Fukushima set for epic clean-up

DOI: 10.1038/472146a

Keywords: RADIOISOTOPES ,MARINE pollution, CHERNOBYL,JAPAN, UKRAINE,FUKUSHIMA Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

Abstract: The article focuses on the clean-up strategies related to the damaged nuclear reactors of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan. Environmental and radiological health expert at Colorado State University Ward Whicker suggest that sampling efforts in the locations of the nuclear accident are necessary to monitor radionuclides concentration in the marine environment. Moreover, similar strategy at Chernobyl Nuclear Accident in Ukraine in 1986 is being considered.

URL: http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110411/full/472146a.html

Specific activity and activity ratios of radionuclides in soil collected about 20 km from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant: Radionuclide release to the south and southwest.

Title:Specific activity and activity ratios of radionuclides in soil collected about 20 km from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant: Radionuclide release to the south and southwest.

Author: Tagami, Keiko / Uchida, Shigeo / Uchihori, Yukio / Ishii, Nobuyoshi / Kitamura, Hisashi / Shirakawa, Yoshiyuki

Reference: The Science of the total environment, 409 (22), p.4885-4888, Oct 2011

doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.07.067

Keywords: Radioactivity ratio; Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant; Soil; Cesium-137; Cesium-134; Iodine-131

Abstract: ► Soil samples were collected at about 20 km south of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. ► The concentrations of ¹³¹I, ^{134, 136, 137}Cs and ^129mTe were obtained, but ¹⁰³Ru was not. ► This suggests that noble gasses and volatile radionuclides predominated in the releases. ► Activity ratio of ¹³⁴Cs/¹³⁷Cs from the power plant to the south was abound 0.90.

URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21906779?dopt=Abstract