Landside tritium leakage over through years from Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant and relationship between countermeasures and contaminated water via Nature: Scientific Reports

Posted on 2020/11/17 by nfield

Katsumi Shozugawa, Mayumi Hori, Thomas. E. Johnson, Naoto Takahata, Yuji Sano, Norbert Kavasi, Sarata K. Sahoo & Motoyuki Matsuo 

Abstract

There has been tritium groundwater leakage to the land side of Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plants since 2013. Groundwater was continuously collected from the end of 2013 to 2019, with an average tritium concentration of approximately 20 Bq/L. Based on tritium data published by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) (17,000 points), the postulated source of the leakage was (1) leaks from a contaminated water tank that occurred from 2013 to 2014, or (2) a leak of tritium that had spread widely over an impermeable layer under the site. Based on our results, sea side and land side tritium leakage monitoring systems should be strengthened.

Introduction

[…]

There are three possible pathways for the release of 3H from FDNPP to the outside: ocean, atmosphere, and groundwater. Among them, direct releases to the ocean and releases to the atmosphere have been reported in detail.

[…]

nvestigation of 3H in precipitation may be one of the easiest ways to confirm the release of 3H into the atmosphere. The highest tritium concentration in precipitation was estimated 10 days after the accident at 1342 TU (equivalent to 158 Bq/L)13. 

[…]

Leaking of 3H through groundwater is difficult to analyze. In this study, we report that 3H above natural levels has been detected continuously in groundwater sampled from 2013 to 2019 on land approximately 30 m from the FNDPP site boundary. A key aspect of this study is that the water examined was groundwater, not surface water. […]

From 2013 to 2019, several countermeasures have been taken at the FDNPP to prevent contaminated groundwater from leaking off site. The relevance will be discussed, including the results of detailed tritium measurements in the water collected inside/outside FDNPP site.

Results

Outflow of 3H into groundwater from FDNPP

Most of the tritium present in the FDNPP was assumed to have been produced by ternary fission. As long as no re-criticality occurs, no new tritium is produced. However, it is estimated that there is 1.8 × 1015 Bq of tritium that has not been identified in the turbine buildings and in contaminated water, in addition to the amount released outside after the accident or the amount in debris10. 

[…]

The fact that tritium has been continuously detected in groundwater from the bypass installed upstream of FDNPP even after the completion of the water barrier (frozen wall) does not mean that tritium in the groundwater flows to the sea. In addition, the radioactivity trends in the neighboring wells vary widely, indicating that groundwater is moving in a complex manner.

[…]

In order to evaluate the absolute amount of tritium contained in well water, information such as flow rate would be required, but TEPCO has not disclosed flow rates publicly.

[…]

In addition, the sump water also contained radiocesium (134Cs and 137Cs). The concentration of 137Cs ranged from 3 to 4 Bq/kg, and the ratio of 134Cs/137Cs radioactivity at the time of the accident was almost 1. This also suggests that the water originated from FDNPP site24.

Tritium deposited via the air in surface water is not expected to mix with ground water. No tritium exceeding natural levels was detected in the air and precipitation around the FDNPP during the study period (2013–2019).

Discussion

[…]

Since the end of 2013, tritium originating from the FDNPP has been detected from the south side of the site. This is the first report of continuous tritium detection on the land side of the site. There are 2 possible causes of elevated tritium on the land side of the site: the leakage of contaminated water from the tanks in 2013 and 2014, or the leakage of tritium from the initial accident, which had already spread widely underground at the FDNPP site.

[…]

It appears that an underground route for contaminated water has been established which could lead to future problems. It is necessary to strengthen surveillance of leakage on both the ocean boundary and also land boundary of FDNPP.

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原発事故当時のまま残された学校など保存か検討で視察 双葉町 via NHK News Web

Posted on 2020/11/17 by yukimiyamotodepaul

ことし春に、一部の地域で原発事故による避難指示が解除された福島県双葉町で、事故当時のまま残されている公共施設について、今後、保存するかどうかなどを検討する委員会のメンバーが現地視察を行いました。

(略）

町では、老朽化が進む公共施設について、今後、保存していくかや、どのように活用していくかなどを検討するため、10月、住民や建築士などを委員とする検討委員会を発足させました。

17日は、委員8人が学校や図書館などを回って、状況を確認しました。

このうち、192人の児童が通っていた双葉南小学校は、教室に児童のランドセルが残され、黒板に震災と原発事故が起きた3月11日の日付けが書かれているなど、原発事故当時の様子をとどめています。

しかし、壁の至るところに亀裂が入り、天井は雨漏りしていて、メンバーの建築士が、今後、保存や活用するには大規模な改修工事が必要だと説明していました

全文は原発事故当時のまま残された学校など保存か検討で視察 双葉町

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Trump ‘asked for options on strike on Iran nuclear site’ via BBC

Posted on 2020/11/17 by yukimiyamotodepaul

President Donald Trump asked senior advisers last Thursday about potential options for attacking Iran’s main nuclear site, US media report.

The advisers warned him that military action could spark a broader conflict, officials were cited as saying.

[…]

It took place a day after the global nuclear watchdog said Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile was 12 times what was permitted under a 2015 nuclear deal. 

The landmark accord saw the US and five other world powers give Iran relief from crippling economic sanctions in return for limits on sensitive activities to show it was not developing nuclear weapons.

[…]

US President-elect Joe Biden, who will take office on 20 January, has said he will consider rejoining the nuclear deal so long as Iran returns to full compliance and commits to further negotiations.

Last Wednesday, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) published a report saying that Iran’s stockpile of low-enriched uranium had reached 2,442.9kg (5,385.6lb) – far above the 202.8kg limit set under the nuclear deal and theoretically enough to produce two nuclear weapons. 

Low-enriched uranium – which typically has a 3-5% concentration of uranium-235, the most suitable isotope for nuclear fission – can be used to produce fuel for power plants. Weapons-grade uranium is 90% enriched or more.

The IAEA also said Iran had finished moving a first cascade of advanced centrifuges, which are used to enrich uranium, from an above-ground plant at its Natanz enrichment facility to an underground plant. The nuclear deal says the underground plant cannot be used for advanced centrifuges.

The New York Times reported on Monday night that Mr Trump had discussed how to respond to the IAEA report at a meeting in the Oval Office with top national security advisers, including Vice-President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, acting Defence Secretary Christopher Miller and General Mark Milley, the chairman of the US military’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. 

Read more at Trump ‘asked for options on strike on Iran nuclear site’

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Ramana and Schacherl: Why the Liberals’ nuclear power plan is a pipe dream　via Ottawa Citizen

Posted on 2020/11/17 by nfield

Not only is this form of power expensive compared to the alternatives, we still haven’t resolved issues around radioactive contamination and hazardous waste streams.

Author of the article:M.V. Ramana, Eva Schacherl

On Nov. 18, Minister of Natural Resources Seamus O’Regan will announce the federal government’s action plan for small modular nuclear reactors, the nuclear industry’s latest pipe dream.

[…]

The Liberal government says it supports small modular reactors to help Canada mitigate climate change. The government is simply barking up the wrong tree, for several reasons: cost, cost and cost, as well as renewables, safety and radioactive waste.

Nuclear power is very expensive compared to other low-carbon options, and the difference keeps growing because the cost of renewables and energy storage is going down rapidly. Peter Bradford, a former U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission official, likened the use of nuclear power to mitigate climate change to fighting world hunger “with caviar.”

[…]

O’Regan has said he doesn’t know any way to get to net zero-carbon emissions by 2050 without nuclear power, but this is refuted by many studies. Ontario can meet its electricity demand using only renewables and hydro power backed up by storage technologies. A recent study using data from 123 countries shows that renewable energy outperforms nuclear power in reducing emissions. It concludes that nuclear investments just get in the way of building up renewable energy.

Advocates claim that we need nuclear energy to back up solar and wind power when the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow. However, nuclear reactors cannot be powered up and down rapidly and safely. If they are, their cost of generating electricity increases further. Nor do nuclear plants run reliably all the time. In France, which generates 70 per cent of its electricity from nuclear power, each reactor was shut down for an average of 96.2 days in 2019.

[…]

There is also strong opposition to SMRs from First Nations communities, who say these represent an unacceptable risk.

The risk from nuclear power comes in multiple forms. There is the potential for accidents leading to widespread radioactive contamination. Because reactors involve parts that interact rapidly in complex ways, no nuclear reactor is immune to accidents. And they all produce radioactive nuclear waste streams that remain hazardous for up to one million years. Dealing with these is a major challenge, and there is no demonstrated solution to date.

Canada has a big challenge ahead: to decarbonize by 2050. Let’s get on with it, in the quickest and most cost-effective way: by improving the efficiency of our energy use, and building out solar, wind and storage technologies. The federal Green Party is correct in stating that nuclear reactors “have no place in any plan to mitigate climate change when cleaner and cheaper alternatives exist.” Let’s forget the dirty, dangerous distraction of small nuclear reactors.

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＜ふくしまの１０年・元牛飼い２人の軌跡＞（６）全１９０頭が死亡し白骨化 via 東京新聞

Posted on 2020/11/17 by nfield

二〇一一年三月、南相馬市小高区の酪農家、相馬秀一さん（４４）は、東京電力福島第一原発事故で全てを奪われた。父親から酪農を引き継いで六年目、飼育牛は五倍近い百九十頭まで増やしたところだった。　事故発生翌日、原発二十キロ圏内に避難指示が出て、圏外の同市原町区に避難。その後は福島市など親戚宅を転々としながら、牛舎に通った。　避難はせいぜい二週間くらいと思っていた。だが、十四日には３号機が水素爆発を起こすなど状況は悪化する一方。自らも爆発音を聞いた。それでも通い続けたが、搾乳されない乳牛は次々と乳房炎などの病気となり、一頭また一頭と死んでいった。

[…]

半年後の九月、牛舎を訪ねると、百九十頭全てが死亡し白骨化していた。　「何と言っていいか。とにかく放置できない、何とかしなくてはと思った。仲間と東京の農林水産省に陳情したら『それは環境省（の業務）です』と言われてがっくり。結果的には、冬に片付けてもらえましたが…」

全文

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福島第1原発敷地外の地下水からトリチウム　継続的検出　東大など研究チーム via 毎日新聞

Posted on 2020/11/16 by nfield

東京大などの研究チームは16日、東京電力福島第1原発近くの地下水から、敷地内で生じたとみられる微量の放射性トリチウムを継続的に検出したと発表した。敷地外の地下水からの確認は初めてといい「海だけでなく、地下水の監視も強化すべきだ」と指摘した。

　東大環境分析化学研究室の小豆川勝見（しょうずがわかつみ）助教（環境分析学）らの研究チームは2013年12月～19年12月の約6年間、原発周辺の10カ所で地下水を観測し、トリチウムなどの放射性物質の濃度を調べた。うち敷地の南側から10メートルと300メートルの2カ所で、1リットル当たり平均20ベクレルのトリチウムを継続的に検出した。2カ所の濃度は最小で15ベクレル、最大で31ベクレルだった。

　トリチウムは雨水など自然界にも含まれるが、濃度は1ベクレルに満たないとされている。小豆川助教は「トリチウムの発生源は福島第1原発しか考えられない」と話した。地下水が敷地内でトリチウムを含む水と混じり、敷地の南側地下に別々の経路で流れ出しているとみられる。ただ、地下水から検出された濃度は、国の放出基準6万ベクレルを大幅に下回っている。

　一方、セシウムなどトリチウム以外の放射性物質も微量に含まれていた。ただし、原発事故による水素爆発で飛び散った時のものが地表に残り雨水に混じった可能性があり、敷地内から流れ出したものかは分からなかった。

　小豆川助教は「今回の結果は、再び事故や災害があった場合に高濃度の水が敷地外の地下にも漏れ出す可能性があることを示したものだ」と指摘。東電の担当者は「内容を承知していないのでコメントできない」と話した。

[…]

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柏崎市長選、桜井氏が再選　再稼働反対の近藤氏破るvia 新潟日報

Posted on 2020/11/16 by nfield

　任期満了に伴う新潟県柏崎市長選は１５日投票が行われ、即日開票の結果、いずれも無所属で、原発再稼働を容認する現職の桜井雅浩氏（５８）が、再稼働に反対する弁護士で新人の近藤正道氏（７３）＝立民、共産、社民推薦＝との一騎打ちを制し、再選を果たした。

　東京電力柏崎刈羽原発７号機の再稼働の前提となる原子力規制委員会の審査が全て終了し、再稼働に同意するかを判断することになる市長を選ぶ選挙戦。桜井氏は再稼働容認、近藤氏は反対を訴えていた。

　桜井氏は政党の推薦を受けず、国政与党系の市議や再稼働を推進する経済界の支援を受けて組織戦を展開。「原発再稼働の価値を認め、限定的ながら厳しい安全管理の下、再稼働を進めていく」と訴えた。新型コロナウイルスで打撃を受けた経済の回復や医療体制の充実などを前面に戦った。

　桜井氏は当選を確実にした午後１０時半すぎ、同市鯨波のホテルで支持者を前に万歳した。同原発７号機の再稼働について「条件付き再稼働という私の立場は過去２回の選挙を通して市民の理解を頂いた。市議会の意見を聞き、県の議論を見守りたい」と語った。

　近藤氏は再稼働反対を鮮明にして「再稼働の可否は市民が決めるのが筋だ」と主張。反原発の市民団体や市議の支援を得た。女性副市長の登用などを打ち出したが、原発に反対する支持層以外に広がらなかった。

[…]

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Op-Ed: COVID-19 may be teaching the world a dangerous lesson: Diseases can be ideal weapons via Los Angeles Times (Bulletin of Atomic Scientists)

Posted on 2020/11/16 by nfield

By CHRISTINE PARTHEMORE AND ANDY WEBERNOV. 12, 20203:05 AM

The devastation COVID-19 has wrought on the U.S. population is staggering. Yet the risks it poses to our national security are also chilling: Diseases are, in many terrible ways, ideal weapons.

[…]

Unfortunately, the current pandemic shows that easily transmissible diseases may be ideal biological weapons if the aim is to infect as many people as possible, even if that approach endangers the aggressors’ own population.

Diseases also make for cheaper weapons of mass effect than nuclear weapons. […]

Read more.

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福島原発事故の放出状況を分析 via 日本経済新聞

Posted on 2020/11/16 by yukimiyamotodepaul

■筑波大学　日本原子力研究開発機構や福島大学と共同で東京電力福島第1原子力発電所の事故で放出された放射性物質の動きを解析し、チェルノブイリ原発事故より環境回復は早いと結論づけた。今後も長期的な研究やデータの公開が必要としている。

福島原発から80キロ圏内を中心に放射性物質の分布などを調べた210本以上の論文を調べた。放射性物質のセシウム137による汚染の実態と環境回復の全体像を示し、チェルノブイリ原発周辺の汚染に関する研究と比べた。

（略）

森林以外の土地は人間活動や除染作業も影響し、地表の放射性セシウムの量が急減した。河川の放射性セシウムの濃度は欧州の河川よりも1～2桁程度低く、淡水魚の汚染も少なかった。

全文は福島原発事故の放出状況を分析

当サイト既出関連記事：福島県内「環境回復」…大幅に速く　チェルノブイリと『比較』via 福島民友新聞

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75 Years Later, Victims of Nuclear Bomb Tests on U.S. Soil Still Seek Justice via TruthOut

Posted on 2020/11/16 by yukimiyamotodepaul

BY Satya Vatti, Globetrotter / Independent Media Institute

“They thought the world was coming to an end,” Genoveva Peralta Purcella explains.

On July 16, 1945, the first-ever nuclear bomb was tested in New Mexico, in the Southwestern United States. The detonation was code-named “Trinity.” It is the day that would seal the fate of many Americans living in the surrounding areas for generations to come.

Seventy miles from what became known as ground zero—the Trinity test site—Genoveva’s family lived on a ranch just outside the village of Capitan in New Mexico. Genoveva was born the year after the blast. Now 74 years old, she solemnly recalls how her family remembers the day that would change their lives forever.

[…]

The blast produced so much energy that it incinerated everything it touched and formed a fireball that rose to more than 12 kilometers into the atmosphere. The fireball created ash that snowed over the communities surrounding the blast site. The people did not know it then, but this ash that covered thousands of square miles was the radioactive fallout from the explosion.

Dread gripped the communities in Tularosa Basin who either witnessed or experienced the phenomenon they could not make sense of. Meanwhile, the immediate reaction of the staff of the Manhattan Project, which created the bomb, was of “surprise, joy, and relief.”

[…]

In the aftermath of the nuclear test, officials began to cement a false narrative into the consciousness of the nation; the region was remote and uninhabited. Tens of thousands of people, in fact, lived in the Tularosa Basin in 1945. For a long time, the people of the basin believed that the blast was an ammunition explosion. “We were lied to by the government,” said Pino.

It takes 24,000 years for half of the radioactive plutonium used in the Trinity bomb to decay. The people of the region have inhaled and ingested radioactive particles for 75 years because of environmental contamination. Those in power refuse to accept responsibility and take any corrective action. To this day, there have been no cleanup efforts.

Radiation exposure has caused high rates of aggressive cancers, thyroid disease, infant mortality, and other health abnormalities in generations of families in the Tularosa Basin region. The scale of the health impact cannot be determined accurately as long-term epidemiological studies have only been undertaken recently. The findings of the latest research studies by the National Cancer Institute were published in September 2020 in the journal Health Physics.

[…]

More than 1,000 nuclear bomb tests have been conducted in the U.S. between 1945 and 1992. A total of 100 above-ground tests were conducted at the Nevada test site from 1951 to 1962. The winds carried radioactive fallout for thousands of kilometers. Hundreds of millions of people living in the U.S. have been exposed to varying levels of radiation over the years, unknown to them.

[…]

People from the impacted communities founded the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium in 2005 to fight for justice for the survivors and their descendants. Tina Cordova, one of the group’s cofounders, was shocked to find out that a few of the impacted states neighboring New Mexico were receiving financial compensation under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act since 1990. The communities in New Mexico, however, were left out of the act.

When asked why, Cordova responds with, “It is the billion-dollar question. I think we are being left out because we are mainly Mexican Hispanics, Natives, and Latinos. We are minorities and we are poor.”

Read more at 75 Years Later, Victims of Nuclear Bomb Tests on U.S. Soil Still Seek Justice

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