Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant Research Articles

The aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear accident: Measures to contain groundwater contamination

Several measures are being implemented to control groundwater contamination at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant. This paper presents an overview of work undertaken to contain the spread of radionuclides, and to mitigate releases to the ocean via hydrological pathways. As a first response, contaminated water is being held in tanks while awaiting treatment. Limited storage capacity and the risk of leakage make the measure unsustainable in the long term. Thus, an impervious barrier has been combined with a drain system to minimize the discharge of groundwater offshore. Caesium in seawater at the plant port has largely dropped, although some elevated concentrations are occasionally recorded. Moreover, a dissimilar decline of the radioactivity in fish could indicate additional sources of radionuclides intake. An underground frozen shield is also being constructed around the reactors. This structure would reduce inflows to the reactors and limit the interaction between fresh and contaminated waters. Additional strategies include groundwater abstraction and paving of surfaces to lower water levels and further restrict the mobilisation of radionuclides. Technical difficulties and public distrust pose an unprecedented challenge to the site remediation. Nevertheless, the knowledge acquired during the initial work offers opportunities for better planning and more rigorous decisions in the future.

STUDY ON REMOVAL OF CESIUM AND STRONTIUM FROM MARINE AND LAKE MUD

The serious nuclear disaster in the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear energy plant was occurred bythe Tsunami on March 11, 2011. The radioactive materials leaking from the power plant were widelydiffused in and around Fukushima prefecture including the Pacific Ocean by wind, rain and river flow. Itcan’t be always said that there is no risk of the condensation of radioactive materials in human body byecological chain if fish take in radiation in the ocean contaminated by the radioactive materials. However thedecontamination is less-advanced. The establishment of a new decontamination method is urgent need. Thus,in this study, it is aimed to establish a new decontamination technology of radioactive materials deposited onseabed or lake bed. In particular, the new adsorption material which can adsorb radioactive materials isdeveloped and the new method which can move them from the bottom sediment to the adsorption material isproposed. It is expected that the proposed method and the developed adsorption material are efficient toremove radioactive materials from seabed or lake bed when they are expansively applied to the realdecontamination.

A comparison of radionuclide dispersion model performances for the Baltic Sea and Fukushima releases in the Pacific Ocean

State-of-the art dispersion models were applied to simulate 137 Cs dispersion from Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster fallout in the Baltic Sea and from Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant releases in the Pacific Ocean after the 2011 Tsunami. Models were of different nature, from box to full three-dimensional models, and included water/sediment interactions. Agreement between models was very good in the Baltic. In the case of Fukushima, results from models could be considered to be in acceptable agreement only after a model harmonization process consisting of using exactly the same forcing (water circulation and parameters) in all models.

Whole body counter assessment of internal radiocontamination in patients with end-stage renal disease living in areas affected by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster: a retrospective observational study

ObjectiveTo assess internal radiocontamination of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who were regularly taking haemodialysis (HD) and living in areas affected by the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant after...

Electric power market reform in Japan after Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant disaster

Purpose The purpose of this study is to review the current status and related issues on the market reform of Japanese electric power industry after Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant disaster. We also discuss the future policy direction for the market reform. Design/methodology/approach This research compares the reform process of Japanese electric power industry with that of European Union (EU) nations. Then, this study discusses policy issues on the Japanese market reform based upon our comparative analysis. Findings Japan may learn many things from the market liberalization process and institution of EU nations. In the learning process, it is necessary to pay attention to industrial differences between Japan and the EU nations. Each country has its own unique features on fuel mix, business environment as well as supply and demand relationship. Such differences may influence a desirable policy direction for each nation’s market reform. The international comparison discussed in this study indicates the importance of a step-by-step approach in which Japan can gradually incorporate European experiences into the Japanese market reform. Research limitations/implications Since this study focuses upon the Japanese market reform, the empirical findings may have limited policy implications. The implications obtained from Japanese experience need additional thought in shifting them to other nations. Such an extension will be an important future task of this study. Originality/value This study discusses the current policy issues and future direction on the Japanese electricity market reform. This study also suggests its future direction. Previous research has never discussed the Japanese experience. Policy makers, corporate leaders, and individuals in the world, who are involved in the energy industry, have been paying attention to the Japanese future energy direction after Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant disaster. This study provides such a future energy direction on Japanese market reform from European experience.

Perspectives on Risk: From Techno-Economic Calculations to Socio-Cultural Meanings

Risk has become a central concern for businesses, regulators and communities. At one level, risk is about numbers and information. But at another level, risk is about narratives and meanings. In this paper, we describe four risk perspectives: technical, economic, perceptual, and cultural. Technical and economic perspectives inform techno-economic approaches to risk, whereas perceptual and cultural perspectives inform socio-cultural approaches to risk. We argue that understanding energy and environmental risks requires consideration of information and meaning, and numbers and narratives. We illustrate these perspectives with a brief case study of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant disaster and consider Canadian energy development debates. The discussion suggests that risks within and across societies — whether at a given point in time, or dynamically over time — can be more fully explained by going beyond techno-economic conceptualizations of risk through consideration of socio-cultural issues.

Food after Fukushima: Risk and Scientific Citizenship in Japan

ABSTRACTIn this article, I explore questions of food safety after the meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. In the aftermath of the disaster, people concerned about food safety were sometimes suspicious about the ability of the Japanese state to adequately monitor the food supply and introduce safety standards that they considered strict enough. I use the concept of scientific citizenship to explore the dynamics whereby people's relationship to state expertise was transformed as they learned about the science of radiation. Scientific citizenship was expressed in a desire to circumvent the state to protect the health and life of current and future generations. I focus on the language used to describe food safety to show the work of affective networks of trust in constituting a sense of safety in the postdisaster environment. Ethnographically, I focus on the work of mothers and food activists who banded together to share and disseminate knowledge about radiation so they could protect their own and each other's children. [risk, disaster, food safety, Japan, Fukushima]

Removal of Iron Oxide With Superconducting Magnet High Gradient Magnetic Separation From Feed-Water in Thermal Plant

By the accident of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant, all the nuclear plants have stopped in Japan. As a result, the operation rate of thermal power plants has been increased. It caused growth in CO 2 emission, which requires some kind of countermeasure. We focused on the iron oxide scales deposited on the piping system and boiler which declines the heat exchange efficiency of thermal power plants. In this study we attempt to remove the iron scales from the piping system and the boiler to maintain the power generation efficiency. In the current thermal plant treated by All Volatile Treatment (AVT) the iron elutes to the feed water in the low-temperature part which changes into iron ion or the paramagnetic fine iron oxide particles. On the other hand at the high-temperature part the main component of the scales is large ferromagnetic particles of magnetite. Therefore the magnetic separation at the high-temperature part is the more effective to remove the scale than that at the low-temperature part. For the reason, the existing method using the electromagnetic filter placed in the low-temperature part is not effective to remove the scales. We studied the high gradient magnetic separation (HGMS) at high-temperature part to remove a large amount of the scale. In this study, we assumed to install the HGMS system using the superconducting magnet at the inlet of the boiler.

Shallow-marine deposits associated with the 2011 Tohoku-oki tsunami in Sendai Bay, Japan

Little is known about offshore tsunami deposits, although they have the potential to improve palaeotsunami reconstructions, especially in areas with limited preservation of onshore tsunami deposits. We analysed 44 sediment cores collected in 2012 at water depths of 14–30 m in Sendai Bay, north-eastern Japan, to identify the deposits of the 2011 Tohoku-oki tsunami with the aid of 134Cs released from the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Plant. The preserved tsunami deposits in the inner shelf are interbedded with very fine sand and mud, showing similar features to storm deposits. In the shoreface, a distinct layer of coarse sand overlies fine sand, appearing to have originated as beach sand transported offshore by the tsunami backwash. The coarse sand fades offshore around the boundary between the shoreface and inner shelf. Many of the core sites show evidence that surface sediment was reworked, probably by post-tsunami storm waves, suggesting that further reworking would make the ultimate preservation of the tsunami deposits unlikely.

Special issue: the 15th Taishotoyama International Symposium on Gastroenterology (2). Forward.

Taishotoyama International Symposium was established to educate and encourage young Japanese scientists. This was accomplished through the great efforts of 4 members of the organizing committee, Prof. T. Takemoto, Prof. K. Kobayashi, Prof. A.S. Tarnawski and Prof. G. L. Eastwood. I was assigned the great responsibility of the post of Secretary General by the organizing committee. The first International Symposium was held in 1987 at Shimoda Central Hotel. After a long series of advanced scientific planning and good organization, the symposium has established a brilliant tradition and a firm place in the scientific community. The 14th Taishotoyama International Symposium on Gastroenterology was planned to be held from April 14th to 16th at Regal Royal Hotel in Tokyo, however, it was canceled due to the massive earthquake that occurred off the coast of East Japan in March, 2011 and the subsequent major tsunami. Accidents at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant of Tokyo Electronic Power Co. resulted in radioactive contamination and residents living near the nuclear power plant had to take refuge in distant locations. As devastated districts in several Tohoku Prefectures are currently undergoing re-construction, the Organizing Committee and Taishotoyama Pharmaceuticals decided to hold the 15th Symposium again in 2013 in order to continue the tradition and provide educational concepts that support and encourage the research minds and scientific prowess on the international stage. On this occasion I am extremely delighted to have the opportunity to discuss the latest topics in gastroenterology, which have progressed over past three years and to inform you again that I will be presiding over the 15th Symposium in Tokyo on September 26–28, 2013. The topics to be discussed by the organizing committee are: 1. GI Mucosal Injury and Repair, 2. GI inflammation and 3. Cancer Research of the GI tract. The organizing committee sincerely requests that all participants submit a large number of papers, and to present the impressive results of their scientific efforts in order to add to the excitement of the final symposium. All things considered, and to our great regret, this international symposium finally came to end this year. However, we take pride in this symposium which has continued to educate and encourage many young Japanese scientists since 1987 and has sent a huge number of contributions on gastroenterology all over the world. All of the papers involving invited foreign speakers will be published in two installments in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the direction of Editor in chief, Prof. Mamoru Watanabe. Finally, on behalf of the Organizing Committee for the Taishotoyama International Symposium, we would like to express our sincere appreciation for the earnest and heart-felt cooperation and strong support we have received especially from Mr. Akira Uehara, The Chairman, Mr. Akira Ohira, The President, and Mr. Yoshiaki Sasaki, executive Director of Taishotoyama Pharmaceuticals.

Determination of atmospheric radiocesium on filter tapes used at automated SPM monitoring stations for estimation of transport pathways of radionuclides from Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant

Suspended particulate matters (SPM) collected hourly at that time of Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Plant accident in 2011 on a filter tape at many automated SPM monitoring stations located widely in eastern Japan was analyzed in order to determine atmospheric radiocesium concentration. Precise time series of 137Cs concentrations in wide areas of eastern Japan were revealed. Analysis of radioactivity of SPM collected on filter tapes by automated SPM monitoring stations even at 1–2 years after the accident is concluded to give very valuable information to resolve the matter of radioactive contamination by Fukushima accident.

つくば市の降水に含まれる福島第一原発由来のトリチウム、ヨウ素-129の変遷

つくば市の降水に含まれる福島第一原発由来のトリチウム、ヨウ素-129の変遷

Use of TRACE best estimate code to analyze spent fuel storage pools safety

Abstract Nuclear policies have experienced an important change since Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant accident and the safety of spent fuels has been in the spot issue among all the safety concerns. At many countries, the spent fuel of nuclear power plants is not reprocessed so it has to be stored inside the facilities, normally in pools. As nuclear power plants use best estimate codes to perform safety analysis, it is interesting to assess the capacity of such codes to simulate spent fuel pools behavior. This paper uses TRACE thermal-hydraulic code to simulate steady state and transient conditions of spent fuel pools. The steady state results are compared with plant measurements of Maine Yankee with a good agreement between the calculations and the measurements. The transient simulated is a loss of cooling together with a loss of coolant through the transfer channel. TRACE heat transfer radiation model has been activated using the parameters obtained from COBRA thermal-hydraulic code.

Evaluation of dose from external irradiation for individuals living in areas affected by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant accident.

In order to effectively and appropriately manage external radiation doses in the affected areas of Fukushima, it is important to identify when, where and how much exposure occurred. It is also necessary to quantitatively measure external exposure and air dose rates for different activity patterns in individuals living and working in Japanese-style buildings. The authors used a new personal dosemeter (D-shuttle) along with a global positioning system and geographical information system to relate personal dose rate with activity patterns and air dose rate. Hourly individual doses obtained by D-shuttle can provide an effective communication tool for those who want to identify when and how much exposure occurs. Personal monitoring of 26 volunteers showed that personal doses obtained from D-shuttle were ∼30% of cumulative air dose estimated by data from the airborne monitoring survey. This analysis showed that, for most study volunteers, the exposure from staying at home represented about half of the total cumulative dose. This suggests that even though the peak exposure doses may be observed outside of working hours, to develop appropriate countermeasures for external dose reduction, it is thus important to identify the contributions of individuals' time-activities. This study provides a valuable basis for developing a realistic and pragmatic method to estimate external doses of individuals in Fukushima.

Reduction of high levels of internal radio-contamination by dietary intervention in residents of areas affected by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant disaster: a case series.

Maintaining low levels of chronic internal contamination among residents in radiation-contaminated areas after a nuclear disaster is a great public health concern. However, the efficacy of reduction measures for individual internal contamination remains unknown. To reduce high levels of internal radiation exposure in a group of individuals exposed through environmental sources, we performed careful dietary intervention with identification of suspected contaminated foods, as part of mass voluntary radiation contamination screenings and counseling program in Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital and Hirata Central Hospital. From a total of 30,622 study participants, only 9 residents displayed internal cesium-137 (Cs-137) levels of more than 50 Bq/kg. The median level of internal Cs-137 contamination in these residents at the initial screening was 4,830 Bq/body (range: 2,130–15,918 Bq/body) and 69.6 Bq/kg (range: 50.7–216.3 Bq/kg). All these residents with high levels of internal contamination consumed homegrown produce without radiation inspection, and often collected mushrooms in the wild or cultivated them on bed-logs in their homes. They were advised to consume distributed food mainly and to refrain from consuming potentially contaminated foods without radiation inspection and local produces under shipment restrictions such as mushrooms, mountain vegetables, and meat of wild life. A few months after the intervention, re-examination of Cs levels revealed remarkable reduction of internal contamination in all residents. Although the levels of internal radiation exposure appear to be minimal amongst most residents in Fukushima, a subset of the population, who unknowingly consumed highly contaminated foodstuffs, experienced high levels of internal contamination. There seem to be similarities in dietary preferences amongst residents with high internal contamination levels, and intervention based on pre- and post-test counseling and dietary advice from medical care providers about risky food intake appears to be a feasible option for changing residents' dietary practices, subsequently resulting in a reduction in Cs internal contamination levels.

From Three Mile Island to Fukushima Daiichi [Spectral Lines

Three years ago, a tsunami came crashing down on the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan, leading to the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl. As Associate Editor Eliza Strickland explains in this issue in "Fukushima's Next 40 Years," that accident still reverberates strongly in Japan, where all of the country‚s nuclear plants are currently off line.

Public anxiety after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake: fluctuations in hazard perception after catastrophe

In 2011, Japan received a massive blow from the Tohoku Earthquake and the ensuing disaster at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Generation Plant (hereafter, the Fukushima Nuclear Plant), with 18,000 people dead or missing, and more than 330,000 evacuated long-term. Anxiety among the people of Japan concerning earthquakes and nuclear accidents is higher than ever, but other hazards confront them as well. This research investigated whether the Japanese people’s anxiety about a variety of other hazards has increased or decreased since the Tohoku Earthquake. Based on the availability heuristic, the contrast effect, and the finite-pool-of-worry hypothesis, it was predicted that public anxiety about earthquakes and nuclear accidents would increase, but anxiety about other hazards would decrease. Data from two nationwide surveys conducted in January 2008 and January 2012 were compared to see the change in societal levels of anxiety toward 51 types of hazards. The results showed that anxiety had increased after the Tohoku Earthquake for only one hazard other than earthquakes and nuclear accidents. For 29 other hazards, the anxiety levels had significantly decreased; and for the remaining 19 hazards, there was no significant change. These results support the prediction, indicating that post-disaster, the overall anxiety levels of the Japanese people tended to decline. Practical implications were discussed with a focus on problems that might be caused by the changes in anxiety level.

The Need for a New, Clear Option: An In-Depth Analysis of Nuclear Energy

The goal of the research presented here will be to provide a comprehensive view of the nuclear industry today. Upon analyzing data from the last 40 years, a pattern of irresponsible, financially untenable policymaking begins to emerge, highlighting the growing disconnect between the general populace, which is most vulnerable to the benefits and pitfalls of the nuclear industry, and the elected officials who make the final decision in many countries regarding nuclear adoption. The primary context of this article will be concerned with analyzing opposing views of how nuclear power normally stands to benefit mankind versus the impacts of a worst case nuclear disaster, as occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant. The author provides a brief, general overview of the theory behind nuclear power and its impacts before moving on to the benefits and drawbacks faced by adoptive communities. Next, an analysis of the financial viability of the nuclear industry will be offered, as well as a brief introduction of several means of generating electricity, and their general benefits and drawbacks. The author then offers an opinion on which of these options would offer the best alternative to nuclear power in both the short and long term. Finally, government patterns of dealing with nuclear power will be examined; it very quickly becomes evident that even in the most transparent societies, nuclear adoption encourages dishonesty from policy makers. In closing, the author will leave the reader with a troubling question: “Do we really have a say in our own future?” Author’s Note It is my firm belief that by examining the problems we face today from a holistic point of view, one where the interconnectedness of the world around us is fully understood and considered, we can create a better future for ourselves. I speak not only of the interconnectedness of the biological world, but that of the artificial world we have created for ourselves, that which we call “society”. Through the exploration and examination of how these two seemingly disparate fields are able to influence one another, the world can be made a much better place. It is a curious fact of the world that I have noted: when the world is looked at in a manner which truly captures the “big picture” of the moment, what we as a human race desire and need seems closely tied to the needs and desires of the world as a whole. Failure to see this tendency of the world is a failure born not out of ignorance, but out of society’s deception By examining the real truth of the nuclear industry from many points of view, it is my hope that you, the reader, will discover in yourself a desire to help the world at large, not just because it is the right thing to do for the world, but the right thing to do for yourself. The goal of a truly sustainable future is not one that serves all of humanity; there will always be those individuals in this world whose future is built upon the foundations of the past. For them, a sustainable future is one where they no longer hold the power. For the rest of the world, however, sustainability is freedom. It is with this belief in my heart that I thank you for your time, and submit to you the following, with the hope that you will gain some benefit from it.

The Need for a New, Clear Option: An In-Depth Analysis of Nuclear Energy

The goal of the research presented here will be to provide a comprehensive view of the nuclear industry today. Upon analyzing data from the last 40 years, a pattern of irresponsible, financially untenable policymaking begins to emerge, highlighting the growing disconnect between the general populace, which is most vulnerable to the benefits and pitfalls of the nuclear industry, and the elected officials who make the final decision in many countries regarding nuclear adoption. The primary context of this article will be concerned with analyzing opposing views of how nuclear power normally stands to benefit mankind versus the impacts of a worst case nuclear disaster, as occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant. The author provides a brief, general overview of the theory behind nuclear power and its impacts before moving on to the benefits and drawbacks faced by adoptive communities. Next, an analysis of the financial viability of the nuclear industry will be offered, as well as a brief introduction of several means of generating electricity, and their general benefits and drawbacks. The author then offers an opinion on which of these options would offer the best alternative to nuclear power in both the short and long term. Finally, government patterns of dealing with nuclear power will be examined; it very quickly becomes evident that even in the most transparent societies, nuclear adoption encourages dishonesty from policy makers. In closing, the author will leave the reader with a troubling question: “Do we really have a say in our own future?” Author’s Note It is my firm belief that by examining the problems we face today from a holistic point of view, one where the interconnectedness of the world around us is fully understood and considered, we can create a better future for ourselves. I speak not only of the interconnectedness of the biological world, but that of the artificial world we have created for ourselves, that which we call “society”. Through the exploration and examination of how these two seemingly disparate fields are able to influence one another, the world can be made a much better place. It is a curious fact of the world that I have noted: when the world is looked at in a manner which truly captures the “big picture” of the moment, what we as a human race desire and need seems closely tied to the needs and desires of the world as a whole. Failure to see this tendency of the world is a failure born not out of ignorance, but out of society’s deception By examining the real truth of the nuclear industry from many points of view, it is my hope that you, the reader, will discover in yourself a desire to help the world at large, not just because it is the right thing to do for the world, but the right thing to do for yourself. The goal of a truly sustainable future is not one that serves all of humanity; there will always be those individuals in this world whose future is built upon the foundations of the past. For them, a sustainable future is one where they no longer hold the power. For the rest of the world, however, sustainability is freedom. It is with this belief in my heart that I thank you for your time, and submit to you the following, with the hope that you will gain some benefit from it.

Problems with Regional and Community Studies on the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant Accident and Evacuees

Problems with Regional and Community Studies on the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant Accident and Evacuees