Aerosol radioactivity record in Bratislava/Slovakia following the Fukushima accident – A comparison with global fallout and the Chernobyl accident

The release of plutonium (Pu) from the 2011 Fukushima accident has raised questions on how prevalent it is in the environment and how its cycling into the biosphere compares with that from the previous Nagasaki and global-fallout sources.&#160; Here, we report on systematic sampling and analysis of soils, earthworms, and wild boar as markers of Pu in the deposition areas near the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) and Nagasaki. Highly-sensitive Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) methods were used to distinguish the Pu sourced from the FDNPS accident, and Nagasaki-detonation, from worldwide fallout Pu. We primarily used 241Pu/239Pu atom ratios, as the other typically-used Pu measures (240Pu/239Pu atom ratios, activity concentrations) were less sensitive and did not distinguish the FDNPS Pu from background in most study samples.&#160;Near the FDNPS, results indicate that five years after the accident, 0.4% &#8211; 2% of the Pu in the local soils (0-5cm) had originated from the FDNPS releases, the remainder being from global fallout.&#160; The trace amounts of FDNPS Pu (e.g., 0.02-0.04 Bq kg-1239Pu estimated in local ~3km deposition) contrasted sharply with the 134+137Cs content which was about 106 times greater than background in the same samples. The accident also contributed new Pu of ~0.3% &#8211; 3% in earthworms and ~1% &#8211; 10% in wild boar near the FDNPS. The soil and wild boar data from across the study sites consistently indicate only low levels of new accident-Pu and do not support the concept of a substantial undiscovered deposit of Pu near the FDNPS. Unlike sparsely-taken individual soil samples that might miss a Pu hotspot, the wild boar samples represent the integration of uptake throughout their entire foraging areas.&#160;Near Nagasaki, our measurements in 2016 show a lasting legacy of Pu sourced from the 1945 detonation (~93% soils, ~88% earthworm, ~96% boar in samples <5km from the Nagasaki hypocentre; the remainder from global fallout). Even with these high percentages arising from the 1945 detonation, &#160;the Pu amounts at all study sites in Japan are comparable&#160; to background fallout levels elsewhere and are orders of magnitude lower than what remains near Chernobyl. At the study areas, the dose rates from Pu to organisms, as well as to potential human consumers of wild boar meat, have been only slightly elevated above background and are orders of magnitude lower than the dose potentials from the 134,137Cs in samples from near the FDNPS. &#160;&#160;The results demonstrate progress in increasing the sensitivity of AMS methods, including the use of 241Pu/239Pu atom ratios, to compare recent and past nuclear contamination events and suggest that the Nagasaki-detonation Pu will be distinguishable in the environment long after the FDNPP-accident Pu is not.

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On the RET Rearrangements in Chernobyl-Related Thyroid Cancer

Journal of Thyroid Research ◽

10.1155/2012/373879 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-3 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Sergei V. Jargin

Keyword(s):

Thyroid Cancer ◽

Chernobyl Accident ◽

Disease Duration ◽

Medical Surveillance ◽

Fukushima Accident ◽

Screening Effect ◽

The People ◽

Radiation Induced ◽

Somatic Disorders ◽

High Level

There is a consensus that Chernobyl accident has induced thyroid cancer increase in children and adolescents. The UNSCEAR report concluded that no somatic disorders other than thyroid cancer were caused by radiation exposure due to the accident except for acute radiation sickness occurred to the people within the Power Plant at the time of the accident. A hypothesis is discussed in this paper that the increase of thyroid cancer was caused predominantly by the screening, overdiagnosis, and registration of nonirradiated persons as Chernobyl victims. A mechanism of thyroid cancer overdiagnosis is described that can be active even today, causing hypertherapy. Older neglected tumors found by the screening shortly after the Chernobyl accident or brought from noncontaminated areas were misclassified as aggressive radiation-induced cancers. Therefore, supposed markers of the radiation-induced thyroid cancer, such as the RET rearrangements, are probably associated with disease duration and tumor progression. The screening effect is obviously dependent on the basis level of medical surveillance: the higher the level, the smaller the screening effect. Absence of any significant increase of thyroid cancer after the Fukushima accident in spite of the vigorous screening would certify the high level of health care in Japan especially for children.

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Long range transport of radiocaesium derived from global fallout and the Fukushima accident in the ocean interior of the Pacific Ocean since 1960s through 2017

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-3175 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Michio Aoyama ◽

Yasunori Hamajima ◽

Yayoi Inomata ◽

Hideki Kaeriyama ◽

Yuichiro Kumamoto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Activity Concentration ◽

Global Fallout ◽

Basic Feature ◽

137Cs Activity ◽

Fukushima Accident ◽

137Cs Activity Concentration ◽

Artificial Radionuclides ◽

Shape Distribution ◽

Mode Waters ◽

Range Transport

The world's oceans act as a sink for artificial radionuclides as well as for other anthropogenic pollutants released into the environment. Owing to physical and biogeochemical processes in the ocean, artificial radionuclides in the ocean are redistributed from their initial entry points which depend on the various sources. Long range transport of radiocaesium in the ocean interior were investigated and presented. Radiocaesium were derived from global fallout which occurred mainly late 1950s and early 1960s and the Fukushima accident occurred in 2011. In the ocean interior, main factor is subduction of mode water formation from surface to two mode waters, STMW and CMW. Radiocaesium then stayed long in both STMW and CMW, but relatively first recirculation and southward movement were observed in STMW for decadal time scale.We establish database for artificial Radionuclides in the marine environment as HAM global 2018, doi: 10.34355/CRiED.U.Tsukuba.00001, and we reconstruct 137Cs activity concentration sections for 1965-1968 and 1970-1973 to understand initial conditions of 137Cs activity concentration in ocean interior just after large atmospheric fallout in early 1960s and 5 years after injection. We also carried out observations at stations between 49 deg. N and 60 deg. S along 165 deg.&#160; E in 2002, 2012 and 2015. After that, we also observed vertical profiles in the western North Pacific Ocean.&#12288;Basic feature of radiocaesium distribution along 165 deg. E section in 1963-1965 was dome shape distribution of which deepest places were around 30-40 deg. N and of which maximum depth were around 600- 800 meter depths. The penetration of 137Cs is found less than 800 m depth, associated with the bowl shape of isopycnals in the midlatitude region. In general, the 137Cs activity concentrations in the subsurface and intermediate water of the mid latitude region of the western North Pacific were higher than those in surface waters of the subtropical and equatorial Pacific. In 2002, we observed two 137Cs activity concentration maxima at 250 m and at 400 to 500 m depth at around 20 deg. N. The 137Cs activity concentration at the core at 400 to 500 m depth in 2002 was around 2 &#8211; 3 Bq m-3 and the start of moving in 1963-1965 was 16 Bq m-3 which indicates only one thirds of dilution occurred during about 40 years travel in the ocean interior as CMW. In 2012, we also observed two 134Cs activity concentration maxima at 150 m, 30 deg. N and at 300 m depth at 40N, while we observed a Fukushima derived at 300 m, 30 deg. N with southward movements. Basic feature of 137Cs distribution derived from atmospheric weapons test along 165 deg. E section in 2012 still keep dome shape distribution of which deepest places were around 30-35 deg. N and of which maximum depth were around 400 meters depths, while deepest places were around 20-30 deg. N in 2015. These findings strongly suggest that radiocaesium has been transporting in the ocean interior by subduction of mode waters from subarctic region to subtropical region and tropical region.

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COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE CONTRIBUTION OF SHORT-LIVED RADIOIODINES TO THE THYROID RADIATION DOSE FOR THE POPULATION AFTER THE CHERNOBYL AND FUKUSHIMA ACCIDENTS

Hygiene and Sanitation ◽

10.18821/0016-9900-2017-96-9-827-832 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 96 (9) ◽

pp. 827-832 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sergey M. Shinkarev ◽

A. S. Samoylov ◽

E. O. Granovskaya ◽

E. A. Korneva ◽

B. A. Kukhta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Comparative Analysis ◽

Thyroid Gland ◽

Radiation Dose ◽

Chernobyl Accident ◽

Radioactive Decay ◽

Ground Level ◽

The Body ◽

Fukushima Accident ◽

The Public ◽

Leading Role

Purpose. To present results of the comparative analysis of the contribution of short-lived radioiodines to the thyroid radiation dose (TRD) in the population after two severe radiation accidents at nuclear reactors: the Chernobyl accident (1986) and the Fukushima accident (2011). Material and methods. The contribution of short-lived radioiodines to the TRD is expressed in fractions of the TRD from 131I (the main dose forming radionuclide). This contribution takes into account the ratio between doses from inhalation and ingestion intake of 131I, the ratios between dose factors of the expected dose to the thyroid gland in the case of inhalation and ingestion intake of iodine and tellurium isotopes, the ratios between time-integrated concentration of iodine and tellurium isotopes at the ground-level air and in foodstuffs (milk). Results. The typical contribution of short-lived radioiodines to TRD for the population accounts of few percent of dose to the thyroid gland from 131I following the Chernobyl accident as on March 15, 2011, the day of the main fallout after the Fukushima accident - within 15%. For both accidents the leading role among the short-lived radioiodines in terms of dose to the thyroid for the public belongs to 133I and 132I (due to the intake of 132Te and its radioactive decay to 132I in the body). Conclusion. Significant differences in estimates of the typical contribution of short-lived radioiodines to TRD for the population after two considered accidents can be explained by differences in the dominant pathways of the intake of radioiodine by population. The dominant pathway for the vast majority of the population in the contaminated areas following the Chernobyl accident was ingestion intake with locally produced cow’s milk. Following the Fukushima accident the dominant pathway was inhalation intake, because the Japanese authorities were able to quickly prevent the intake of radioiodine with foodstuffs.

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70-year anthropogenic uranium imprints of nuclear activities in Baltic Sea sediments

10.21203/rs.3.rs-383698/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mu Lin ◽

Jixin Qiao ◽

Xiaolin Hou ◽

Olaf Dellwig ◽

Peter Steier ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Baltic Sea ◽

Chernobyl Accident ◽

Sediment Cores ◽

Water Structure ◽

Circulation Pattern ◽

Global Fallout ◽

Nuclear Industry ◽

Nuclear Facilities ◽

The Baltic Sea ◽

The Baltic

Abstract Strongly stratified water structure and densely populated catchment make the Baltic Sea one of the most polluted seas. Understanding its circulation pattern and time scale is essential to predict the dynamics of hypoxia, eutrophication, and pollutants. Anthropogenic 236U and 233U have been demonstrated as excellent transient tracers in oceanic studies, but unclear input history and inadequate long-term monitoring records limit their application in the Baltic Sea. From two dated Baltic sediment cores, we obtained high-resolution records of anthropogenic uranium imprints originated from three major human nuclear activities throughout the Atomic Era. Using the novel 233U/236U signature, we distinguished and quantified 236U inputs from global fallout (43.3%-50.5%), Chernobyl accident (< 0.9%), and discharges of civil nuclear industry (48.6%-56.7%) to the Baltic Sea. We estimated the total release of 233U (7-15kg) from the atmospheric nuclear weapons testing, and pinpointed 233U peak signal in the mid-to-late 1950s as a potential time marker for the onset of the Anthropocene Epoch. This work also provides fundamental 236U data for Chernobyl accident and early discharges from civil nuclear facilities, prompting worldwide 233U-236U tracer studies. We anticipate our data to be a broader application in model-observation interdisciplinary research on water circulation and pollutant dynamics in the Baltic Sea.

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Radiocesium in lichens and reindeer after the Chernobyl accident

Rangifer ◽

10.7557/2.10.3.826 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 55 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

K. Rissanen ◽

T. Rahola

Keyword(s):

Nuclear Weapons ◽

Chernobyl Accident ◽

Global Fallout ◽

Nuclear Safety ◽

Fresh Weight ◽

Deposition Pattern ◽

Green Plants ◽

Activity Concentrations ◽

The Mean ◽

Mean Concentration

After the Chernobyl accident the sampling and measuring program of the Finnish Centre for Radiation and Nuclear Safety was intensified both for surveillance and research purposes. The deposition pattern of radionuclides was more complicated than from the global fallout after the nuclear weapons tests. The radioactive deposition was very unevenly distributed in Lapland, as also in the rest of Finland. Fortunately, the amounts of deposition in Lapland were only about one-tenth of the corresponding amount of deposition in southern Finland. In 1986-87 the mean concentration of Cs-137 in lichens and in reindeer meat increased to about the same level as in 1972-73 or to about 30 per cent of the maximum levels found in 1964-65 after the nuclear weapons tests. The activity concentrations in reindeer tissues vary according to season. In winter, reindeer eat considerable amounts of lichens with high radiocesium concentrations. In summer, lichens are replaced by other forage such as leaves from trees, green plants, etc. The ratio of Cs-137 concentration in reindeer meat between summer and winter is about 0.2. The mean concentration of Cs-137 in meat for consumption from the slaughtering period 1986-87 was 720 Bq/kg fresh weight. After that time concentrations started decreasing since no new fallout was deposited.

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Aerosol radioactivity monitoring in Bratislava following the Chernobyl accident

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry ◽

10.1007/bf02164550 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 126 (6) ◽

pp. 467-478 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

P. Povinec ◽

M. Chudý ◽

I. Sýkora ◽

J. Szarka ◽

M. Pikna ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chernobyl Accident ◽

Radioactivity Monitoring ◽

Aerosol Radioactivity

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Long-range transport of radiocaesium derived from global fallout and the Fukushima accident in the Pacific Ocean since 1953 through 2017—Part I: Source term and surface transport

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry ◽

10.1007/s10967-018-6244-z ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 318 (3) ◽

pp. 1519-1542 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Michio Aoyama

Keyword(s):

Pacific Ocean ◽

Long Range ◽

Source Term ◽

Global Fallout ◽

Long Range Transport ◽

Fukushima Accident ◽

Surface Transport ◽

The Pacific ◽

Range Transport ◽

The Pacific Ocean

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Long Term Temporal Changes of 90Sr and 137Cs in Seawater, Bottom Sediment and Marine Organism Samples - from the Chernobyl Accident to Immediately after the Fukushima Accident -

BUNSEKI KAGAKU ◽

10.2116/bunsekikagaku.62.455 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 62 (6) ◽

pp. 455-474 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Shinji OIKAWA ◽

Teruhisa WATABE ◽

Hyoe TAKATA ◽

Chiyoshi SUZUKI ◽

Motokazu NAKAHARA ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bottom Sediment ◽

Chernobyl Accident ◽

Marine Organism ◽

Temporal Changes ◽

Fukushima Accident

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Cesium, iodine and tritium in NW Pacific waters – a comparison of the Fukushima impact with global fallout

Biogeosciences Discussions ◽

10.5194/bgd-10-6377-2013 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 6377-6416 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

P. P. Povinec ◽

M. Aoyama ◽

D. Biddulph ◽

R. Breier ◽

K. Buesseler ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pacific Ocean ◽

Water Column ◽

General Circulation ◽

Nuclear Power ◽

Sampling Site ◽

Circulation Model ◽

Global Fallout ◽

Ocean General Circulation Model ◽

Fukushima Accident ◽

137Cs Inventory

Abstract. Radionuclide impact of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident on the distribution of radionuclides in seawater of the NW Pacific Ocean is compared with global fallout from atmospheric tests of nuclear weapons. Surface and water column seawater samples collected during the international expedition in June 2011 were analyzed for 134Cs, 137Cs, 129I and 3H. The 137Cs, 129I and 3H levels in surface seawater offshore Fukushima varied between 0.002–3.5 Bq L−1, 0.01–0.8 μ Bq L−1, and 0.05–0.15 Bq L−1, respectively. At the sampling site about 40 km from the coast, where all three radionuclides were analyzed, the Fukushima impact on the levels of these three radionuclides represent an increase above the global fallout background by factors of about 1000, 30 and 3, respectively. The water column data indicate that the transport of Fukushima-derived radionuclides downward to the depth of 300 m has already occurred. The observed 137Cs levels in surface waters and in the water column are in reasonable agreement with predictions obtained from the Ocean General Circulation Model, which indicates that the radionuclides have been transported from the Fukushima coast eastward. The 137Cs inventory in the water column (the area from 34 to 37° N, and from 142 to 147° E) due to the Fukushima accident is estimated to be about 2.2 PBq. The amount of 129I and 3H released and deposited on the NW Pacific Ocean after the Fukushima accident was estimated to be about 7 GBq and 0.1 PBq, respectively. Due to a suitable residence time in the ocean, Fukushima-derived radionuclides will provide useful tracers for isotope oceanography studies on the transport of water masses in the NW Pacific Ocean.

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