Residual neutron-induced radionuclides in a soil sample collected in the vicinity of the criticality accident site in Tokai-mura, Japan: A Progress Report

• Published in: Journal of environmental radioactivity 2000-01, Vol.50 (1), p.61-68
• Main Authors: Nakanishi, Takashi, Hosotani, Risa, Komura, Kazuhisa, Muroyama, Toshiharu, Kofuji, Hisaki, Murata, Yoshimasa, Kimura, Shinzo, Kumar Sahoo, Sarata, Yonehara, Hidenori, Watanabe, Yoshito, Ban-nai, Tada-aki
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Exact sciences and technology; Japan, Tokai-mura; JCO criticality accident; Neutron fluence; Pollution; Pollution sources. Measurement results; Pollution, environment geology; Residual Neutron-Induced Radionuclides; Soil and sediments pollution; Tokai-mura
• ISSN: 0265-931X; 1879-1700
• DOI: 10.1016/S0265-931X(00)00062-X

Residual neutron-induced radionuclides were measured in a soil sample collected in the vicinity of the location where a criticality accident occurred (in Tokai-mura, from 30 September to 1 October, 1999). Concentrations of 24 Na, 140 La, 122 Sb, 59 Fe, 124 Sb, 46 Sc, 65 Zn, 134 Cs and 60 Co in the soil sample were determined by γ-ray spectrometry, and neutron activation analysis was carried out for selected target elements in the sample. Tentative estimates of the apparent thermal and epithermal neutron fluences which reached the sample were obtained through combined analyses of 59 Fe/ 58 Fe, 124 Sb/ 123 Sb, 46 Sc/ 45 Sc, 65 Zn/ 64 Zn, 134 Cs/ 133 Cs and 60 Co/ 59 Co .