Variation of 14C in Japanese Tree Rings Related to the Fukushima Nuclear Accident

Radiocarbon ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 61 (4) ◽  
pp. 1029-1040 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamás Varga ◽  
László Palcsu ◽  
Tomoko Ohta ◽  
Yasunori Mahara ◽  
A J Timothy Jull ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Tree Rings ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Sampling Site ◽  
Japanese Cedar ◽  
Component Ratio ◽  
Japanese Island ◽  
Suess Effect ◽  
Anthropogenic Component ◽  
Modeling Data

ABSTRACTRadiocarbon (14C) analysis was performed on Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) tree rings from Koriyama, Fukushima prefecture. Our primary aim was to detect any 14C release from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident on 11 March 2011. We also completed and assessed the 14C level in Japanese tree rings for the period of 1990–2014 because of the lack of environmental 14C results in the Japanese island that time. For this reason, we used a trajectory model to investigate the air mass forward and backward trajectories at the area of the power plant and sampling site. The modeling data show that the air masses mainly moved to the Pacific Ocean, both during March 2011 and during the growing season (March–September). During the period 1990–2014 there was no significant 14C excess in any of the samples, but there was a detectable Suess effect in almost every tree ring sample. The average fossil contribution was 0.83 ± 0.01% and the calculated anthropogenic component ratio, the 14C excess varied between +0.5 and –1.6%. The Δ14C value decreased from 150.0‰ to 9.5‰ from 1990–2014, which follows the decline of the 14C bomb peak, in addition to any detectable Suess effect.

Annual Variations of 14C Concentration in the Tree Rings in the Vicinity of Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant

Radiocarbon ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 1227-1236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Žilvinas Ežerinskis ◽  
Justina Šapolaitė ◽  
Algirdas Pabedinskas ◽  
Laurynas Juodis ◽  
Andrius Garbaras ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Tree Rings ◽  
Environmental Samples ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Time Span ◽  
Annual Variations ◽  
Pine Tree ◽  
Accelerator Mass Spectrometer ◽  
Concentration Changes

ABSTRACTIn this paper we analyze the radiocarbon (14C) concentration changes over the whole operational period of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (INPP) including the post-shutdown decommissioning. Environmental samples from the vicinity of the INPP and a rural area as background of pine tree rings were analyzed with the single stage accelerator mass spectrometer (SSAMS). The analysis shows the local influence of the INPP from 3 to 7 pMC. The whole time span from 1983 to 2015 is divided into three periods representing the early and late operational and post-shutdown stages of the INPP with different 14C profiles in analyzed samples. The influence of the maintenance of the INPP and radioactive waste management activities are indicated and discussed.

scholarly journals Environmental 14C Levels Around the 632 MWe Nuclear Power Plant Krško in Yugoslavia

Radiocarbon ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 28 (2A) ◽  
pp. 644-648 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bogomil Obelić ◽  
Inks Krajcar-Bronić ◽  
Dušan Srdoč ◽  
Nada Horvatinčić
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Tree Ring ◽  
Reference Point ◽  
National Park ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Sampling Site ◽  
Sampling Point ◽  
Reactor Operation ◽  
The Past ◽  
Westerly Winds

Measurements of 14C activity of atmospheric CO2, vegetables, and tree rings in the area of the 632 MWe power plant Krško in Slovenia, NW Yugoslavia, have been in progress since January, 1984. Sampling stations are located in the area ca 400km2 and are distributed in the direction of the prevailing westerly winds. The closest sampling point is 1.5km NE of the plant exhaust stack, the farthest sampling point is 30km E of the plant. A sampling site at National Park Plitvice in central Croatia was chosen as the 14C reference point not affected by the power plant.An average excess of 2.2% above the reference point activity during normal periods of reactor operation was observed 1.5km from the plant smokestack. Calculations of the 14C release from the power plant was estimated at 0.1 TBq/a. The tree ring activity near the plant followed the 14C activity of the Northern Hemisphere in the past decade. No influence of the power plant release was observed on the tree ring activity.

scholarly journals Intake of Radionuclides in the Trees of Fukushima Forests 3. Removal of Radiocesium from Stem Wood, Cryptomeria Japonica (L.f.) D. Don.

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 589
Author(s):  
Tomoko Seyama ◽  
Ryohei Arakawa ◽  
Shogo Machida ◽  
Sota Yoshida ◽  
Akihiko Maru ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Cryptomeria Japonica ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Japanese Cedar ◽  
Detectable Level ◽  
Stem Wood ◽  
Pool Water ◽  
Traditional Technology ◽  
The Cross

Nuclear power plant accidents have dispersed radiocesium into the atmosphere to contaminate trees with no turnover in heartwood, as occurred in Fukushima, and as has persisted for over 30 years around Chernobyl. Here we employ the ponding method, in which radiocesium can be flushed out from the cross-cut edges of Japanese cedar, Cryptomeria japonica (L.f.) D. Don., stem with water due to xyloglucan degradation in tracheids. Furthermore, lab-scale ponding experiments have shown that a non-detectable level of radiocesium has been observed not only in the pool water used for 575 days but also in the water containing recombinant xyloglucanase. This traditional technology is now a new biotechnology.

scholarly journals 14C Levels in Tree Rings Located Near Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant, China

Radiocarbon ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhongtang Wang ◽  
Yuanyi Xiang ◽  
Qiuju Guo
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Tree Rings ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
Background Level ◽  
Relative Increase ◽  
Pine Tree ◽  
Discharge Management ◽  
Excess Value

Specific activities of radiocarbon in annual tree rings corresponding to 1980-2009 are reported for a pine tree located 2 km from the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant (Qinshan NPP), China. While a negligible enhanced 14C activity due to operation of the Qinshan NPP Plant I is evident, a relative increase (1.8–62.6 Bq/kg C) was observed in the specific activity after operation of the Qinshan NPP Plant II in 2002 and Plant III in 2003. The enhanced values were primarily affected by the 14C discharged from Plant III (CANDU-type reactor), and a good correlation was found between the 14C discharged from Plant III in the growing season and the 14C excess value. The excess 14C activities peaked in 2005 (at 302.0 Bq/kg C, which is 62.6 Bq/kg C above the “clean air” 14C level), and then declined due to the improvement in 14C discharge management of Plant III. In 2009, the 14C-specific activity was near the background level.

ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES AND METHODS OF OVERCOMING THE 2011 MAN-GENERAL DISASTER IN JAPAN

2021 ◽  
pp. 54-61
Author(s):  
I. A. Strelnikov ◽  
E. V. Minakova
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
Economic Consequences ◽  
Eastern Coast ◽  
Japanese Island ◽  
Economic Problems ◽  
The Government ◽  
Cultural Features

Annotation: the work is devoted to the study of the economic consequences of the earthquake that occurred on March 11, 2011 off the eastern coast of the Japanese island of Honshu and the subsequent accident at the Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant. The features of the disaster of 2011 and the specific economic problems that the country faced, as well as the methods by which the government resolved them were considered. They touched upon the attitude of mankind to nuclear energy in the context of such man-made disasters. The work is valuable both for considering both the economic and cultural features of the "Land of the Rising Sun".

scholarly journals 14C Levels in Tree Rings Located Near Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant, China

Radiocarbon ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 54 (02) ◽  
pp. 195-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhongtang Wang ◽  
Yuanyi Xiang ◽  
Qiuju Guo
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Tree Rings ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
Background Level ◽  
Relative Increase ◽  
Pine Tree ◽  
Discharge Management ◽  
Excess Value

Specific activities of radiocarbon in annual tree rings corresponding to 1980-2009 are reported for a pine tree located 2 km from the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant (Qinshan NPP), China. While a negligible enhanced14C activity due to operation of the Qinshan NPP Plant I is evident, a relative increase (1.8–62.6 Bq/kg C) was observed in the specific activity after operation of the Qinshan NPP Plant II in 2002 and Plant III in 2003. The enhanced values were primarily affected by the14C discharged from Plant III (CANDU-type reactor), and a good correlation was found between the14C discharged from Plant III in the growing season and the14C excess value. The excess14C activities peaked in 2005 (at 302.0 Bq/kg C, which is 62.6 Bq/kg C above the “clean air”14C level), and then declined due to the improvement in14C discharge management of Plant III. In 2009, the14C-specific activity was near the background level.

scholarly journals Radiocarbon Releases At the Krško Nuclear Power Plant

Radiocarbon ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 285-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Vokal ◽  
Ivan Kobal
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Tree Rings ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Pressurized Water Reactor ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Water Reactor ◽  
Radioactivity Monitoring

Since 1991, radiocarbon analyses of exhaust air have been part of the regular radioactivity monitoring program at the Krško Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), a Westinghouse 632 MWe pressurized water reactor (PWR). Activity of CO2 and hydrocarbons has been identified; the former contributes ca. 43%. A normalized release of total 14C of 0.219 TBqGWe−1a−1 was obtained. Indoor air 14C concentrations in selected rooms inside the plant have generally been <5 Bq m−3, although rare peaks of >1000 Bq m−3 may be reached. Tree rings have shown slight enhanced 14C activity due to the operation of the plant.

Pre- and Post-Accident 14C Activities in tree rings near the Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Plant

Radiocarbon ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 61 (6) ◽  
pp. 1633-1642
Author(s):  
Tetsuya Matsunaka ◽  
Kimikazu Sasa ◽  
Tsutomu Takahashi ◽  
Masumi Matsumura ◽  
Yukihiko Satou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Tree Rings ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Japanese Cypress ◽  
Fdnpp Accident ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Area Of Influence

ABSTRACTAreas affected by routine radiocarbon (14C) discharges from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) and accidental releases in March 2011 were investigated by analysis of cores from Japanese cypress and cedar trees growing at sites 9 and 24 km northwest of the plant. 14C concentrations in tree rings from 2008–2014 (before and after the accident) were determined by accelerator mass spectrometry, with 14C activities in the range 231–256 Bq kg−1 C. Activities during the period 2012–2014, after FDNPP shutdown, represent background levels, while the significantly higher levels recorded during 2008–2010, before the accident, indicate uptake of 14C from routine FDNPP operations. The mean excess 14C activity for the pre-accident period at the sites 9 and 24 km northwest of the plant were 21 and 12 Bq kg−1 C, respectively, indicating that the area of influence during routine FDNPP operations extended at least 24 km northwest. The mean excess tree-ring 14C activities in 2011 were 10 and 5.8 Bq kg−1 C at 9 and 24 km northwest, respectively, documenting possible impact of the FDNPP accident on 14C levels in trees.

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