• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.178-183
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• 2021

Background: This study was carried out to provide environmental transfer parameter values to estimate activity concentrations of these radionuclides in agricultural crops when direct contamination occurred. Materials and Methods: Mass interception fractions (F_Bs) and weathering half-lives (T_ws) of ¹³¹I and radiocesium were calculated using openly available monitoring data obtained after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. F_B is the ratio between the initial radioactivity concentration of a radionuclide retained by the edible part of the plant (Bq·kg^-1 fresh weight [FW]) and the amount of deposited radionuclide in that area (Bq·m^-2). T_w values can be calculated using activity concentrations of crops decreased with time after the initial contamination. Results and Discussion: Calculated F_B and T_w values for ¹³¹I and radiocesium were mostly obtained for leafy vegetables. The analytical results showed that there was no difference of F_Bs between ¹³¹I and radiocesium by t-test; geometric mean values for leafy vegetables cultivated under outdoor conditions were 0.058 and 0.12 m²·kg^-1 FW, respectively. Geometric mean T_w value of ¹³¹I in leafy vegetables grown under outdoor conditions was 8.6 days, and that of radiocesium was 6.6 days; there was no significant difference between T_w values of these radionuclides by Wilcoxon rank sum test. Conclusion: There was no difference between ¹³¹I and radiocesium for F_Bs and T_ws. By using these factors, we would be able to carry out a rough estimation of the activity concentrations of ¹³¹I and radiocesium in the edible part of leafy crops when a nuclear accident occurred.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2018

Radioactive cesium($^{137}Cs$) can be released into the environment through severe nuclear accidents such as the Chernobyl and Fukushima, The $^{137}Cs$ is one of major monitoring radionuclides due to its chemical toxicity, ${\gamma}$ radiation and long half-life($t_{1/2}=30.2yrs$). It has been known well that illite adsorb selectively and strongly the cesium due to frayed edge sites. The quantity of the FES in the illite could be controlled by weathering processes. Therefore, this study was modified illite samples through artificial weathering in the laboratory to increase sorption efficiency for cesium. Abundant interlayer cations(i.e., K, Ca) were eluted within 1 day, while Si and Al were gradually released from the crystal structure. In addition, broad peaks of XRD indicated the occurrence of chemical weathering. The cesium sorption distribution coefficients increased up to approximately 2 times after the weathering. These results suggested that sorption capacity of illite could be enhanced for cesium through artificial weathering under low temperature.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.233-239
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• 2000

The sensitivity analysis of input parameters was Performed fer an ingestion dose assessment model (U. S. NRC's Regulatory Guide 1.109 model) from routine releases of radionuclides. In this study, three kinds of typical Korean foodstuffs (rice, leaff vegetables, milk) and two kinds of radionuclides $(^{l37}Cs,\;^{131}I)$ were considered. The values of input parameters were sampled using a Latin hypercube sampling technique based on Monte Carlo approach. Sensitivity indices, which represent the influence or the importance of input parameters for predictive results, were quantitatively expressed by the partial rank correlation coefficients. As the results, the ratio of the interception fraction to the yield of agricultural plants and the human consumption rate were sensitive input parameters for the considered foodstuffs and radionuclides. Additionally, in case of milk, the transfer factor of radionuclides from animal intake to milk and the daily intake rate of feedstuffs were sensitive input parameters. The weathering removal half-life and the delay time from food production to human consumption were relatively sensitive for $^{137}Cs$ and $^{131}I$ depositions, respectively.