Discovery of non-spherical heterogeneous radiocesium-bearing particles not derived from Unit 1 of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant, in residences five years after the accident. (October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Higaki, Shogo; Kurihara, Yuichi; Yoshida, Hiroko; Takahashi, Yoshio; Shinohara, Naohide
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental radioactivity. Volume 177(2017)
• Page Start: 65
• Page End: 70
• Publication Date: 2017-10
• Subjects: Fukushima -- Radiocesium-bearing particles -- Radioactivity -- Cesium -- Pollution; Radioactivity -- Periodicals; Radiation, Background -- Periodicals; Radioecology -- Periodicals; Radioactive pollution -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollutants -- Periodicals; Radioactive Pollutants -- Periodicals; Radioactivity -- Periodicals; Radioécologie -- Périodiques; Pollution radioactive -- Périodiques; Fond de rayonnement -- Périodiques; 539.752
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.06.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0265-931X

Abstract

Abstract: Non-spherical heterogeneous radiocesium-bearing particles were found on masks worn during cleaning work in residences near the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP), from which residents had evacuated. Three slightly larger (6.6–12 μm) non-spherical radiocesium-bearing particles were found in a residence in Futaba Town, a straight distance of 2.11 km west-northwest from the FDNPP. These were collected on October 25, 2016, 5 years and 7 months after the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear disaster and were presumed to originate from the Plant's Unit 2 based on the measured radioactivity ratio of 134 Cs/ 137 Cs. The main elemental composition was similar to particles already reported in other studies. However, this is the first time that such particles had a clearly heterogeneous distribution. Highlights: Unusual radioactive particles were found near the Fukushima Daiichi plant. These particles remained inside a house in 2016, 5 years after the accident. These particles' composition and structure are different from any previously known.