Large-scale agricultural soil and food sampling and radioactivity analysis during nuclear emergencies in Japan: Development of technical and organisational procedures for soil and food sampling after the accident

Most available measurement methods and protocols for radioactive materials are focused on the use of high-precision sampling and analysis and do not consider the practicality of these techniques in the case of large-scale emergencies involving high numbers of samples and measurements. The experience gained after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident has demonstrated a need for optimization of sampling and measurement programmes in the case of nuclear emergency that affects food and agriculture. Under these conditions, resources for implementation of monitoring and allocations for sampling and measurements might be limited, and urgent information is needed for effective emergency response. This paper supplies a historical overview of sampling and analytical techniques for assessment of radionuclides in the agricultural environments and foodstuffs and is intended for use in research, policy and decision-making in nuclear emergency preparedness and response, particularly with respect to large scale accidents.