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pnucene.2021.103718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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10
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137Cs concentration in soil of the Municipality of Guadalupe, Zacatecas, Mexico, before and after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-021-07595-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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11
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Saniewski M, Wietrzyk-Pełka P, Zalewska T, Osyczka P, Węgrzyn MH. Impact of distance from the glacier on the content of 137Cs and 90Sr in the lichen Cetrariella delisei. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 259:127433. [PMID: 32593004 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The Arctic region is substantially a pristine area, but this unique part of the globe has also been contaminated by anthropogenic radioactive nuclides, and now there is still measurable activity of anthropogenic isotopes, even though more than 50 years have passed since the main source. Radionuclides in the Arctic, especially 90Sr have seldom been studied despite their considerable environmental importance. This manuscript covers the results of 90Sr and 137Cs measurements in soil and lichen Cetrariella delisei collected from the Svalbard in 2012. In both lichen thalli and surface soils high activities of 90Sr and 137Cs were recorded and ranged between 3.69 and 28.1 Bq kg-1 90Sr and 5.38-280.1 Bq kg-1137Cs in thalli and between 4.53 and 12.78 Bq kg-1dw 90Sr and 60.6-426.1 Bq kg-1dw 137Cs in surface soil layer. The activity of 90Sr and 137Cs in lichen thalli was influenced by distance from the glacier. This showed that during radionuclide biomonitoring of particular area with the use of lichens, it is important to take into account influence of environmental variability on radionuclides contents.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Saniewski
- Institute of Meteorology and Water Management - National Research Institute, Waszyngtona 42, PL-81-342, Gdynia, Poland.
| | - P Wietrzyk-Pełka
- Professor Z. Czeppe Department of Polar Research and Documentation, Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 3, PL-30-387, Kraków, Poland.
| | - T Zalewska
- Institute of Meteorology and Water Management - National Research Institute, Waszyngtona 42, PL-81-342, Gdynia, Poland.
| | - P Osyczka
- Professor Z. Czeppe Department of Polar Research and Documentation, Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 3, PL-30-387, Kraków, Poland.
| | - M H Węgrzyn
- Professor Z. Czeppe Department of Polar Research and Documentation, Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 3, PL-30-387, Kraków, Poland.
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12
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Dragović S, Yamauchi M, Aoyama M, Kajino M, Petrović J, Ćujić M, Dragović R, Đorđević M, Bór J. Synthesis of studies on significant atmospheric electrical effects of major nuclear accidents in Chernobyl and Fukushima. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 733:139271. [PMID: 32446066 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Radioactive materials released during the two most serious nuclear accidents in history, at Chernobyl and Fukushima, caused exceptionally significant contamination and perturbations of the environment. Among them, this paper focuses on the effects related to the atmospheric electricity (AE). Measurements of the most significant disturbances in the values of various AE parameters recorded near ground level are reviewed and the corresponding results are jointly evaluated. The Chernobyl and Fukushima events caused changes in the AE parameters both after long-distance transport (Chernobyl) and short-distance transport including re-suspension (Fukushima). The data indicates that the electrical conductivity of the air is more sensitive to the presence of airborne radioactivity than the atmospheric electric potential gradient (PG). PG, on the other hand, can be monitored more easily and its variation also reflects the vertical redistribution of radionuclides in the air due to their transport, deposition, and re-suspension from the ground. A brief overview of studies on atmospheric transport and deposition of radioactive clouds is given to facilitate the importance of considering the AE measurements in these subjects, and to incorporate those studies in interpreting the results of AE measurements. The AE measurements are particularly important in studying microphysical effects of enhanced radioactivity in the air where no other distance monitoring method exists, both for fair weather conditions wet conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Snežana Dragović
- University of Belgrade, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, POB 522, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | | | - Michio Aoyama
- Center for Research in Isotopes and Environmental Dynamics, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan
| | - Mizuo Kajino
- Meteorological Research Institute, Japan Meteorological Agency, 1-1, Nagamine, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0052, Japan
| | - Jelena Petrović
- University of Belgrade, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, POB 522, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Mirjana Ćujić
- University of Belgrade, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, POB 522, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ranko Dragović
- University of Niš, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, Department of Geography, POB 224, Niš, Serbia
| | - Milan Đorđević
- University of Niš, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, Department of Geography, POB 224, Niš, Serbia
| | - József Bór
- Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, GGI, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Sopron, Hungary
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13
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De Meutter P, Hoffman I. Bayesian source reconstruction of an anomalous Selenium-75 release at a nuclear research institute. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2020; 218:106225. [PMID: 32174444 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2020.106225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Atmospheric transport and dispersion models are important tools in radiation protection as they help to estimate the impact of radionuclides released into the atmosphere. In particular, such models can be used in combination with radionuclide observations to estimate unknown source term parameters, or to improve source term estimates obtained through other methods. In this paper, a Bayesian inference system was used to determine the source term parameters and their corresponding credible intervals of a real-world anomalous 75Se release at a nuclear facility in Belgium. Furthermore, a formulation is proposed that not only takes into account true detections, but also true instrumental non-detections, false alarms and real misses. The Bayesian inference system is able to correctly determine the known source location. The Bayesian inference is then refined by fixing the release location and by making stronger assumptions about the release period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pieter De Meutter
- Radiation Protection Bureau, Health Canada, 775 Brookfield Road, Ottawa, Canada; Belgian Nuclear Research Institute, Boeretang 200, Mol, Belgium; Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium, Ringlaan 3, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Ian Hoffman
- Radiation Protection Bureau, Health Canada, 775 Brookfield Road, Ottawa, Canada
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14
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Hirose K. Atmospheric effects of Fukushima nuclear accident: A review from a sight of atmospheric monitoring. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2020; 218:106240. [PMID: 32421574 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2020.106240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Revised: 02/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident, which occurred in March 2011, has released large amounts of radionuclides (such as radioiodine and radiocesium) into the atmosphere, resulting in the contamination of terrestrial and marine environments. To assess radiological and environmental effects of the FDNPP-derived radionuclides, huge amounts of radioactive monitoring activities have been conducted to environmental samples. In this paper, we review results of atmospheric radioactivity monitoring for the FDNPP accident. Learning from atmospheric radioactivity monitoring of the FDNPP accident is as follows; 1. At the initial stage of accident, large spatiotemporal variability of emitted radionuclides near the FDNPP site occurred at short (less than 1 h) time scale and small (less than 10 km) space scale due to complicated emissions of radionuclides and variable flow of Fukushima radioactive plume, 2. Chemical form of FDNPP-derived radionuclides, in which a typical example is coexistence of 137Cs-bearing submicron particles and 137Cs-bearing large hot particles in the plume, is important to have better understanding of their atmospheric behaviors as do released mechanisms and their fate in environment, 3. Atmospheric effects of the FDNPP accident continue over 8 years, in which high activity levels of the FDNPP-derived 137Cs in surface air and deposition have continued at least until the end of 2018 owing to the post-accident release and resuspension because most of the FDNPP-derived 137Cs deposited on the ground surface still remains in the soil surface as a potential source of atmospheric 137Cs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katsumi Hirose
- Department of Materials and Life Sciences, Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan.
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15
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Cwanek A, Mietelski JW, Łokas E, Olech MA, Anczkiewicz R, Misiak R. Sources and variation of isotopic ratio of airborne radionuclides in Western Arctic lichens and mosses. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 239:124783. [PMID: 31726517 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.124783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 08/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
This research concerned radioactivity of lichens and mosses from coastal zones of the Canadian Arctic and Alaska. Over 50 samples were collected from 7 positions during two scientific expeditions in 2012 and 2013. The tundra contamination caused by anthropogenic radionuclides was relatively low, reaching mean values with SD's of: 17.4 ± 3.5 Bq/kg for 90Sr, 14.0 ± 2.9 Bq/kg for 134Cs, 38.4 ± 7.5 Bq/kg for 137Cs, 0.86 ± 0.24 Bq/kg for 239+240Pu, 0.065 ± 0.017 Bq/kg for 238Pu and 0.50 ± 0.13 Bq/kg for 241Am. The increase of activity concentration with increasing latitudes was noticed mostly in regard to 90Sr, Pu isotopes and 241Am. The analysis of isotopic ratios exhibited dominant contribution of the global fallout (+SNAP 9A satellite re-entry fallout) for the presence of plutonium isotopes and 241Am. The Fukushima fallout signature was identified in a few lichens from Alaska. However, the influence of additional unknown factor on the occurrence of 90Sr and 137Cs has been detected in western part of Canadian Arctic. Natural radioisotopes of thorium and uranium were found throughout the entire investigated region and the average values of activity concentration with SD's were as follows: 2.92 ± 0.47 Bq/kg for 230Th, 2.61 ± 0.48 Bq/kg for 232Th, 4.32 ± 0.80 Bq/kg for 234U and 3.97 ± 0.71 Bq/kg for 238U. Examined Western Arctic tundra was not affected with any technically enhanced natural radioactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Cwanek
- Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Radzikowskiego 152, 31-342, Krakow, Poland.
| | - Jerzy W Mietelski
- Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Radzikowskiego 152, 31-342, Krakow, Poland
| | - Edyta Łokas
- Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Radzikowskiego 152, 31-342, Krakow, Poland
| | - Maria A Olech
- Institute of Botany, Jagiellonian University, Lubicz 46, 31-512, Krakow, Poland
| | - Robert Anczkiewicz
- Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków Research Centre, Senacka 1, 31-002, Krakow, Poland
| | - Ryszard Misiak
- Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Radzikowskiego 152, 31-342, Krakow, Poland
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Chang CC, Burr GS, Jull AJT, Russell J, Priyadarshi A, Lin M, Thiemens M, Biddulph D. Measurements of 129I in the Pacific Ocean at Scripps Pier and Pacific Northwest sites: A search for effects from the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident and Hanford. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 689:1023-1029. [PMID: 31280148 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Revised: 06/22/2019] [Accepted: 06/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Radionuclides from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant were released directly into the ocean as a result of the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011. This material became entrained in surface ocean currents and subsequently transported for great distances. In June 2011, a few months after the disaster, we began a surface ocean 129I monitoring program, with samples from Scripps Pier, La Jolla, California, USA, with the expectation that surface currents originating off the east coast of Japan would eventually carry radionuclides to the La Jolla site. After 7 years of ocean transport, a distinct signal has not yet arrived at Scripps Pier. We have however, recorded an interesting systematic seasonal 129I time series record that stems from surface circulation variations along the California coast. To provide a more comprehensive picture of the 129I budget in coastal surface waters off the west coast of the U.S., we also include 129I data from the Columbia River, and offshore sites along the coast of Washington State. Anthropogenic nuclides are carried by the Columbia River into the Pacific Ocean from the vicinity of the decommissioned Hanford nuclear facility. We find highly elevated 129I/127I values in the Columbia River, downstream from the Hanford site, but this anthropogenic 129I becomes significantly diluted once it reaches the Pacific Ocean. Nonetheless, its imprint persists in surface seawater off the west coast of the U.S. that has significantly higher 129I/127I levels than other surface sites in the Pacific Ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ching-Chih Chang
- University of Arizona AMS Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA; Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - George S Burr
- University of Arizona AMS Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA; Department of Geosciences, National Taiwan University Research Center for Future Earth, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - A J Timothy Jull
- University of Arizona AMS Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA; Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA; Isotope Climatology and Environmental Research Centre, Institute for Nuclear Research, Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Joellen Russell
- Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Antra Priyadarshi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Mang Lin
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Mark Thiemens
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Dana Biddulph
- University of Arizona AMS Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
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Hirose K, Povinec PP. 137Cs and 90Sr in surface waters of the Sea of Japan: Variations and the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident impact. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2019; 146:645-652. [PMID: 31426204 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.07.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
90Sr and 137Cs activity concentrations in surface waters of the Sea of Japan (SOJ) decreased during the period of 1993-2010 with effective half-lives of 18 and 15 y, respectively. The longer effective half-life of 90Sr in the SOJ may suggest a surplus of 90Sr to SOJ surface waters, however, no clear evidence of possible 90Sr source has been found. After the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident, temporal variations of 137Cs in the surface water of the SOJ have changed, while 90Sr variations followed the pre-accident trends. The 90Sr/137Cs ratios reveal that increases of 137Cs due to the FDNPP accident continued in surface waters of the SOJ until 2016.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katsumi Hirose
- Department of Materials and Life Sciences, Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Pavel P Povinec
- Department of Nuclear Physics and Biophysics, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia.
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18
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Ouyang K, Chen W, He Z. Analysis of the radioactive atmospheric dispersion induced by ship nuclear power plant severe accident. ANN NUCL ENERGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anucene.2018.12.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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19
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20
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Chen L, Chen C, Zheng X, Lin H, Yin Y, Long P. Simulation of radionuclide diffusion in a dry storage of spent fuel under accident condition. PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR ENERGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pnucene.2018.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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21
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Ješkovský M, Lištjak M, Sýkora I, Slávik O, Povinec PP. Anthropogenic 137Cs on atmospheric aerosols in Bratislava and around nuclear power plants in Slovakia. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2018; 184-185:77-82. [PMID: 29407640 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2017] [Revised: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Nuclear power plants (NPPs) have been one of the sources of anthropogenic radionuclides in the environment. This work combines the results from monitoring stations around NPPs in Slovakia (Mochovce and Jaslovské Bohunice) and academic measurements at the Comenius University campus in Bratislava. Most of the atmospheric 137Cs in this region come from the resuspension of the Chernobyl-derived 137Cs, as well as caesium produced during nuclear weapons testing. By comparison of the obtained results at NPPs with Bratislava data, radiation impacts of the NPPs on the local environments have been estimated to be negligible.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Ješkovský
- Department of Nuclear Physics and Biophysics, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University, 842 48 Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - M Lištjak
- VUJE, Inc, 918 64 Trnava, Slovakia; Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Slovak University of Technology, 812 19 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - I Sýkora
- Department of Nuclear Physics and Biophysics, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University, 842 48 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - O Slávik
- VUJE, Inc, 918 64 Trnava, Slovakia
| | - P P Povinec
- Department of Nuclear Physics and Biophysics, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University, 842 48 Bratislava, Slovakia
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22
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Kaizer J, Aoyama M, Kumamoto Y, Molnár M, Palcsu L, Povinec PP. Tritium and radiocarbon in the western North Pacific waters: post-Fukushima situation. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2018; 184-185:83-94. [PMID: 29407641 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2017] [Revised: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2018] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Impact of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FNPP1) accident on tritium (3H) and radiocarbon (14C) levels in the water column of the western North Pacific Ocean in winter 2012 is evaluated and compared with radiocesium (134,137Cs) data collected for the same region. Tritium concentrations in surface seawater, varying between 0.4 and 2.0 TU (47.2-236 Bq m-3), follow the Fukushima radiocesium trend, however, some differences in the vertical profiles were observed, namely in depths of 50-400 m. No correlation was visible in the case of 14C, whose surface Δ14C levels raised from negative values (about -40‰) in the northern part of transect, to positive values (∼68‰) near the equator. Homogenously mixed 14C levels in the subsurface layers were observed at all stations. Sixteen surface (from 30 in total) and 6 water profile (from 7) stations were affected by the Fukushima tritium. Surface and vertical profile data together with the calculated water column inventories indicate that the total amount of the FNPP1-derived tritium deposited to the western North Pacific Ocean was 0.7 ± 0.3 PBq. No clear impact of the Fukushima accident on 14C levels in the western North Pacific was observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Kaizer
- Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University, 84248 Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Michio Aoyama
- Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, Fukushima University, 1-1 Kanayagawa, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Yuichiro Kumamoto
- Research and Development Center for Global Change, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, 2-15 Natushima-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 237-0061, Japan
| | - Mihály Molnár
- Institute for Nuclear Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 4026 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - László Palcsu
- Institute for Nuclear Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 4026 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Pavel P Povinec
- Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University, 84248 Bratislava, Slovakia
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Koarai K, Kino Y, Takahashi A, Suzuki T, Shimizu Y, Chiba M, Osaka K, Sasaki K, Urushihara Y, Fukuda T, Isogai E, Yamashiro H, Oka T, Sekine T, Fukumoto M, Shinoda H. 90Sr specific activity of teeth of abandoned cattle after the Fukushima accident - teeth as an indicator of environmental pollution. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2018; 183:1-6. [PMID: 29274551 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Revised: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 12/12/2017] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
90Sr specific activity in the teeth of young cattle that were abandoned in Kawauchi village and Okuma town located in the former evacuation areas of the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FNPP) accident were measured. Additionally, specific activity in contaminated surface soils sampled from the same area was measured. (1) All cattle teeth examined were contaminated with 90Sr. The specific activity, however, varied depending on the developmental stage of the teeth during the FNPP accident; teeth that had started development before the accident exhibited comparatively lower values, while teeth developed mainly after the accident showed higher values. (2) Values of 90Sr-specific activity in teeth formed after the FNPP accident were higher than those of the bulk soil but similar to those in the exchangeable fraction (water and CH3COONH4 soluble fractions) of the soil. The findings suggest that 90Sr was incorporated into the teeth during the process of development, and that 90Sr in the soluble and/or leachable fractions of the soil might migrate into teeth and contribute to the amount of 90Sr in the teeth. Thus, the concentration of 90Sr in teeth formed after the FNPP accident might reflect the extent of 90Sr pollution in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yasushi Kino
- Department of Chemistry, Tohoku University, Japan
| | | | - Toshihiko Suzuki
- Graduate School of Dentistry, Tohoku University, Japan; International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University, Japan
| | | | - Mirei Chiba
- Graduate School of Dentistry, Tohoku University, Japan
| | - Ken Osaka
- Graduate School of Dentistry, Tohoku University, Japan; International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University, Japan
| | | | | | | | - Emiko Isogai
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Japan
| | | | - Toshitaka Oka
- Department of Chemistry, Tohoku University, Japan; Institute for Excellence in Higher Education, Tohoku University, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Sekine
- Department of Chemistry, Tohoku University, Japan; Institute for Excellence in Higher Education, Tohoku University, Japan.
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Alby D, Charnay C, Heran M, Prelot B, Zajac J. Recent developments in nanostructured inorganic materials for sorption of cesium and strontium: Synthesis and shaping, sorption capacity, mechanisms, and selectivity-A review. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2018; 344:511-530. [PMID: 29100131 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2017.10.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2017] [Revised: 10/19/2017] [Accepted: 10/22/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Liquid wastes containing non-ferrous heavy metal ions and some radionuclides, 137Cs and 90Sr in particular, represent one of the most dangerous sources of environmental contamination. The remediation of wastewater containing such pollutants continue to be among the biggest challenges of Sustainable Development and Environmental Safety. Sorption-based technologies have proven their efficiency also in reducing the radionuclide content in aqueous streams to low-level residual activity, with the concomitant decrease in the amount of ultimate solid waste generated. Although sorption of cesium and strontium by resins, clays, and zeolites has been investigated intensively and even used in real applications, there is still considerable scope for improvement in terms of retention capacity and selectivity. Recent progress in design and preparation of nanostructured inorganic materials has attracted growing interest based on the potential for improving the retention performance when coupling such functionalities as ion exchange capacity, structural flexibility that may result in steric retention effects, as well as the propensity to interact specifically with the target metal cations. Titanate, vanadate, and tungsten based materials, manganese oxides, hexacyanoferrates, metal sulfides, ammonium molybdophosphates, or hydroxyapatite, characterized by various structures and morphologies, are reviewed with the emphasis being put on synthesis and shaping of such materials, their structure in relationship with the capacity and selectivity of trapping cesium and strontium from either single or multi-component aqueous solutions, as well as the possible retention mechanism. The potential candidates for remediation uses are selected with regard to their sorption capacity and distribution coefficient towards target cations, and also the pH window for an optimum cation capture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delhia Alby
- Institut Charles Gerhardt, UMR-5253 CNRS-UM-ENSCM, Université de Montpellier, Place E. Bataillon, F-34095 Montpellier cedex 5, France
| | - Clarence Charnay
- Institut Charles Gerhardt, UMR-5253 CNRS-UM-ENSCM, Université de Montpellier, Place E. Bataillon, F-34095 Montpellier cedex 5, France
| | - Marc Heran
- Institut Européen des Membranes, UMR5635 CNRS-UM-ENSCM, Université de Montpellier, Place E. Bataillon, F-34095 Montpellier cedex 5, France
| | - Bénédicte Prelot
- Institut Charles Gerhardt, UMR-5253 CNRS-UM-ENSCM, Université de Montpellier, Place E. Bataillon, F-34095 Montpellier cedex 5, France
| | - Jerzy Zajac
- Institut Charles Gerhardt, UMR-5253 CNRS-UM-ENSCM, Université de Montpellier, Place E. Bataillon, F-34095 Montpellier cedex 5, France.
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25
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Leelőssy Á, Lagzi I, Kovács A, Mészáros R. A review of numerical models to predict the atmospheric dispersion of radionuclides. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2018; 182:20-33. [PMID: 29179047 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2017] [Revised: 11/03/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The field of atmospheric dispersion modeling has evolved together with nuclear risk assessment and emergency response systems. Atmospheric concentration and deposition of radionuclides originating from an unintended release provide the basis of dose estimations and countermeasure strategies. To predict the atmospheric dispersion and deposition of radionuclides several numerical models are available coupled with numerical weather prediction (NWP) systems. This work provides a review of the main concepts and different approaches of atmospheric dispersion modeling. Key processes of the atmospheric transport of radionuclides are emission, advection, turbulent diffusion, dry and wet deposition, radioactive decay and other physical and chemical transformations. A wide range of modeling software are available to simulate these processes with different physical assumptions, numerical approaches and implementation. The most appropriate modeling tool for a specific purpose can be selected based on the spatial scale, the complexity of meteorology, land surface and physical and chemical transformations, also considering the available data and computational resource. For most regulatory and operational applications, offline coupled NWP-dispersion systems are used, either with a local scale Gaussian, or a regional to global scale Eulerian or Lagrangian approach. The dispersion model results show large sensitivity on the accuracy of the coupled NWP model, especially through the description of planetary boundary layer turbulence, deep convection and wet deposition. Improvement of dispersion predictions can be achieved by online coupling of mesoscale meteorology and atmospheric transport models. The 2011 Fukushima event was the first large-scale nuclear accident where real-time prognostic dispersion modeling provided decision support. Dozens of dispersion models with different approaches were used for prognostic and retrospective simulations of the Fukushima release. An unknown release rate proved to be the largest factor of uncertainty, underlining the importance of inverse modeling and data assimilation in future developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ádám Leelőssy
- Department of Meteorology, Eötvös Loránd University, P.O. Box 32, H-1518, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - István Lagzi
- Department of Physics, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budafoki út 8, H-1111, Budapest, Hungary; MTA-BME Condensed Matter Research Group, Budafoki út 8, H-1111, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Attila Kovács
- Department of Meteorology, Eötvös Loránd University, P.O. Box 32, H-1518, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Róbert Mészáros
- Department of Meteorology, Eötvös Loránd University, P.O. Box 32, H-1518, Budapest, Hungary
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Bokor I, Sdraulig S, Sanagou M. Robustness testing of an in-situ caesium extraction unit. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2017; 178-179:426-429. [PMID: 28602172 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2017] [Revised: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 05/19/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Following on from the successful development and validation of a prototype automated unit for the extraction of radiocaesium from seawater, the unit was redesigned to be smaller, easier to transport and better suited for field work. An extension of the validation process was undertaken to include robustness testing. Robustness testing evaluates the behaviour of a procedure when deliberate small changes are made. This requires the identification and testing of experimental factors which could have an impact on the results. The Plackett-Burman approach was adopted to minimise the number of experiments needed for testing. The study showed that the analytical method was not sensitive to any of the factors tested, indicating that the method is robust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilonka Bokor
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), 619 Lower Plenty Road, Yallambie, Victoria 3085, Australia.
| | - Sandra Sdraulig
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), 619 Lower Plenty Road, Yallambie, Victoria 3085, Australia
| | - Masoumeh Sanagou
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), 619 Lower Plenty Road, Yallambie, Victoria 3085, Australia
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Auxier JP, Auxier JD, Hall HL. Review of current nuclear fallout codes. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2017; 171:246-252. [PMID: 28340486 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2016] [Revised: 02/10/2017] [Accepted: 02/12/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The importance of developing a robust nuclear forensics program to combat the illicit use of nuclear material that may be used as an improvised nuclear device is widely accepted. In order to decrease the threat to public safety and improve governmental response, government agencies have developed fallout-analysis codes to predict the fallout particle size, dose, and dispersion and dispersion following a detonation. This paper will review the different codes that have been developed for predicting fallout from both chemical and nuclear weapons. This will decrease the response time required for the government to respond to the event.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerrad P Auxier
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States; Radiochemistry Center of Excellence (RCOE), University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States; Institute for Nuclear Security, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States; Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87544, United States.
| | - John D Auxier
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States; Radiochemistry Center of Excellence (RCOE), University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States; Institute for Nuclear Security, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States
| | - Howard L Hall
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States; Radiochemistry Center of Excellence (RCOE), University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States; Institute for Nuclear Security, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States
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28
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Zali A, Shamsaei Zafarghandi M, Feghhi SA, Taherian AM. Public member dose assessment of Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant under normal operation by modeling the fallout from stack using the HYSPLIT atmospheric dispersion model. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2017; 171:1-8. [PMID: 28160701 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.01.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2017] [Revised: 01/24/2017] [Accepted: 01/26/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
In this work, public dose resulting from fission products released from Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) under normal operation is assessed. Due to the long range transport of radionuclides in this work (80 km) and considering terrain and meteorological data, HYbrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYsplit) model, which uses three dimensional long-range numerical models, has been employed to calculate atmospheric dispersion. Annual effective dose calculation is carried out for inhalation, ingestion, and external exposure pathways in 16directions and within 80 km around the site for representative person. The results showed the maximum dose of inhalation and external exposure for adults is 3.8 × 10-8Sv/y in the SE direction and distance of 600 m from the BNPP site which is less than ICRP 103 recommended dose limit (1 mSv). Children and infants' doses are higher in comparison with adults, although they are less than 1 mSv. Ingestion dose percentage in the total dose is less than 0.1%. The results of this study underestimate the Final Safety Analysis Report ofBNPP-1 (FSAR)data.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Zali
- Amirkabir University of Technology, Department of Energy Engineering and Physics, Tehran, Iran.
| | - M Shamsaei Zafarghandi
- Amirkabir University of Technology, Department of Energy Engineering and Physics, Tehran, Iran
| | - S A Feghhi
- Shahid Beheshti University, Radiation Application Department, Tehran, Iran
| | - A M Taherian
- Iran Radioactive Waste Management Co. (IRWA), Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Tehran, Iran
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29
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Povinec PP, Liong Wee Kwong L, Kaizer J, Molnár M, Nies H, Palcsu L, Papp L, Pham MK, Jean-Baptiste P. Impact of the Fukushima accident on tritium, radiocarbon and radiocesium levels in seawater of the western North Pacific Ocean: A comparison with pre-Fukushima situation. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2017; 166:56-66. [PMID: 26997585 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.02.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2015] [Revised: 02/25/2016] [Accepted: 02/25/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Tritium, radiocarbon and radiocesium concentrations in water column samples in coastal waters offshore Fukushima and in the western North Pacific Ocean collected in 2011-2012 during the Ka'imikai-o-Kanaloa (KoK) cruise are compared with other published results. The highest levels in surface seawater were observed for 134Cs and 137Cs in seawater samples collected offshore Fukushima (up to 1.1 Bq L-1), which represent an increase by about three orders of magnitude when compared with the pre-Fukushima concentration. Tritium levels were much lower (up to 0.15 Bq L-1), representing an increase by about a factor of 6. The impact on the radiocarbon distribution was measurable, but the observed levels were only by about 9% above the global fallout background. The 137Cs (and similarly 134Cs) inventory in the water column of the investigated western North Pacific region was (2.7 ± 0.4) PBq, while for 3H it was only (0.3 ± 0.2) PBq. Direct releases of highly contaminated water from the damaged Fukushima NPP, as well as dry and wet depositions of these radionuclides over the western North Pacific considerably changed their distribution patterns in seawater. Presently we can distinguish Fukushima labeled waters from global fallout background thanks to short-lived 134Cs. However, in the long-term perspective when 134Cs will decay, new distribution patterns of 3H, 14C and 137Cs in the Pacific Ocean should be established for future oceanographic and climate change studies in the Pacific Ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
- P P Povinec
- Department of Nuclear Physics and Biophysics, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University, 84248 Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - L Liong Wee Kwong
- Environment Laboratories, International Atomic Energy Agency, MC 98000 Monaco
| | - J Kaizer
- Department of Nuclear Physics and Biophysics, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University, 84248 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - M Molnár
- Institute for Nuclear Research (ATOMKI), 4026 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - H Nies
- Environment Laboratories, International Atomic Energy Agency, MC 98000 Monaco
| | - L Palcsu
- Institute for Nuclear Research (ATOMKI), 4026 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - L Papp
- Institute for Nuclear Research (ATOMKI), 4026 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - M K Pham
- Environment Laboratories, International Atomic Energy Agency, MC 98000 Monaco
| | - P Jean-Baptiste
- LSCE, CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, CEA/Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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Masson O, Bieringer J, Brattich E, Dalheimer A, Estier S, Penev I, Ringer W, Schlosser C, Steinkopff T, Steinmann P, Tositti L, Van Beek P, Vismes-Ott AD. Variation in airborne 134Cs, 137Cs, particulate 131I and 7Be maximum activities at high-altitude European locations after the arrival of Fukushima-labeled air masses. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2016; 162-163:14-22. [PMID: 27214283 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2016] [Revised: 05/04/2016] [Accepted: 05/06/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The Fukushima-labeled air mass arrival, and later the cesium-134 (134Cs), cesium-137 (137Cs) and particulate iodine-131 (hereafter noted 131Ip) maximum levels were registered in Europe at different dates depending on the location. Most of those data were obtained at low-altitude sampling areas. Here, we compare the airborne levels registered at different high-altitude European locations (from 850 m to about 3500 m). The integrated 137Cs activity concentration was not uniform with regard to the altitude even after a long travel time/distance from Japan. Moreover, the relation of integrated 137Cs vs. altitude showed a linear decrease up to an altitude of about 3000 m. A similar trend was noticed for 131Ip (particulate fraction) while it increased above 3000 m. Comparison with 7Be activity concentration showed that, as far as the high altitude location is concerned, the 137Cs and 134Cs maximum concentrations corresponded to the 7Be maximum, suggesting downdraft movements from high tropospheric or stratospheric layers to be responsible for 137,134Cs increase and peak values. This was also confirmed by high potential vorticity and low relative humidity registered during the peak values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Masson
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), BP 3, 13115, St Paul lez Durance, Cedex, France.
| | | | - Erika Brattich
- Laboratorio di Chimica e Radioattività ambientale, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Axel Dalheimer
- Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD), Referat TI 24, Frankfurterstraße 135, 63067 Offenbach, Germany
| | - Sybille Estier
- Federal Office of Public Health, (FOPH), Schwarzenburgstrasse 165, CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ilia Penev
- Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy (INRNE), 72 Tzarigradsko shosse, Blvd Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1784 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Wolfgang Ringer
- Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), Radon and Radioecology, 4020 Linz, Austria
| | | | - Thomas Steinkopff
- Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD), Referat TI 24, Frankfurterstraße 135, 63067 Offenbach, Germany
| | - Philipp Steinmann
- Federal Office of Public Health, (FOPH), Schwarzenburgstrasse 165, CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Laura Tositti
- Laboratorio di Chimica e Radioattività ambientale, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Pieter Van Beek
- Laboratoire d'Etudes en Géophysique et Océanographie Spatiales (LEGOS), Observatoire Midi Pyrénées, 14 avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Anne de Vismes-Ott
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), LMRE, 501, Bois des Rames, 91400 Orsay, France
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Hirose K. Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant accident: Atmospheric and oceanic impacts over the five years. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2016; 157:113-130. [PMID: 27032342 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2016] [Accepted: 01/21/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant (FDNPP) accident resulted in huge environmental and socioeconomic impacts to Japan. To document the actual environmental and socioeconomic effects of the FDNPP accident, we describe here atmospheric and marine contamination due to radionuclides released from the FDNPP accident using papers published during past five years, in which temporal and spatial variations of FDNPP-derived radionuclides in air, deposition and seawater and their mapping are recorded by local, regional and global monitoring activities. High radioactivity-contaminated area in land were formed by the dispersion of the radioactive cloud and precipitation, depending on land topography and local meteorological conditions, whereas extremely high concentrations of (131)I and radiocesium in seawater occurred due to direct release of radioactivity-contaminated stagnant water in addition to atmospheric deposition. For both of atmosphere and ocean, numerical model simulations, including local, regional and global-scale modeling, were extensively employed to evaluate source terms of the FDNPP-derived radionuclides from the monitoring data. These models also provided predictions of the dispersion and high deposition areas of the FDNPP-derived radionuclides. However, there are significant differences between the observed and simulated values. Then, the monitoring data would give a good opportunity to improve numerical modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katsumi Hirose
- Department of Materials and Life Sciences, Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan.
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Determination of strontium-90 from direct separation of yttrium-90 by solid phase extraction using DGA Resin for seawater monitoring. Talanta 2016; 152:219-27. [DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2016.01.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2015] [Revised: 01/29/2016] [Accepted: 01/31/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Koarai K, Kino Y, Takahashi A, Suzuki T, Shimizu Y, Chiba M, Osaka K, Sasaki K, Fukuda T, Isogai E, Yamashiro H, Oka T, Sekine T, Fukumoto M, Shinoda H. (90)Sr in teeth of cattle abandoned in evacuation zone: Record of pollution from the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. Sci Rep 2016; 6:24077. [PMID: 27045764 PMCID: PMC4820720 DOI: 10.1038/srep24077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2015] [Accepted: 03/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we determined the 90Sr concentrations in the teeth of cattle abandoned in the evacuation area of the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FNPP) accident. 90Sr activity concentrations in the teeth varied from 6–831 mBq (g Ca)−1 and exhibited a positive relationship with the degree of radioactive contamination that the cattle experienced. Even within an individual animal, the specific activity of 90Sr (Bq (g Sr)−1) varied depending on the development stage of the teeth during the FNPP accident: teeth that were early in development exhibited high 90Sr specific activities, while teeth that were late in development exhibited low specific activities. These findings demonstrate that 90Sr is incorporated into the teeth during tooth development; thus, tooth 90Sr activity concentrations reflect environmental 90Sr levels during tooth formation. Assessment of 90Sr in teeth could provide useful information about internal exposure to 90Sr radiation and allow for the measurement of time-course changes in the degree of environmental 90Sr pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yasushi Kino
- Department of Chemistry, Tohoku University, Japan
| | | | - Toshihiko Suzuki
- Graduate School of Dentistry, Tohoku University, Japan.,International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University, Japan
| | | | - Mirei Chiba
- Graduate School of Dentistry, Tohoku University, Japan
| | - Ken Osaka
- Graduate School of Dentistry, Tohoku University, Japan.,International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University, Japan
| | | | - Tomokazu Fukuda
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Japan
| | - Emiko Isogai
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Japan
| | | | - Toshitaka Oka
- Department of Chemistry, Tohoku University, Japan.,Institute for Excellence in Higher Education, Tohoku University, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Sekine
- Department of Chemistry, Tohoku University, Japan.,Institute for Excellence in Higher Education, Tohoku University, Japan
| | - Manabu Fukumoto
- Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Japan
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Bokor I, Sdraulig S, Jenkinson P, Madamperuma J, Martin P. Development and validation of an automated unit for the extraction of radiocaesium from seawater. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2016; 151 Pt 3:530-536. [PMID: 26330020 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2015] [Revised: 08/19/2015] [Accepted: 08/21/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
An automated unit was developed for the in-situ extraction of radiocaesium ((137)Cs and (134)Cs) from large volumes of seawater to achieve very low detection limits. The unit was designed for monitoring of Australian ocean and coastal waters, including at ports visited by nuclear-powered warships. The unit is housed within a robust case, and is easily transported and operated. It contains four filter cartridges connected in series. The first two cartridges are used to remove any suspended material that may be present in the seawater, while the last two cartridges are coated with potassium copper hexacyanoferrate for caesium extraction. Once the extraction is completed the coated cartridges are ashed. The ash is transferred to a small petri dish for counting of (137)Cs and (134)Cs by high resolution gamma spectrometry for a minimum of 24 h. The extraction method was validated for the following criteria: selectivity, trueness, precision, linearity, limit of detection and traceability. The validation showed the unit to be fit for purpose with the method capable of achieving low detection limits required for environmental samples. The results for the environmental measurements in Australian seawater correlate well with those reported in the Worldwide Marine Radioactivity Study (WOMARS). The cost of preparation and running the system is low and waste generation is minimal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilonka Bokor
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) 619 Lower Plenty Road, Yallambie, Victoria 3085, Australia.
| | - Sandra Sdraulig
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) 619 Lower Plenty Road, Yallambie, Victoria 3085, Australia
| | - Peter Jenkinson
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) 619 Lower Plenty Road, Yallambie, Victoria 3085, Australia
| | - Janaka Madamperuma
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) 619 Lower Plenty Road, Yallambie, Victoria 3085, Australia
| | - Paul Martin
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) 619 Lower Plenty Road, Yallambie, Victoria 3085, Australia
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35
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Povinec PP, Hirose K. Fukushima radionuclides in the NW Pacific, and assessment of doses for Japanese and world population from ingestion of seafood. Sci Rep 2015; 5:9016. [PMID: 25761420 PMCID: PMC4356974 DOI: 10.1038/srep09016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2014] [Accepted: 01/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Variations of Fukushima-derived radionuclides ((90)Sr, (134)Cs and (137)Cs) in seawater and biota offshore Fukushima and in the NW Pacific Ocean were investigated and radiation doses to the Japanese and world population from ingestion of seafood contaminated by Fukushima radionuclides were estimated and compared with those from other sources of anthropogenic and natural radionuclides. The total effective dose commitment from ingestion of radionuclides in fish, shellfish and seaweed caught in coastal waters off Fukushima was estimated to be 0.6 ± 0.4 mSv/y. The individual effective dose commitment from consumption of radioactive-contaminated fish caught in the open Pacific Ocean was estimated to be 0.07 ± 0.05 mSv/y. These doses are comparable or much lower than doses delivered from the consumption of natural (210)Po in fish and in shellfish (0.7 mSv/y). The estimated individual doses have been below the levels when any health damage of the Japanese and world population could be expected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavel P. Povinec
- Department of Nuclear Physics and Biophysics, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Katsumi Hirose
- Department of Materials and Life Sciences, Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan
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Braverman ER, Blum K, Loeffke B, Baker R, Kreuk F, Yang SP, Hurley JR. Managing terrorism or accidental nuclear errors, preparing for iodine-131 emergencies: a comprehensive review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2014; 11:4158-200. [PMID: 24739768 PMCID: PMC4025043 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph110404158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2014] [Revised: 03/26/2014] [Accepted: 03/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Chernobyl demonstrated that iodine-131 (131I) released in a nuclear accident can cause malignant thyroid nodules to develop in children within a 300 mile radius of the incident. Timely potassium iodide (KI) administration can prevent the development of thyroid cancer and the American Thyroid Association (ATA) and a number of United States governmental agencies recommend KI prophylaxis. Current pre-distribution of KI by the United States government and other governments with nuclear reactors is probably ineffective. Thus we undertook a thorough scientific review, regarding emergency response to 131I exposures. We propose: (1) pre-distribution of KI to at risk populations; (2) prompt administration, within 2 hours of the incident; (3) utilization of a lowest effective KI dose; (4) distribution extension to at least 300 miles from the epicenter of a potential nuclear incident; (5) education of the public about dietary iodide sources; (6) continued post-hoc analysis of the long-term impact of nuclear accidents; and (7) support for global iodine sufficiency programs. Approximately two billion people are at risk for iodine deficiency disorder (IDD), the world's leading cause of preventable brain damage. Iodide deficient individuals are at greater risk of developing thyroid cancer after 131I exposure. There are virtually no studies of KI prophylaxis in infants, children and adolescents, our target population. Because of their sensitivity to these side effects, we have suggested that we should extrapolate from the lowest effective adult dose, 15-30 mg or 1-2 mg per 10 pounds for children. We encourage global health agencies (private and governmental) to consider these critical recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric R Braverman
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Florida and McKnight Brain Institute, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
| | - Kenneth Blum
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Florida and McKnight Brain Institute, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
| | - Bernard Loeffke
- Department of Clinical Neurology, PATH Foundation NY, New York, NY 10010, USA.
| | - Robert Baker
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA.
| | - Florian Kreuk
- Department of Clinical Neurology, PATH Foundation NY, New York, NY 10010, USA.
| | - Samantha Peiling Yang
- Department of Endocrinology, National University Hospital of Singapore, 119228 Singapore.
| | - James R Hurley
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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Radiation dose rates now and in the future for residents neighboring restricted areas of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 111:E914-23. [PMID: 24567380 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1315684111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Radiation dose rates were evaluated in three areas neighboring a restricted area within a 20- to 50-km radius of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in August-September 2012 and projected to 2022 and 2062. Study participants wore personal dosimeters measuring external dose equivalents, almost entirely from deposited radionuclides (groundshine). External dose rate equivalents owing to the accident averaged 1.03, 2.75, and 1.66 mSv/y in the village of Kawauchi, the Tamano area of Soma, and the Haramachi area of Minamisoma, respectively. Internal dose rates estimated from dietary intake of radiocesium averaged 0.0058, 0.019, and 0.0088 mSv/y in Kawauchi, Tamano, and Haramachi, respectively. Dose rates from inhalation of resuspended radiocesium were lower than 0.001 mSv/y. In 2012, the average annual doses from radiocesium were close to the average background radiation exposure (2 mSv/y) in Japan. Accounting only for the physical decay of radiocesium, mean annual dose rates in 2022 were estimated as 0.31, 0.87, and 0.53 mSv/y in Kawauchi, Tamano, and Haramachi, respectively. The simple and conservative estimates are comparable with variations in the background dose, and unlikely to exceed the ordinary permissible dose rate (1 mSv/y) for the majority of the Fukushima population. Health risk assessment indicates that post-2012 doses will increase lifetime solid cancer, leukemia, and breast cancer incidences by 1.06%, 0.03% and 0.28% respectively, in Tamano. This assessment was derived from short-term observation with uncertainties and did not evaluate the first-year dose and radioiodine exposure. Nevertheless, this estimate provides perspective on the long-term radiation exposure levels in the three regions.
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Křepel J, Hombourger B, Fiorina C, Mikityuk K, Rohde U, Kliem S, Pautz A. Fuel cycle advantages and dynamics features of liquid fueled MSR. ANN NUCL ENERGY 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anucene.2013.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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