InterDosi Monte Carlo study of radiation exposure of a reference crab phantom due to radioactive wastewater deposited in marine environment following the Fukushima nuclear accident

• Published in: Radiation and environmental biophysics 2022-11, Vol.61 (4), p.623-629
• Main Authors: BenDriss, Hafssa, Chakir, EL Mahjoub, EL Bakkali, Jaafar, Doudouh, Abderrahim
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorption; Animals; Biological and Medical Physics; Biophysics; Biota; Brachyura; Cesium 134; Cesium 137; Cesium isotopes; Cesium Radioisotopes; Ecosystems; Effects of Radiation/Radiation Protection; Environmental Physics; Fukushima Nuclear Accident; Gonads; Irradiation; Japan; Marine environment; Mathematical analysis; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Nuclear accidents; Nuclear accidents & safety; Organs; Original Article; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Radiation; Radiation effects; Radiation Exposure; Radiation Monitoring - methods; Radioactive wastewaters; Radioisotopes; Regulatory agencies; Seawater; Shellfish; Strontium; Strontium 90; Strontium radioisotopes; Wastewater; Water Pollutants, Radioactive - analysis
• ISSN: 0301-634X; 1432-2099
• DOI: 10.1007/s00411-022-00994-2

S-values are typically used to quantify internal doses of biota internally due to the incorporation of radionuclides. In this study, the InterDosi 1.0 Monte Carlo code was used to estimate S-values in five main organs of a crab phantom as well as in surrounding seawater for eleven radionuclides, namely 3 H, 14 C, 134 Cs, 137 Cs, 60 Co, 125 Sb, 90 Sr, 129 I, 99 Tc, 106 Ru, and 238 Pu. After the Fukushima accident, these radionuclides have been detected in wastewater by the Japan Nuclear Regulatory Authority. In this work, S-values were calculated for all crab organs and the surrounding seawater. These values can be used in conjunction with any measured activities in water, to determine internal doses absorbed by crab organs. Furthermore, it is shown that for a self-absorption condition the studied radionuclides can be classified into five main categories, with 238 Pu showing the highest S-values for any organ. Moreover, the results demonstrate that the obtained S-values decrease with increasing organ mass. In contrast, for a cross-absorption condition, the studied organs can be classified into seven main categories. In addition, by taking seawater as a source of irradiation, 238 Pu had the highest cross-absorption S-values in two organs of particular biological relevance, the heart and gonads, when compared to the remaining radionuclides. It is concluded that due to the pre-calculated S-value database of a reference crab, it will become easier to use this organism as a bio indicator to study any radiation-induced effects on the marine environment.