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Temporal and spatial variations of 137Cs in the waters off a nuclear fuel reprocessing facility in Rokkasho, Aomori, Japan

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Abstract

Five survey cruises were carried out from 2004 to 2007 to determine 137Cs concentrations in the water columns off Rokkasho Village, Aomori Prefecture, Japan, where the spent nuclear fuel reprocessing plant of Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd has been undergoing test operation since March 2006. Seawater samples were collected with a large volume in situ filtration and concentration system at different depths in the water column. 137Cs in particulate form could not be detected in the survey area. Dissolved 137Cs showed temporal variation, especially in the surface water. Based on the results, it was concluded that no observable 137Cs contamination was present in the investigated area. The distribution of 137Cs concentrations was influenced by the mixing between the Tsugaru and Oyashio Currents.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the officers and crew of the M/V Kaiyu and Kaiko Maru No.5 (Offshore Operation Co., Ltd.) for their collaboration in sampling. We express our thanks to members of Nichiyu-giken Co. Ltd and Marine Work Japan Ltd for their support in sampling and maintenance of the LV-FiCS. We are grateful to members of the Nakaminato Laboratory for Marine Radioecology, National Institute of Radiological Sciences for their support in sampling and for valuable discussions. This research was supported by the Special Account Budget of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

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Author notes

  1. Takahiro Nakanishi

    Present address: Research Group for Environmental Science, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Shirakata-Shirane 2-4, Tokai-mura, Naka-gun, Ibaraki, 319-1195, Japan

  2. Masashi Kusakabe

    Present address: Fundamental Technology Center, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Anagawa 4-9-1, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nakaminato Laboratory for Marine Radioecology, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Isozaki-cho 3609, Hitachinaka, Ibaraki, 311-1202, Japan

    Takahiro Nakanishi, Tatsuo Aono, Masatoshi Yamada & Masashi Kusakabe

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  1. Takahiro Nakanishi
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  2. Tatsuo Aono
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  3. Masatoshi Yamada
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  4. Masashi Kusakabe
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Correspondence to Takahiro Nakanishi.

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Nakanishi, T., Aono, T., Yamada, M. et al. Temporal and spatial variations of 137Cs in the waters off a nuclear fuel reprocessing facility in Rokkasho, Aomori, Japan. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 283, 831–838 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-009-0422-y

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