Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Accident Research Articles

The Relationship Between Years of Service and Traumatic Experiences Related to Radiation Among Local Government Staff Working Within 30 km of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

An accident occurred at Tokyo Electric Power Company’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) in March 2011, following an earthquake and tsunami. Local government staff members who worked in the area had a variety of experiences due to the accident, including trauma. This cross-sectional study was conducted to clarify the relationship between years of service and radiation-related traumatic experiences among 490 staff members in municipalities around the FDNPS exactly a decade after the accident. They were classified as <5 years, 5–10 years, and >10 years, relative to their lengths of employment. The experienced staff (>10 years of service) had a rich array of traumatic experiences, compared to those with less experience (<5 years of service). By contrast, the experienced staff had a lower SOC-13 score than those with less experience, and a higher percentage of them reported that their workload was greater than that imposed on other local government employees. The study results suggested that the experienced staff members who worked in the affected towns prior to the FDNPS accident have been burdened with a prolonged heavier workload, including radiation-related duties.

Impact of the discharge of treated water on residents’ intention to return to areas near the TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station a decade after the accident

This study evaluated factors independently associated with residents’ intention to return (ITR) to the affected areas near the TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS), discharged ALPS-treated water (DTW), social capital (SC), health-related quality of life (HR-QOL), and radiation risk perceptions which are located within 20 km of the FDNPS. The concerns about DTW were investigated six months before authorities began discharging treated water into the Pacific Ocean, in August 2023. A multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that residents who wanted to return were mostly concerned about the DTW (odds ratio [OR] = 1.48, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 1.05–2.09, p < 0.05). Compared to the residents who had already returned, the social cohesion score was lower in non-returnees (want to return, OR = 0.21, 95% CI = 0.09–0.43, p < 0.01; undecided, OR = 0.21, 95% CI = 0.11–0.41, p < 0.01; do not want to return, OR = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.15–0.53, p < 0.01). Residents of areas affected by the FDNPS accident remain concerned about various issues regarding radiation. These results provide important suggestions for how to provide appropriate support that addresses the specific concerns of former residents of affected areas.

Distribution of strontium-90 in soils affected by Fukushima dai-ichi nuclear power station accident in the context of cesium-137 contamination

90Sr and 137Cs activity concentrations were determined by radiometric methods in 76 soil samples (soil, litter, rain gutter deposit, and roadside sediment samples) affected by the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) accident and collected from the Fukushima exclusion zone. The 90Sr and 137Cs activity concentrations were in the range of 3 to 1050 Bq kg−1 (median 82 Bq·kg−1) and 0.7 to 6770 kBq·kg−1 (median 890 kBq·kg−1), respectively (decay correction date: March 15, 2011). A strong positive correlation was found between 90Sr and 137Cs activity concentration and higher mobility of 90Sr was confirmed in Japanese soil samples. The activity ratio of 90Sr/137Cs in 85% of all samples was in the range of 5.0 × 10−5 to 5.0 × 10−4 with a median of 1.2 × 10−4. From the activity ratio values it was concluded that the 90Sr released to the atmosphere was only around 0.0003–0.02 PBq which is negligible compared to the Chernobyl accident (∼10 PBq) or other nuclear accident contaminations. From the standpoints of radioecology and radiation safety, 137Cs remains the primary pollutant of the FDNPS accident.

Dependency of the source term estimation method for radionuclides released into the atmosphere on the available environmental monitoring data and its applicability to real-time source term estimation

ABSTRACT It is essential to establish a method for reconstructing the source term and spatiotemporal distribution of radionuclides released into the atmosphere due to a nuclear accident for emergency countermeasures. We examined the dependency of a source term estimation method based on Bayesian inference using atmospheric dispersion simulation and environmental monitoring data on the availability of various monitoring data. Additionally, we examined the applicability of this method to a real-time estimation conducted immediately after an accident. A sensitivity analysis of the estimated source term during the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) accident for combinations of various monitoring data indicated that using monitoring data with a high temporal and spatial resolution and the concurrent use of air concentration and surface deposition data is effective for accurate estimation. A real-time source term estimation experiment assuming the situation of monitoring data acquisition during the FDNPS accident revealed that this method could provide the necessary source term for grasping the overview of surface contamination in the early phase and evaluating the approximate accident scale. If the immediate online acquisition of monitoring data and regular operation of an atmospheric dispersion simulation are established, this method can provide the source term in near-real time.

Estimation of children's thyroid equivalent doses in 16 municipalities after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident.

To elucidate the association between radiation dose and thyroid cancer after the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) accident, it is essential to estimate individual thyroid equivalent doses (TEDs) to children. In a previous study, we reported a methodology for reconstructing TEDs from inhalation. That methodology was based on individual behavioral survey sheets of the Fukushima Health Management Survey (FHMS) combined with a spatiotemporal radionuclides database constructed by an atmospheric transport, diffusion, and deposition model (ATDM)-the Worldwide version of System for Prediction of Environmental Emergency Dose Information (WSPEEDI) in seven municipalities. In the present study, we further refined our methodology and estimated the combined TEDs from inhalation and ingestion among children in 16 municipalities around the nuclear power station utilizing 3256 individual whereabouts questionnaire survey sheets. Distributions of estimated TEDs were similar to estimates based on direct thyroid measurements in 1080 children in Iwaki City, Kawamata Town, Iitate Village, and Minamisoma City. Mean TEDs in 1-year-old children ranged from 1.3mSv in Date City to 14.9mSv in Odaka Ward in Minamisoma City, and the 95th percentiles varied from 2.3mSv in Date City to 28.8mSv in Namie Town. In the future, this methodology can be useful for the epidemiological studies of thyroid cancer after the FDNPS accident.

Validation of a Model for Estimating Individual External Dose Based on Ambient Dose Equivalent and Life Patterns

Background: After the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) accident, a model was developed to estimate the external exposure doses for residents who were expected to return to their homes after evacuation orders were lifted. However, the model’s accuracy and uncertainties in parameters used to estimate external doses have not been evaluated.Materials and Methods: The model estimates effective doses based on the integrated ambient dose equivalent (H*(10)) and life patterns, considering a dose reduction factor to estimate the indoor H*(10) and a conversion factor from H*(10) to the effective dose. Because personal dose equivalent (Hp(10)) has been reported to agree well with the effective dose after the FDNPS accident, this study validates the model’s accuracy by comparing the estimated effective doses with Hp(10). The Hp(10) and life pattern data were collected for 36 adult participants who lived or worked near the FDNPS in 2019.Results and Discussion: The estimated effective doses correlated significantly with Hp(10); however, the estimated effective doses were lower than Hp(10) for indoor sites. A comparison with the measured indoor H*(10) showed that the estimated indoor H*(10) was not underestimated. However, the Hp(10) to H*(10) ratio indoors, which corresponds to the practical conversion factor from H*(10) to the effective dose, was significantly larger than the same ratio outdoors, meaning that the conversion factor of 0.6 is not appropriate for indoors due to the changes in irradiation geometry and gamma spectra. This could have led to a lower effective dose than Hp(10).Conclusion: The estimated effective doses correlated significantly with Hp(10), demonstrating the model’s applicability for effective dose estimation. However, the lower value of the effective dose indoors could be because the conversion factor did not reflect the actual environment.

Validation study of ambient dose equivalent conversion coefficients for radiocaesium distributed in the ground: lessons from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident.

Ambient dose equivalent conversion coefficients (ADCRCs) for converting a radiocaesium inventory to ambient dose equivalent rates (air dose rates) depend on the vertical distribution of radiocaesium in soil. To access the validity of ADCRCs, the air dose rate at 1m above ground and the vertical distribution of radiocaesium in the soil around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) present between 2011 and 2019 were measured in the current study. ADCRCs were calculated using air dose rates and three different parameters representing the vertical distribution of radiocaesium in soil: (1) relaxation mass depth (β), (2) effective relaxation mass depth (βeff) and (3) relaxation mass depth recommended by the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements before the FDNPS accident (βICRU). When ADCRCs based on β and βeff were compared to those based on β and βICRU, a positive correlation was found. To confirm the applicability of the ADCRCs based on the three types of β values, radiocaesium inventories were estimated using the air dose rates and ADCRCs, and the obtained results were compared to the radiocaesium inventory calculated using soil sample measurements. Good agreement was observed between the radiocaesium inventories estimated using the ADCRCs based on β and βeff and measured by investigating soil samples. By contrast, the radiocaesium inventory estimated using the ADCRCs based on βICRU was overestimated compared with that measured by investigating soil samples. These findings support the applicability of ADCRCs based on β and βeff in the Fukushima region. Furthermore, the βICRU result suggests that differences in soil characteristics between Japan and other countries should be considered for evaluating ADCRCs.

LIFE SATISFACTION AND FACTORS AFFECTING SATISFACTION IN KAWAUCHI VILLAGE RESIDENTS AT 10 Y AFTER THE FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI NUCLEAR POWER PLANT ACCIDENT.

We assessed the life satisfaction and related factors, including the mental health state, of residents of Kawauchi village, Fukushima Prefecture. Among the 374 residents who responded, 237 (63.4%) were satisfied with their current life. Of all respondents, 275 (73.5%) had a sense of belonging to the Kawauchi village community and 158 (42.2%) thought that Kawauchi had recovered after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) accident. Regression analysis revealed that post-traumatic stress disorder checklist-Specific score, sense of belonging to the Kawauchi village community, opinion that Kawauchi village had recovered, timing of return to Kawauchi <2y and concern about consumption of mushrooms and wild plants from Kawauchi were independently associated with life satisfaction. Although 10y have passed since the FDNPS accident, it is necessary to continue with risk communication, particularly for new residents of Kawauchi.

Recommendations for Optimising a Human Resource Development Training Programme for a Nuclear Accident Based on the Personal Backgrounds of Radiological Technologists: Experiences from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Accident

The aim of this study was to provide the information needed to optimise a nuclear accident to human resource development training programmes for radiological technologists (RTs) based on the experience of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station (FDNPS) accident. A total of 330 respondents (availability rate: 56.5%) were obtained through a postal questionnaire survey of RTs in Fukushima Prefecture. The analysed items were the relationship between the individual attributes, subject's experience in responding to the FDNPS accident, and subject's records of participating in nuclear accident trainings before the FDNPS accident with regard to 1) "skills that need to be learnt (4 items)" and 2) "basic knowledge (4 items)" to respond to a nuclear accident. Regarding 1), air ambient dose and body surface contamination measurements were significantly associated with the number of beds at a place of work at the time of the FDNPS accident. In addition, consultations on radiation exposure were significantly associated with the experience in responding to the FDNPS accident and the records of participating in nuclear accident trainings before the FDNPS accident. Regarding 2), knowledge of internal exposure was significantly related to the years of employment at the time of the FDNPS accident and the experience in responding to the FDNPS accident. By considering the results of this study, it should be possible to provide training programmes for a nuclear accident that are optimally tailored to the background of the RTs.

Tailoring Digital Tools to Address the Radiation and Health Information Needs of Returnees after a Nuclear Accident.

Digital tools are increasingly used for health promotion, but their utility during recovery from a nuclear disaster has yet to be established. This study analysed differences in knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) toward digital tools for radiation protection and health promotion, and preferences for specific application functions, among cohorts living within and outside areas affected by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station (FDNPS) accident. A needs assessment was conducted by internet survey, and responses from those affected (N = 86) and not affected (N = 253) were compared and quantified by an adjusted odds ratio (aOR), using logistic regression analyses. KAP toward the radiation-related application in the affected group had an aOR of 1.95 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.12–3.38) for knowledge, and 5.71 (CI = 2.55–12.8) for practice. Conversely, toward the health-related application, the aOR of the affected group was 0.50 (CI = 0.29–0.86). The preference in the affected group was significantly lower for two application functions related to radiation measurement and two health-related functions (one about the effects of radiation in general and another about personal health advice in general): aOR range 0.43–0.50. Development of specific applications incorporating the findings from this survey was intended to foster a locally appropriate eHealth environment during recovery from the FDNPS accident.

Validity of the source term for the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station accident estimated using local-scale atmospheric dispersion simulations to reproduce the large-scale atmospheric dispersion of 137Cs

The source term of 137Cs from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) accident was estimated from the results of local-scale atmospheric dispersion simulations and measurements. To confirm the source term's validity for reproducing the large-scale atmospheric dispersion of 137Cs, this study conducted hemispheric-scale atmospheric and oceanic dispersion simulations. In the dispersion simulations, the atmospheric-dispersion database system Worldwide version of System for Prediction of Environmental Emergency Dose Information (WSPEEDI)-DB and oceanic dispersion model SEA-GEARN-FDM that were developed by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency were used. Compared with the air concentrations of 137Cs measured by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, overall, the WSPEEDI-DB simulations well reproduced the measurements, whereas the simulation results partly overestimated some measurements. Furthermore, the validity of the deposition of 137Cs by WSPEEDI-DB was investigated using SEA-GEARN-FDM and concentrations of 137Cs in seawater sampled from the North Pacific. Seawater concentrations of 137Cs by the oceanic dispersion simulation, in which the deposition flux of 137Cs by WSPEEDI-DB was used as input from the atmosphere to oceans, were statistically consistent to the measurement. However, the simulated seawater concentrations of 137Cs were underestimated regionally in the North Pacific. Both the overestimation of air concentrations and underestimation of seawater concentrations could be attributed to the less amounts of 137Cs deposition by less precipitation over the North Pacific. The overestimation and underestimation could be improved without contradiction between the air and seawater concentrations of 137Cs using more realistic precipitation in atmospheric dispersion simulations. This shows that the source term validated in this study could reproduce the spatiotemporal distribution of 137Cs from the FDNPS accident in both local and large-scale atmospheric dispersion simulations.

L-Band Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Tooth Dosimetry Applied to Affected Cattle Teeth in Fukushima

We applied a non-destructive tooth dosimetry technique using L-band electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) to assess radiation doses in cattle due to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) accident, which occurred 10 years ago. The radiation exposure of cattle in the area affected by the FDNPS accident was estimated retrospectively with X-band and L-band EPR devices. Characteristic radiation-induced EPR signals were obtained from the teeth of the cattle in Fukushima, confirming their exposure. The estimated doses to the teeth were found to be consistent with the dose trends estimated for individual cows, while considerable uncertainties were seen in the doses of some tooth samples. This variation might be due to errors in the accuracy of the method but also might reflect the actual exposure because the cattle may have been exposed to higher areas of radioactivity in their quest for food and/or due to irradiation from absorption of the isotopes with localization in or near the teeth. However, at a minimum, these results confirm that L-band EPR can be used for non-destructive qualitative assessment of radiation exposure to animals using their teeth, which could be very valuable. Possible causes of the uncertainties should be investigated to enhance the value of the use of this technique.

Risk perception regarding implementation of iodine thyroid blocking during a nuclear disaster of mothers living near a nuclear power station in Japan.

Pre-emptive evacuation orders following the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) in March 2011 and subsequent regulatory limits regarding contaminated food, milk, and water minimized the external and internal radiation exposure doses of nearby residents. However, with regard to implementation of iodine thyroid blocking (ITB), residents were confused because no information on the matter was released by the central and/or local governments. Based on lessons learned from the FDNPS accident, many countries have revised their guidelines regarding ITB during nuclear disasters. To adequately revise such guidelines and ensure effective ITB implementation during a nuclear disaster, however, residents' perceptions of ITB must be clarified. In this study, the perception of risks associated with ITB was investigated in mothers residing near the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant (SNPP) in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. Of the 520 mothers surveyed, 467 (89.8%) expressed anxiety regarding the administration of potassium iodine (KI) to their children. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the mothers' anxiety regarding the administration of KI to their children was positively correlated with their wish to consult an expert about KI and their hesitation to let their children eat foods produced in Fukushima, and negatively correlated with having confidence about administering KI to their children. Careful communication of potential risks to mothers residing near nuclear power plants is thus critical for implementing effective ITB in children.

The Use of Robots to Respond to Nuclear Accidents: Applying the Lessons of the Past to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

It has been 10 years since the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (NPS) accident. This article begins by discussing the robots used during the responses to the Three Mile Island and Chernobyl nuclear accidents. It then reviews the robots used to respond to the Fukushima Daiichi NPS accident, while considering the lessons learned from the previous accidents. Such discussions will hopefully lead to the further development of robots for decommissioning the Fukushima Daiichi NPS.

Implementing eHealth with radiation records: a new support package for evacuees returning to areas around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station

Following the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station (FDNPS) accident, numerous initiatives emerged to address the needs of evacuees, including those eligible to return home. These came from multiple channels, timely in many cases, but in retrospect, needing better coordination. By embracing eHealth, we are attempting to coordinate efforts in Fukushima intended to link returnees with health information and care providers, not only for radiological protection in particular, but also for health promotion in general. We aim to establish a comprehensive support system for residents in municipalities around the FDNPS by developing a digital application for interactive communication regarding radiation and health promotion and to link the tool to other resources provided by local health care providers and radiation specialists. This paper explains the progress of our innovative trial to introducing eHealth in areas affected by the FDNPS accident. Based on international recommendations for developing a digital tool in response to a nuclear accident, we designed a comprehensive support package including development and implementation of the application, data management, and health counselling and ethical considerations arising from such outreach. Our trial of connecting disaster-affected citizens to health services using informatics could serve as a model eHealth program for long-term restoration after a nuclear accident.

Distribution map of natural gamma-ray dose rates for studies of the additional exposure dose after the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station accident

The information on the absorbed dose rate which is derived from natural radionuclides is needed to evaluate additional exposure dose. However, there is inadequate positional resolution and precision for such data around Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS). In this study, we created a map of the absorbed dose rate that is derived from natural radionuclides based on several airborne radiation monitoring data. The reliability and accuracy of the created map was verified by comparison with the many in-situ measurements on the ground. To evaluate the effectiveness of this study, the effective half-lives of the ambient dose rate at residential areas of Fukushima Prefecture were assessed by discriminating these absorbed dose rate of the natural background from the results of a periodic dose rate survey by local government. The results of the distribution of natural background absorbed dose rates are expected to contribute to the evaluation of the additional exposure dose after the FDNPS accident.

Refinement of source term and atmospheric dispersion simulations of radionuclides during the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident

To assess the radiological dose to the public resulting from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) accident in Japan, especially for the early phase of the accident when no measured data are available for that purpose, the spatial and temporal distributions of radioactive materials in the environment need to be reconstructed through computer simulations using the atmospheric transport, dispersion, and deposition model (ATDM). For the ATDM simulation, the source term of radioactive materials discharged into the atmosphere is essential and has been estimated in many studies. In the present study, we further refined the source term estimated in our previous study and improved the ATDM simulation with an optimization method based on Bayesian inference, which used various measurements such as air concentration, surface deposition, fallout, and newly released hourly air concentrations of 137Cs derived by analyzing suspended particulate matter (SPM) collected at air pollution monitoring stations. This optimization improved not only the source term but also the wind field in meteorological calculation, which led to the reduction of discrepancies in plume passage time at monitoring points to less than 3 h between calculations and measurements, by feeding back comparison results between the dispersion calculations and measurements of radionuclides. As a result, the total amounts of 137Cs and 131I by the present study became 1.0 × 1016 and 1.2 × 1017 Bq, respectively, and decreased by 29% and 20%, respectively, in comparison with those by previous study. The ATDM simulation successfully reproduced both the air concentrations at SPM monitoring points and surface depositions by airborne monitoring. FA10 for total samples of air concentrations of 137Cs at SPM monitoring points increased from 35.9% by the previous study to 47.3%. The deposition amount on the land decreased from 3.7 × 1015 Bq by the previous study to 2.1 × 1015 Bq, which was close to the measured amount of 2.4 × 1015 Bq. We also constructed the spatiotemporal distribution of some major radionuclides in the air and on the surface (optimized dispersion database) by using the optimized release rates and ATDM simulations. The optimized dispersion database can be used for comprehensive dose assessment in tandem with behavioral patterns of evacuees from the FDNPS accident by collaborating research group in the Japanese dose assessment project. The improvements in the present study lead to the refinement of the dose estimation.

Application of topographical source model for air dose rates conversions in aerial radiation monitoring

After the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) accident in 2011, aerial radiation monitoring (ARM) using a manned helicopter was conducted to rapidly measure air dose rates and the deposition of radioactive nuclides over a large area. Typically, the air dose rate is obtained by conversion from the count rate using conventional flat source model (FSM). The converted dose rate obtained via aerial monitoring poorly matches the results of ground measurement in the mountain and forest areas because FSM does not consider topographical effects. To improve the conversion accuracy, we developed new methods to analyze aerial monitoring data using topographical source model (TSM) based on the analytical calculation of the gamma-ray flux. The ARM results converted using both FSM as well as TSM were compared with ground measurement data obtained after the FDNPS accident. By using TSM, the conversion accuracy was improved. In addition, to determine a parameter sensitive to topographical effects, we examined five parameters and it was clear that the difference between the elevation just below the helicopter and the mean elevation within the measurement area was the most influential.

Updating source term and atmospheric dispersion simulations for the dose reconstruction in Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Accident

In order to assess the radiological dose to the public resulting from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) accident in Japan, especially for the early phase of the accident when no measured data are available for that purpose, the spatial and temporal distribution of radioactive materials in the environment are reconstructed by computer simulations. In this study, by refining the source term of radioactive materials discharged into the atmosphere and modifying the atmospheric transport, dispersion and deposition model (ATDM), the atmospheric dispersion simulation of radioactive materials is improved. Then, a database of spatiotemporal distribution of radioactive materials in the air and on the ground surface is developed from the output of the simulation. This database is used in other studies for the dose assessment by coupling with the behavioral pattern of evacuees from the FDNPS accident. By the improvement of the ATDM simulation to use a new meteorological model and sophisticated deposition scheme, the ATDM simulations reproduced well the 137 Cs and 131 I deposition patterns. For the better reproducibility of dispersion processes, further refinement of the source term was carried out by optimizing it to the improved ATDM simulation by using new monitoring data.

Verification of Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident

Verification of Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident