Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 21, 2026

09:18
Laser-heating and Radiance Spectrometry for the Study of Nuclear Materials in Conditions Simulating a Nuclear Power Plant Accident
Published on: December 14, 2017
10.9K
EVALUATIONS OF INVENTORY AND ACTIVITY CONCENTRATION OF RADIOCESIUM IN SOIL AT A RESIDENTIAL HOUSE 3 YEARS AFTER THE
Radiation Protection Dosimetry
|July 23, 2019
Summary
Radiocesium (134Cs and 137Cs) primarily remains in the top 2 cm of soil, with some downward migration potentially influenced by rainfall. Inventories fluctuated due to decontamination and weather events.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Radiochemistry
- Soil Science
Background:
- Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident released significant amounts of radiocesium.
- Understanding radiocesium soil contamination is crucial for environmental remediation and risk assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the vertical distribution and temporal changes of radiocesium (134Cs and 137Cs) in soil.
- To investigate the factors influencing radiocesium migration and inventory changes.
Main Methods:
- Soil samples collected from Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture, from March to September 2014.
- Analysis of radiocesium (134Cs and 137Cs) vertical distribution and inventories.
- Scraper plate method used for surface soil sampling to a 5 cm depth.
Main Results:
- Over 86% of total radiocesium was found in the upper 2 cm of soil, 3 years post-accident.
- Evidence suggests downward migration of radiocesium from the surface layer over time.
- Significant increase in radiocesium inventories between March and June, potentially linked to decontamination and meteorological events.
Conclusions:
- Radiocesium contamination is concentrated in the upper soil layers, but migration occurs.
- Rainfall-induced runoff may influence radiocesium movement.
- Fluctuations in soil radiocesium inventories are likely due to resuspension and redeposition events.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
The Soil Ecosystem
24.6K
Plants obtain inorganic minerals and water from the soil, which acts as a natural medium for land plants. The composition and quality of soil depend not only on the chemical constituents but also on the presence of living organisms. In general, soils contain three major components:
24.6K
Design Example: Designing a Residential Plumbing System
1.1K
The design of residential plumbing systems requires carefully evaluating water demand, flow rates, and pressure dynamics to ensure both efficiency and reliability. The nature of water flow within pipes is defined by its Reynolds number, which classifies flow as either laminar (smooth) or turbulent.
1.1K
ortho–para-Directing Activators: –CH3, –OH, –⁠NH2, –OCH3
7.3K
All ortho–para directors, excluding halogens, are activating groups. These groups donate electrons to the ring, making the ring carbons electron-rich. Consequently, the reactivity of the aromatic ring towards electrophilic substitution increases. For instance, the nitration of anisole is about 10,000 times faster than the nitration of benzene. The electron-donating effect of the methoxy group in anisole activates the ortho and para positions on the ring and stabilizes the corresponding...
7.3K
Nuclear Export of mRNA
8.7K
Before mRNAs are exported to the cytoplasm, it is crucial to check each mRNA for structural and functional integrity. Eukaryotic cells use several different mechanisms, collectively known as mRNA surveillance, to look for irregularities in mRNAs. Irregular or aberrant mRNA are rapidly degraded by various enzymes. If a defective mRNA escapes the surveillance, it would be translated into a protein which would either be non-functional or not function properly. One of the primary irregularities in...
8.7K
Nuclear Stability
22.9K
Protons and neutrons, collectively called nucleons, are packed together tightly in a nucleus. With a radius of about 10−15 meters, a nucleus is quite small compared to the radius of the entire atom, which is about 10−10 meters. Nuclei are extremely dense compared to bulk matter, averaging 1.8 × 1014 grams per cubic centimeter. If the earth’s density were equal to the average nuclear density, the earth’s radius would be only about 200 meters.
To hold positively charged protons together...
To hold positively charged protons together...
22.9K
Nuclear Fusion
33.7K
The process of converting very light nuclei into heavier nuclei is also accompanied by the conversion of mass into large amounts of energy, a process called fusion. The principal source of energy in the sun is a net fusion reaction in which four hydrogen nuclei fuse and ultimately produce one helium nucleus and two positrons.
A helium nucleus has a mass that is 0.7% less than that of four hydrogen nuclei; this lost mass is converted into energy during the fusion. This reaction produces about...
A helium nucleus has a mass that is 0.7% less than that of four hydrogen nuclei; this lost mass is converted into energy during the fusion. This reaction produces about...
33.7K

