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Characterization of radiocesium-bearing microparticles with different morphologies in soil around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant

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Abstract

Radiocesium-bearing microparticles (CsMPs) from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) are observed in Eastern Japan. To examine their source and formation, multiple particles were isolated from soils from three sites around the FDNPP and their radioactivity, morphology, and elemental composition were analyzed. Cesium-137 radioactivity ranged from 0.23 to 8.57 Bq and particles were primarily composed of Si, Fe, Zn, C, and Cs at each site. Uranium-rich parts in certain CsMPs show their origin in the vicinity of the nuclear reactor. Our results will help characterize CsMPs and evaluate the internal dose exposure of personnel employed at the FDNPP.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank T. Urushidate and S. Ito of Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) for support with the laboratory work; Y. Satou of JAEA for support with radioactivity measurements; and A. Hidaka of JAEA for providing helpful suggestions. Finally, the authors thank their colleagues in the Collaborative Laboratories for Advanced Decommissioning Science of JAEA for comments and discussions.

Funding

This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number JP18K14161.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Collaborative Laboratories for Advanced Decommissioning Science, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, 45-169 Kaihama-sukakeba, Haramachi, Minamisoma, Fukushima, 975-0036, Japan

    Hiroki Hagiwara, Hironori Funaki & Yukihisa Sanada

  2. PESCO Co., Ltd., 2-5-12 Higashishinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-0021, Japan

    Natsu Shiribiki & Marina Kanno

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  1. Hiroki Hagiwara
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  2. Hironori Funaki
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  3. Natsu Shiribiki
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  4. Marina Kanno
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  5. Yukihisa Sanada
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Correspondence to Hiroki Hagiwara.

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Hagiwara, H., Funaki, H., Shiribiki, N. et al. Characterization of radiocesium-bearing microparticles with different morphologies in soil around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 331, 415–426 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-021-08061-8

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