Whole-body counter survey results 4 months after the Fukushima Dai-ichi NPP accident in Minamisoma City, Fukushima

Hayano, R.; Watanabe, Y.; Nomura, Shuhei; Nemoto, Tsuyoshi; Tsubokura, Masaharu; Hanai, Tatsuo; Kumemoto, Yuki; Kowata, Satoshi; Oikawa, Tomoyoshi; Kanazawa, Yukio

doi:10.1088/0952-4746/34/4/787

Cited by 25 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…After the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear incident, internal exposure contributed substantially to the cumulative, long-term radiation exposure in the general public, which was largely due to intake of locally grown produce with sustained radio-contamination [14]. In the case of the Fukushima nuclear incident, five years after the incident, although the cumulative dose is predominantly due to external radiation exposure [12], certain residents in the affected areas still sometimes show relatively high (compared to the average levels) or detectable levels of internal contamination [15], also due to radio-contamination of locally grown uninspected produce. Levels of internal contamination in these cases have occasionally reached over 100 Bq/kg of radiocesium (Cs), comparable to levels observed after the Chernobyl incident [16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards a Long-Term Strategy for Voluntary-Based Internal Radiation Contamination Monitoring: A Population-Level Analysis of Monitoring Prevalence and Factors Associated with Monitoring Participation Behavior in Fukushima, Japan

Nomura

Tsubokura²,

Ozaki³

et al. 2017

IJERPH

Self Cite

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Following Japan’s 2011 Fukushima nuclear incident, we assessed voluntary-based monitoring behavior in Minamisoma City—located 10–40 km from the Fukushima nuclear plant—to inform future monitoring strategies. The monitoring in Minamisoma included occasional free of charge internal-radiation-exposure measurements. Out of around 70,000 individuals residing in the city before the incident, a total of 45,788 residents (female: 52.1%) aged ≥21 were evaluated. The monitoring prevalence in 2011–2012 was only 30.2%, and this decreased to 17.9% in 2013–2014. Regression analyses were performed to estimate factors associated with the monitoring prevalence and participation behavior. The results show that, in comparison with the age cohort of 21–30 years, the cohort of 71–80 and ≥81 years demonstrated significantly lower monitoring prevalence; female residents had higher monitoring prevalence than male residents; those who were living in evacuation zones at the time of the incident had higher monitoring prevalence than those who lived outside any of the evacuation zones; for those living outside Fukushima and neighboring Prefectures post-incident monitoring prevalence decreased significantly in 2013–2014. Our findings inform the discussion on the concepts of radiation risk perception and accessibility to monitoring and societal decision-making regarding the maintenance of the monitoring program with low monitoring prevalence. We also stress the possibility that the monitoring can work both to check that internal contamination levels are within acceptable limits, and as a risk communication tool, alleviating individuals’ concern and anxiety over radiation contamination.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards a Long-Term Strategy for Voluntary-Based Internal Radiation Contamination Monitoring: A Population-Level Analysis of Monitoring Prevalence and Factors Associated with Monitoring Participation Behavior in Fukushima, Japan

Nomura

Tsubokura²,

Ozaki³

et al. 2017

IJERPH

Self Cite

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“…Using local meteorological data, the fission product dispersion (air dispersion and deposition on the ground surface) and dose could be calculated for various pathways (cloud shine and ground shine) [10,11].…”

Section: Fission Product Dispersion and Dose Calculationmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Backward Method to Estimate the Dai-ichi Reactor Core Damage Using Radiation Exposure in the Environment

2016

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The Fukushima accident resulted in the melting of the reactor core due to loss of supply of coolant when the reactor stopped from operating conditions. The earthquake and tsunami caused loss of electricity due to the flooding that occurred in the reactor. The absence of the coolant supply after reactor shutdown resulted in heat accumulation, causing the temperature of the fuel to rise beyond its melting point. In the early stages of the accident, operator could not determine the severity of the accident and the percentage of the reactor core damaged. The available data was based on the radiation exposure in the environment that was reported by the authorities. The aim of this paper is to determine the severity of the conditions in the reactor core based on the radiation doses measured in the environment. The method is performed by backward counting based on the measuring radiation exposure and radionuclides releases source term. The calculation was performed by using the PC-COSYMA code. The results showed that the core damage fraction at Dai-ichi Unit 1 was 70%, and the resulting individual effective dose in the exclusion area is 401 mSv, while the core damage fraction at Unit 2 was 30%, and the resulting individual effective dose was 99.1 mSv, while for Unit 3, the core damage fraction was 25% for an individual effective dose of 92.2 mSv. The differences between the results of the calculation for estimation of core damage proposed in this paper with the previously reported results is probably caused by the applied model for assessment, differences in postulations and assumptions, and the incompleteness of the input data. This difference could be reduced by performing calculations and simulations for more varied assumptions and postulations.

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“…Many whole body counting measurements were carried out several months after the accident [211,212] and are therefore often only applicable to 134 Cs and 137 Cs, due to the short half-life of 131 I. Given the importance of intakes of 131 I through both inhalation and ingestion in the first month following the accident, this made judgements on internal exposure difficult.…”

Section: Internal Exposurementioning

confidence: 99%

The Fukushima Daiichi Accident

Jammal¹,

Vincze²,

Heitsch³

et al. 2012

Le Nucléaire Un an Après Fukushima

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Whole-body counter survey results 4 months after the Fukushima Dai-ichi NPP accident in Minamisoma City, Fukushima

Cited by 25 publications

References 8 publications

Towards a Long-Term Strategy for Voluntary-Based Internal Radiation Contamination Monitoring: A Population-Level Analysis of Monitoring Prevalence and Factors Associated with Monitoring Participation Behavior in Fukushima, Japan

Towards a Long-Term Strategy for Voluntary-Based Internal Radiation Contamination Monitoring: A Population-Level Analysis of Monitoring Prevalence and Factors Associated with Monitoring Participation Behavior in Fukushima, Japan

A Backward Method to Estimate the Dai-ichi Reactor Core Damage Using Radiation Exposure in the Environment

The Fukushima Daiichi Accident

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