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Results of radioactive contamination survey around Tokyo 2020 Olympics Torch-Relay route
3/3/2020
Nobuyoshi Ito: Iitate Village Resident
Jun Nakamura: Co-Chairman, Fukuichi Area Environmental Radiation Monitoring Project
Kazumasa Aoki: Vice President, NPO Radioactivity Monitoring Center for Citizen (Chikurin-sha)
- Purpose of Survey
As Prime Minister Abe defines the coming Tokyo 2020 Olympics as “Reconstruction Olympics”, great interest
is globally shown in the radiation in Fukushima Prefecture. The survey is to study the radioactive
contamination of the surroundings along the roads where the Torch Relay will go running, mainly in
Hama-dori Area of Fukushima prefecture. - How We Made Survey
(1) We surveyed radioactive contamination levels on and around the route of the Olympic Torch-relay, over
towns and villages in Fukushima Prefecture Hama-dori area. Measurement was made on radiation dose rate
at the height of 1m above the ground and on radioactive concentration of soils.
(2) When Survey was performed: December 16 through 18, 2019, January 13 through 14, 2020.
(3) Where Survey was performed: 69 locations ( 9 in Tomioka, 6 Okuma, 11 Naraha, 7 Kawauchi, 7
Minami-Soma, 6 Namie, 7 Katsurao, 9 Iitate, and 7 Kawamata)
(4) Where measurement was made: Two to three locations in the Olympic Torch-relay Route in each city, town,
and villages, and five to six locations at road sides, parks, residential areas, and forests around the route. - Summaries of Survey Results
(1) 43 out of 69 locations (62%) surveyed are found to be “Intensive contamination survey areas” specified by
the “Decontamination Special Measures Act”, with air dose level above 0.23μSv/h. Though the government
has announced that all areas have already been decontaminated, those areas are still at a level shall be
decontaminated specified in the law.
(2) 3 locations (4.4%) are in the levels of categorized as “Zone of alienation” defined by Chernobyl Law. 10
(14.5%) are in the level of “Zone of obligatory resettlement”. 25 (36.2%) are in the level of “Zone of
guaranteed voluntary resettlement”. 18 (26.1%) are in the level of “Zone for radiation control”. Only 13 (19%)
locations do not belong to any radiation level category.
(3) A severe Hot-spot was detected in the Torch-relay route in Iitate: soil contamination density of
2,140,000Bq/m
2
, and dose rate of 0.85μSv/h (at the height of 1m from ground).
(4) Even on the Torch-relay route road, 11 locations (52%) show radiation contamination levels which are
categorized as “Intensive contamination survey areas” specified in “Decontamination Special Measures Act”.
(5) On Torch-relay route road, 14 locations (67%) show radiation levels above than “Zone for radiation control”
defined by Chernobyl Law. Only 7 locations (33%) do not belong to any specific area designation.
4．Conclusions.
(1) We found extremely serious hot spot on torch relay route in Iitate: air dose rate is 0.85μSv/h, soil
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contamination density is 2,140,000 Bq /m
2
. Inhabitants are living in those areas. Their annual exposure may
possible 7.5 mSv. It exceeds seven times the general public limit (1 mSv / year). Further survey should be
made by Japanese Government on and along the Torch-relay Route to identify similar hot-spots.
(2) It is dry in late March, when the torch relay takes place. Attention should be paid to internal exposure due to
inhalation of soil dust. Runners and supporting people especially children need to be warned.
(3) All our surveyed areas are places where people live. The government has announced that decontamination
of these areas have been completed, but it is clear that they are still in the levels where should be
decontaminated according to the “Decontamination Special Measures Act”.
(4) Prime Minister Abe is intended to make a message to the world as if Fukushima had been reconstructed by
calling “Reconstruction Olympics”. However, radioactive contamination caused by the Fukushima NPPs
accident is still serious. It is not permissible to make the Olympics to send wrong information to the world.
For more information, contact:
Kazumasa Aoki, Vice President, NPO Radioactivity Monitoring Center (Chikurin-Sya)
QZL00322@nifty.com +81 90 7245 7761
http://chikurin.org/wp/
Results of radioactive contamination survey around Tokyo 2020 Torch-Relay route
Survey results of radioactivity levels in and round Torch relay route
