ESTIMATION OF EFFECTIVE DOSE FROM EXTERNAL EXPOSURE DUE TO SHORT-LIVED NUCLIDES IN THE PREFECTURES SURROUNDING FUKUSHIMA

Radiat Prot Dosimetry. 2018 Dec 1;182(3):370-376. doi: 10.1093/rpd/ncy075.

Abstract

The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident resulted in a release of radionuclides into the environment. Since the accident, measurements of radiation in the environment such as air dose rate and deposition density of radionuclides have been performed by various organizations and universities. In particular, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has been performing observations of air dose rate using a car-borne survey system continuously over widespread areas. Based on the data measured by JAEA, we estimated effective dose from external exposure in the prefectures surrounding Fukushima. Since car-borne survey started a few months after the accident, the main contribution to measured data comes from 137Cs and 134Cs whose half-lives are relatively long. Using air dose rate of 137Cs and 134Cs and the ratio of deposition density of short-lived nuclides to that of 137Cs and 134Cs, we also estimated contributions to the effective dose from other short-lived nuclides.

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollutants, Radioactive / analysis*
  • Cesium Radioisotopes / analysis*
  • Fukushima Nuclear Accident*
  • Half-Life
  • Humans
  • Nuclear Power Plants*
  • Radiation Dosage
  • Radiation Exposure / analysis*
  • Radiation Monitoring*

Substances

  • Air Pollutants, Radioactive
  • Cesium Radioisotopes
  • Cesium-137
  • Cesium-134