• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제42권3호
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• pp.166-175
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• 2017

Background: This study presents food ingestion standards for radioactivity that can be applied in nuclear emergency exposure situations, and discusses the validity of the current domestic standards. Materials and Methods: This study derived food ingestion standards for radiocesium and radioiodine using domestic food intake rates and intervention levels, which serve as a basis for determining the necessity of public protective actions, and then compared them with the existing guidelines. Operational intervention levels were also derived using domestic food intake rates, and were compared with those of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Results and Discussion: The derived activity concentrations for food ingestion standards of radiocesium for infants were higher than those in the Act on Physical Protection and Radiological Emergency (APPRE) for all food categories, while for adults, the derived activity concentrations for drinking water and milk appeared to be slightly lower. The derived activity concentrations for vegetables, fruits, and grains were greater than those in the guidelines of the APPRE, while the derived activity concentrations for meat and seafood were similar to those in the APPRE. The derived activity concentrations for radioiodine were greater than both domestic and global standards. The calculated operational intervention levels (OILs) based on domestic food intake rates were greater than the IAEA's default OIL6 values for most radionuclides, except for a few ${\alpha}$-radionuclides. Conclusion: The current domestic guidelines turned out to be conservative overall, compared to the present results that were calculated using domestic food intake rates. It is recommended that the domestic guidelines should be revised and complemented transparently through an in-depth review by stakeholders on a solid scientific basis.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.184-193
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• 2021

Background: The radionuclides released by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident 9 years ago are still being monitored by various research teams and the Japanese government. Comparison of different surveys' results could help evaluate the exposure doses and the mechanism of radiocesium behavior in the urban environment in the area. In this study, we clarified the relationship between land use and temporal changes in the ambient dose rates (air dose rates) using big data. Materials and Methods: We set a series of 1 × 1 km² meshes within the 80 km zone of the FDNPP to compare the different survey results. We then prepared an analysis dataset from all survey meshes to analyze the temporal change in the air dose rate. The selected meshes included data from all survey types (airborne, fixed point, backpack, and carborne) obtained through the all-time survey campaigns. Results and Discussion: The characteristics of each survey's results were then evaluated using this dataset, as they depended on the measurement object. The dataset analysis revealed that, for example, the results of the carborne survey were smaller than those of the other surveys because the field of view of the carborne survey was limited to paved roads. The location factor of different land uses was also evaluated considering the characteristics of the four survey methods. Nine years after the FDNPP accident, the location factor ranged from 0.26 to 0.49, while the half-life of the air dose rate ranged from 1.2 to 1.6. Conclusion: We found that the decreasing trend in the air dose rate of the FDNPP accident was similar to the results obtained after the Chernobyl accident. These parameters will be useful for the prediction of the future exposure dose at the post-accident.

• Mycobiology
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• 제45권1호
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• pp.15-19
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• 2017

This study proposed a rapid method to quantify the colonization rate of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in plant roots. The method involved the use of an image analysis software (WinRHIZO Pro). The colonization rate is defined as the ratio of the fungal body to the plant root area in a micrograph. Three seedlings of Chengiopanax sciadophylloides, a woody species that accumulates radiocesium, were collected from a secondary forest in the Yamakiya district of Kawamata, Fukushima Prefecture during May-September 2014. The colonization of AMF structures was examined under a light microscope, and the percentage of colonization was determined using the WinRHIZO method. The superiority of the new method was verified by comparing with a modified grid-line intersect method. The colonization of AMF was confirmed in all the seedlings, and a significant coefficient of determination ($R^2=0.94$) was found with both the methods. The results suggested that the WinRHIZO method is reliable for estimating the colonization of AMF in C. sciadophylloides.

• 방사성폐기물학회지
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.95-114
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• 2023

During the decades after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) accident, ambient dose rates have markedly decreased when compared to those at the early state of the accident. Government projects have been continuously conducted by surveying the ambient dose rate and radiocesium distributions. Airborne surveys using crewed helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are the best methods for obtaining an overall picture of the distribution. However, ground-based surveys are required for accurate measurements near the population. The differences between these methods include the knowledge of the post depositional behavior of radionuclides in land use. The survey results form the basis for policy decisions such as lifting evacuation zones, decontamination, and other countermeasures. These surveys contain crucial findings regarding post-accident responses. This paper reviews the survey methods of government projects and current situation around the FDNPS. The visualization methods and databases of ambient dose rates are also reviewed to provide information to the population.

• 한국물환경학회지
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• 제38권1호
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• pp.10-18
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• 2022

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of soil and groundwater environment changed by wildfire on cesium adsorption and transport. Soil samples (A, B) used in the study were collected from Gangwon-do, where wildfires frequently occur, and the adsorption and transport of cesium in the samples were evaluated through batch and column experiments. As a result of the batch adsorption experiments with various concentrations of cesium (C_W ≈ 10~10⁵ ㎍/L), the adsorption distribution coefficient (K_d) of cesium was higher in sample A for all observed concentrations. It means that the adsorption capacity of sample A was higher to that of sample B, which was also confirmed through the parameters of adsorption isotherm models (Freundlich and Langmuir model) applied to the experimental results. The fixed bed column experiments simulated the actual soil and groundwater environment, and they showed that cesium was retarded approximately 43 and 27 times than a nonreactive tracer in sample A and B, respectively. In particular, a significant retardation occurred in the sample A. Although sample A contains little clays, total organic carbon (TOC) contents were 3 times greater than sample B. These results imply that particulate organic matter caused by wildfire might influence the adsorption and transport of cesium in the organic matter-rich soil and groundwater environment.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제47권1호
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• pp.30-38
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• 2022

Background: Residential areas have some factors on the external exposure of residents, who usually spend a long time in these areas. Although various survey has been carried out by the government or the research institutions after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, the mechanism of radiocesium inventory in the terrestrial zone has not been cleared. To better evaluate the radiation environment, this study investigated the temporal changes in air dose rate and ¹³⁷Cs inventories (Bq/m²) in residential areas and agricultural fields. Materials and Methods: Air dose rate and ¹³⁷Cs inventories were investigated in residential areas located in an evacuation zone at 5-8 km from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. From December 2014 to September 2018, the air dose rate distribution was investigated through a walking survey (backpack survey), which was conducted by operators carrying a γ-ray detector on their backs. Additionally, from December 2014 to January 2021, the ¹³⁷Cs inventories on paved and permeable grounds were also measured using a portable γ-ray detector. Results and Discussion: In the areas where decontamination was not performed, the air dose rate decreased faster in residential areas than in agricultural fields. Moreover, the ¹³⁷Cs inventory on paved surfaces decreased with time owing to the horizontal wash-off, while the ¹³⁷Cs inventory on permeable surfaces decreased dramatically owing to the decontamination activities. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the horizontal wash-off of ¹³⁷Cs on paved surfaces facilitated the air dose rate decrease in residential areas to a greater extent compared with agricultural fields, in which the air dose rate decreased because of the vertical migration of ¹³⁷Cs. Results of this study can explain the faster environmental restoration in a residential environment reported by previous studies.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제10권3호
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• pp.153-163
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• 1978

부지주변 환경과 관련한 방사성 고체 폐기물의 지중처분 문제는, 비록 안전하고 경제적이라 할지라도, 대단히 중요하다. 지중처분을 위한 방사성 핵중(Sr-90, Cs-137)의 이동과 물의 이동에 관한 연구가 실험실과 야외에서 수행되었다. 방사성 핵종에 대한 토양의 친화력은 알칼리성 용액에서 더 강하고, 흡착은 시간에 대한 함수관계가 있음을 나타내었다. 방사성스트론티움과 세시움의 이동율은 3.73$\times$$10^{-3}$-10.9$\times$$^{-3}$cm/day로서, 물의 이동 속도 보다 훨씬 낮은 값을 나타내었으며, 이것은 아마도 높은 이온이온교환능에 기인되는 것이다. 확산에 기초를 둔 수학적인 모형에 의거 얻은 값과 측정 트리티움의 분포가 비교되었다. 지하에서의 물의 이동 현상을 규명하는데 삼중수를 추적자료로 이용할 수 있음을 암시하고 있다.

• 한국환경농학회지
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.30-34
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• 1983

원자력시설(原子力施設)에서 방출(放出)될 수 있는 주요 핵종중(核種中)에서 $Cs^{137}$을 인위적으로 토양(土壤)에 처리(處理)하여 작물체(作物體)에 흡수(吸收), 이행(移行) 및 농축관계(濃縮關係)를 구명(究明)하고자 pot(토양(土壤)10㎏)당(當) $0.5{\sim}60{\mu}Ci$로 처리(處理)한 후 대두(大豆)를 재배(栽培)하여 다음과 같은 결과(結果)를 얻었다. 1) 공시(供試)된 $Cs^{137}$의 상기(上記) 처리농도(處理濃度)에서는 대두작물(大豆作物)의 생장저해(生長沮害) 영향을 볼 수 없었다. 2) 처리농도(處理濃度) 증가(增加)에 따라 대두작물(大豆作物)의 $Cs^{137}$흡수(吸收)는 증가(增加)하였으나 K함양(含量)은 감소(減少)하였으므로 두 이온간(間)의 길항성(拮抗性)을 보였다. 3) 생육시기별(生育時期別) 흡수량(吸收量)은 pod 형성기(形成期)까지는 증가(增加)하다 수확기(收穫期)에는 감소(減少)하는 경향을 보였고 종실(種實)에 비해 경엽부(莖葉部)에 높은 축적(蓄積)을 보였다. 4) 대두작물(大豆作物)의 $Cs^{137}$ 흡수률(吸收率)은 $0.069{\sim}0.005$의 범위로 $Cs^{137}$처리농도(處理濃度)에 따라서 감소(減少)하였고, 이행률(移行率)은 평균(平均) 38.6%였고, 종실(種實)에의 농축계수(濃縮係數) 또한 농도(濃度)의 증가(增加)에 따라 감소(減少)하였으며 $20{\mu}Ci$처리구(處理區)를 기준(基準)으로 할 경우 농축계수는 0.04 였다.