Long-term predictions of ambient dose equivalent rates after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident |
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Authors: | Sakae Kinase Tomoyuki Takahashi Kimiaki Saito |
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Affiliation: | 1. Fukushima Environmental Safety Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Tokai-mura, Naka-gun, Ibaraki, Japan;2. Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ibaraki University, Mito, Ibaraki, Japan;3. Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Kyoto University, Kumatori-cho, Sennan-gun, Osaka, 590-0494, Japan |
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Abstract: | To analyze radiation protection strategies and rehabilitation programs in Fukushima, prediction models have been developed for ambient dose equivalent rate distributions within the 80 km-radius around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The prediction models characterized by ecological half-lives of radioactive caesium for land-use, enable Fukushima residents to obtain distribution maps of ambient dose equivalent rates after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident. Model parameters such as the ecological half-lives for the short-term component and the fractional distribution of short-term component were evaluated using ambient dose equivalent rates through car/vehicle-borne surveys. It was found that the ecological half-lives among land-use differ only slightly, whereas the fractional distributions of the short-term component are clearly dependent on land-use. In addition, uncertainties concerning predictions of ambient dose equivalent rates arising from variability in model parameters were assessed using Monte Carlo simulations. Long-term changes of ambient dose equivalent rates were predicted for different land-use areas. Distribution maps of ambient dose equivalent rates for the next 30 years after the accident, created by the prediction models are expected to be useful for follow-up of the radiological situation since they provide information on the space variation of the ambient dose equivalent rates in inhabited areas. |
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Keywords: | Ambient dose equivalent rate ecological half-life prediction model long-term contaminated area existing exposure situation radiological protection Fukushima |
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