Abstract
The Tohoku earthquake and tsunami occurred off the Pacific coast of Japan in March 2011 and caused the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident. To assess the distribution of artificial radionuclides in Miyagi Prefecture (northeastern Japan), we measured the activity concentrations of 110mAg, 129mTe, 134Cs, and 137Cs in surface soil samples that were collected from 60-190 km north of the power plant approximately 1 month (April 16-29, 2011) after the earthquake. Since the studied samples were obtained from depths of 0-1 cm, the activity concentrations we determined were higher than those reported by the Japanese Government, whose measurements were based on soil samples obtained from depths of 0-5 cm. We found relatively high concentrations of radionuclides in surface soils in the southern and northern parts of Miyagi Prefecture. In the south, close to the border with Fukushima Prefecture, the total activity concentrations in the period April 16-29, 2011, reached approximately 27,600 Bq/kg dry soil. Relatively high total concentrations (2600-6600 Bq/kg dry soil) were also found in the northern part of Miyagi Prefecture (north Osaki, Kurihara, and Kesen-numa), but relatively low concentrations (400-1900 Bq/kg dry soil) were found in Sendai city and other areas in central Miyagi Prefecture (Higashimatsushima, south Osaki, Ishinomaki, and Onagawa). The concentrations found are consistent with the spatial variation in radiation dose rates in the air in Miyagi Prefecture.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 279-285 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Geochemical Journal |
| Volume | 46 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2012 Jan 1 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Caesium
- Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident
- Miyagi Prefecture
- Radioactivity
- Surface soils
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geophysics
- Geochemistry and Petrology
Cite this
Distribution of artificial radionuclides (110mAg, 129mTe, 134Cs, 137Cs) in surface soils from Miyagi Prefecture, northeast Japan, following the 2011 Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident. / Watanabe, Takahiro; Tsuchiya, Noriyoshi; Oura, Yasuji; Ebihara, Mitsuru; Inoue, Chihiro; Hirano, Nobuo; Yamada, Ryoichi; Yamasaki, Shin Ichi; Okamoto, Atsushi; Nara, Fumiko Watanabe; Nunohara, Keishi.
In: Geochemical Journal, Vol. 46, No. 4, 01.01.2012, p. 279-285.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Distribution of artificial radionuclides (110mAg, 129mTe, 134Cs, 137Cs) in surface soils from Miyagi Prefecture, northeast Japan, following the 2011 Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident
AU - Watanabe, Takahiro
AU - Tsuchiya, Noriyoshi
AU - Oura, Yasuji
AU - Ebihara, Mitsuru
AU - Inoue, Chihiro
AU - Hirano, Nobuo
AU - Yamada, Ryoichi
AU - Yamasaki, Shin Ichi
AU - Okamoto, Atsushi
AU - Nara, Fumiko Watanabe
AU - Nunohara, Keishi
PY - 2012/1/1
Y1 - 2012/1/1
N2 - The Tohoku earthquake and tsunami occurred off the Pacific coast of Japan in March 2011 and caused the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident. To assess the distribution of artificial radionuclides in Miyagi Prefecture (northeastern Japan), we measured the activity concentrations of 110mAg, 129mTe, 134Cs, and 137Cs in surface soil samples that were collected from 60-190 km north of the power plant approximately 1 month (April 16-29, 2011) after the earthquake. Since the studied samples were obtained from depths of 0-1 cm, the activity concentrations we determined were higher than those reported by the Japanese Government, whose measurements were based on soil samples obtained from depths of 0-5 cm. We found relatively high concentrations of radionuclides in surface soils in the southern and northern parts of Miyagi Prefecture. In the south, close to the border with Fukushima Prefecture, the total activity concentrations in the period April 16-29, 2011, reached approximately 27,600 Bq/kg dry soil. Relatively high total concentrations (2600-6600 Bq/kg dry soil) were also found in the northern part of Miyagi Prefecture (north Osaki, Kurihara, and Kesen-numa), but relatively low concentrations (400-1900 Bq/kg dry soil) were found in Sendai city and other areas in central Miyagi Prefecture (Higashimatsushima, south Osaki, Ishinomaki, and Onagawa). The concentrations found are consistent with the spatial variation in radiation dose rates in the air in Miyagi Prefecture.
AB - The Tohoku earthquake and tsunami occurred off the Pacific coast of Japan in March 2011 and caused the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident. To assess the distribution of artificial radionuclides in Miyagi Prefecture (northeastern Japan), we measured the activity concentrations of 110mAg, 129mTe, 134Cs, and 137Cs in surface soil samples that were collected from 60-190 km north of the power plant approximately 1 month (April 16-29, 2011) after the earthquake. Since the studied samples were obtained from depths of 0-1 cm, the activity concentrations we determined were higher than those reported by the Japanese Government, whose measurements were based on soil samples obtained from depths of 0-5 cm. We found relatively high concentrations of radionuclides in surface soils in the southern and northern parts of Miyagi Prefecture. In the south, close to the border with Fukushima Prefecture, the total activity concentrations in the period April 16-29, 2011, reached approximately 27,600 Bq/kg dry soil. Relatively high total concentrations (2600-6600 Bq/kg dry soil) were also found in the northern part of Miyagi Prefecture (north Osaki, Kurihara, and Kesen-numa), but relatively low concentrations (400-1900 Bq/kg dry soil) were found in Sendai city and other areas in central Miyagi Prefecture (Higashimatsushima, south Osaki, Ishinomaki, and Onagawa). The concentrations found are consistent with the spatial variation in radiation dose rates in the air in Miyagi Prefecture.
KW - Caesium
KW - Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident
KW - Miyagi Prefecture
KW - Radioactivity
KW - Surface soils
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U2 - 10.2343/geochemj.2.0205
DO - 10.2343/geochemj.2.0205
M3 - Article
VL - 46
SP - 279
EP - 285
JO - Geochemical Journal
JF - Geochemical Journal
SN - 0016-7002
IS - 4
ER -