Comparison of the accident process, radioactivity release and ground contamination between Chernobyl and Fukushima-1

Abstract

In this report, we have reviewed the basic features of the accident processes and radioactivity releases that occurred in the Chernobyl accident (1986) and in the Fukushima-1 accident (2011). The Chernobyl accident was a power-surge accident that was caused by a failure of control of a fission chain reaction, which instantaneously destroyed the reactor and building, whereas the Fukushima-1 accident was a loss-of-coolant accident in which the reactor cores of three units were melted by decay heat after losing the electricity supply. Although the quantity of radioactive noble gases released from Fukushima-1 exceeded the amount released from Chernobyl, the size of land area severely contaminated by 137Cesium (137Cs) was 10 times smaller around Fukushima-1 compared with around Chernobyl. The differences in the accident process are reflected in the composition of the discharged radioactivity as well as in the composition of the ground contamination. Volatile radionuclides (such as 132Te-132I, 131I, 134Cs and 137Cs) contributed to the gamma-ray exposure from the ground contamination around Fukishima-1, whereas a greater variety of radionuclides contributed significantly around Chernobyl. When radioactivity deposition occurred, the radiation exposure rate near Chernobyl is estimated to have been 770 μGy h−1 per initial 137Cs deposition of 1000 kBq m−2, whereas it was 100 μGy h−1 around Fukushima-1. Estimates of the cumulative exposure for 30 years are 970 and 570 mGy per initial deposition of 1000 kBq m−2 for Chernobyl and Fukusima-1, respectively. Of these exposures, 49 and 98% were contributed by radiocesiums (134Cs + 137Cs) around Chernobyl and Fukushima-1, respectively.

30 years of European Commission Radioactivity Environmental Monitoring data bank (REMdb) – an open door to boost environmental radioactivity research

“…As a consequence of anthropogenic activities, such as Chernobyl and Fukushima (e.g. Imanaka et al, 2015), detonations of nuclear weapons (e.g. Gabrieli et al, 2011), nuclear waste handling and disposal, medical procedures (e.g.…”

Prolonged elevated body mass index in preschool children after the Great East Japan Earthquake

“…It also generated giant tsunamis inflicting serious damage to areas including the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). The disaster resulted in 15 893 deaths and 2,572 missing individuals, and the cumulative radiation exposure for 30 years was estimated to be 570 mGy per initial deposition of 1,000 kBq/m 2 . It was one of the greatest natural disasters occurring in more recent times, being an unprecedented triple disaster: that is, an earthquake, a tsunami, and an NPP accident …”

“…The disaster resulted in 15 893 deaths and 2,572 missing individuals, 2 and the cumulative radiation exposure for 30 years was estimated to be 570 mGy per initial deposition of 1,000 kBq/ m 2 . 3 It was one of the greatest natural disasters occurring in more recent times, being an unprecedented triple disaster: that is, an earthquake, a tsunami, and an NPP accident. 4,5 During the past 60 years, five major nuclear accidents have occurred: Kyshtym in 1957, Windscale Piles in 1957, Three Mile Island in 1979, Chernobyl in 1986, and Fukushima in 2011.…”

Kerma conversion factors for modern glass buildings in radioactively contaminated areas

“…For each height and scenario separate computations were performed for sources that were defined as surfaces on top of the ground, trees, walls, and roofs. The source energies were monoenergetic sources of 0.662 MeV representing 137 Cs, which has been of main concern regarding long term effects (Imanaka et al 2015) in connection with the Chernobyl and Fukushima incidents, 0.3 MeV or 3.0 MeV to get an impression of the behaviour of the kerma for lower and higher primary gamma energies.…”