Nuclear FalloutContact | Risk | Exposure
Following the hydrogen explosions previously discussed. Nuclear fission materials were released into the air. Fig. 1 shows the different levels of radioactive contamination for Fukushima and the surrounding prefectures. Environmental According to the study linked with the provided figure, there was a significant decrease in nuclear fission materials present in the air due to rain fall directly after the disaster. To this day the environmental impacts of the Fukushima Daiichi disaster are being studied. The area surrounding the power plant is still considered to be unlivable. In another study that was published by the Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology[1], plume exposure is estimated by doing a reverse calculation of release rates of the radionuclides. The study looked for air concentrations of iodine and cesium by sampling gaseous particulate forms in surrounding areas. The video located on the bottom of this page shows an example of how environmental current pattern in the air and oceans can be used to show the dispersion of contaminated radioactive particles can be calculated and estimated. Human The Japanese government asked for assistance from local agencies to measure the amount of radioactive exposure in residents in the surrounding Fukushima power plant. In the article [2] by Suminori Akiba, Akiba denotes the risk of thyroid cancer risk in children due to the exposure to excess iodine. The half-life of the radioactive iodine released in the Fukushima disaster has a half-life of 8 days. This decay made it extremely difficult to accurately measure the level of exposure. The investigation of radiation exposure is not only imperative to risk evaluation but also to help inform the residents of their risk for epidemiological concerns. The exposure risk for cesium is different as the half-life for Cs-137 and Cs-134 are 30 years and 2 years, respectively. The exposure to radioactive fission materials will be an ongoing concern for residents of the effected areas. All initial observations of exposed residents indicated that the response to this nuclear accident was better handled then that of Chernobyl. Ongoing investigation is the best course of action to monitor the spread of exposure, and each individuals risk. |
Fig. 1
Topographic map of the surveyed area including Fukushima and its adjacent prefectures. Fitzgerald, J., Wollner, S. B., Adalja, A. A., Morhard, R., Cicero, A., & Inglesby, T. V. (2012). AFTER FUKUSHIMA: MANAGING THE CONSEQUENCES OF A RADIOLOGICAL RELEASE. Biosecurity and Bioterrorism-Biodefense Strategy Practice and Science, 10(2), 228-236. doi: 10.1089/bsp.2012.0021 Stock photo
http://www.cbc.ca/news2/interactives/japan-fukushima/gfx/japan-evacuationzones-780.jpg
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Video: https://youtu.be/7eh4nBVJTsw
[1]Chino, Masamichi, et al. "Preliminary estimation of release amounts of 131I and 137Cs accidentally discharged from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the atmosphere." Journal of nuclear science and technology 48.7 (2011): 1129-1134.
[2]Akiba, Suminori. "Epidemiological studies of Fukushima residents exposed to ionising radiation from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant prefecture—a preliminary review of current plans." Journal of Radiological Protection 32.1 (2012): 1.
[1]Chino, Masamichi, et al. "Preliminary estimation of release amounts of 131I and 137Cs accidentally discharged from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the atmosphere." Journal of nuclear science and technology 48.7 (2011): 1129-1134.
[2]Akiba, Suminori. "Epidemiological studies of Fukushima residents exposed to ionising radiation from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant prefecture—a preliminary review of current plans." Journal of Radiological Protection 32.1 (2012): 1.