Modelling the mitigation speeds of 137Cs, 90Sr and 131I in the topsoils and assessment of the radiological hazards

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2019 Mar:169:216-224. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.11.013. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Abstract

Fate modelling of artificial radionuclides (ARs) in top soils are necessary to assess the radiological effects to population. Among ARs, 137Cs, 90Sr and 131I are very important since the large abundances in the environment. In this study, the fates of 137Cs, 90Sr and 131I in the surface soil layers were simulated by the soil model which was developed by the Canadian Centre for Environmental Modelling and Chemistry (CEMC). The scenario that 137Cs, 90Sr and 131I contaminated in topsoil in the exclusion of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (NPP) accident was evaluated. The results show the expected time for the minimum hazardous level of exposure. It is 115.5 days after the exposure, when the total effective dose is 1 mSv y-1 in which 0.46 mSv y-1 from ingestion and 0.54 mSv y-1 from gamma exposure. Hazard levels due to exposure progresses are varied in order gamma exposure (82.14%) > ingestion (17.47%) > inhalation (0.39%). The hazard levels from radionuclides are varied in order 137Cs (63.34%) > 131I (33.48%) > 90Sr (3.18%).

Keywords: Artificial radionuclide; CEMC soil model; Environmental modelling; Radiological hazard.

MeSH terms

  • Cesium Radioisotopes / analysis*
  • Gamma Rays
  • Half-Life
  • Iodine Radioisotopes / analysis*
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Radiation Monitoring / methods*
  • Soil / chemistry
  • Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / analysis*
  • Strontium Radioisotopes / analysis*
  • Vietnam

Substances

  • Cesium Radioisotopes
  • Iodine Radioisotopes
  • Iodine-131
  • Soil
  • Soil Pollutants, Radioactive
  • Strontium Radioisotopes
  • Cesium-137
  • Strontium-90