Modeling the Diffusion of Radioactive Materials into the East Sea of Korea: Analysis of Hypothetical Nuclear Power Plant Accident Scenarios and Long-Term Marine Ecosystem Impacts

Abstract

Min, B.I.; Suh, K.-S.; Park, K.; Kim, J.Y.; Choi, Y., and Kim, S., 2023. Modeling the diffusion of radioactive materials into the East Sea of Korea: Analysis of hypothetical nuclear power plant accident scenarios and long-term marine ecosystem impacts. Journal of Coastal Research, 39(2), 394–400. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. The East Sea is surrounded by South Korea, North Korea, Japan, China, and Russia and is connected to the Northwest Pacific Ocean through three narrow straits. In the East Sea, there are 18 nuclear power plants installed along the coasts of South Korea alone. This study evaluated the long-term diffusion of radioactive materials in the East Sea using a compartment model and described the effect on a marine food chain model. A hypothetical scenario in which soil near the power plant is contaminated and flows into rivers and seas due to rainfall was numerically tested. It took about 2 minutes to calculate the intake dose for 10 years, and there was no significant difference compared to the detailed model.