Fukushima and Chernobyl: Similarities and Differences of Radiocesium Behavior in the Soil–Water Environment

Abstract

In the wake of Chernobyl and Fukushima accidents, radiocesium has become a radionuclide of most environmental concern. The ease with which this radionuclide moves through the environment and is taken up by plants and animals is governed by its chemical forms and site-specific environmental characteristics. Distinctions in climate and geomorphology, as well as 137Cs speciation in the fallout, result in differences in the migration rates of 137Cs in the environment and rates of its natural attenuation. In Fukushima areas, 137Cs was strongly bound to soil and sediment particles, with its bioavailability being reduced as a result. Up to 80% of the deposited 137Cs on the soil was reported to be incorporated in hot glassy particles (CsMPs) insoluble in water. Disintegration of these particles in the environment is much slower than that of Chernobyl-derived fuel particles. The higher annual precipitation and steep slopes in Fukushima-contaminated areas are conducive to higher erosion and higher total radiocesium wash-off. Among the common features in the 137Cs behavior in Chernobyl and Fukushima are a slow decrease in the 137Cs activity concentration in small, closed, and semi-closed lakes and its particular seasonal variations: increase in the summer and decrease in the winter.

A model to predict indoor concentrations and internal radiation doses of radioactive aerosols from nuclear accidents

“…The estimations in table 6 are just a demonstration to show how the doses are calculated in this model, but they do not provide real figures for the dose levels. Due to the existence of many effects, the radiation doses are actually expected to be much higher than those shown in table 6. First of all, there is the effect of the severity of the accident, and how much radiation released from it.…”

“…The * f8 tally is used to calculate the deposited energies inside the organs. With number of histories 10 , 6 the estimated internal radiation doses are shown in table 6. The estimations in table 6 are just a demonstration to show how the doses are calculated in this model, but they do not provide real figures for the dose levels.…”

“…Radioactive aerosols are not formed by only nuclear disasters [5], but they can be created by any nuclear reactions that may take place due to human activities like nuclear accelerators and nuclear reactors. Some of the radionuclides associated with the radioactive aerosols are of a long half-life and therefore they can have extended years affecting us [6]. After being formed, the radioactive aerosols can spread from where they were created to other areas and places including dwellings and workplaces.…”

Natural and Artificial Radioactivity Concentrations and Health Risks due to Radionuclides in the Soil of Nevşehir (Cappadocia)

“…However, since radionuclide concentrations differ from region to region, radionuclide activity concentration and radiological parameters should be evaluated separately for each region. The behavior of artificial radionuclides depends on their chemical form in the fallout and environmental properties [17]. In addition to natural radiation, the identification of artificial radionuclides by Gamma measurements is an important factor in predicting the fate of current and future nuclear fallout.…”

ISTURBANCE OF THE KINETICS OF CELL POPULATIONS OF THE EPITHELIAL TISSUE OF THE PERIODONTS IN CHRONIC PERIODONTITIS IN THE OFFSPRING OF INTACT AND Γ-Iradiated RATS

“…Вступ. Дія на організм людини іонізуючого випромінювання стає однією з визначальних у формуванні генофонду та здоров'я населення [1][2][3][4][5].…”