Problems faced by the Japanese people 1. Effects of the earthquake - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Problems faced by the Japanese people

• 1. Effects of the earthquake
• 2. Effects of the tsunami
• 3. Concerns about radiation

exposures

• 4. Loss of confidence in the

reliability of governmental authorities and maybe also other sources of authority

Flow dynamics/morphological impacts of the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake Tsunami, Japan Japanese PI: Takashi OGUCHI, Univ. Tokyo Counterpart PI: Victor R. BAKER, Univ. Arizona Overview/purpose of the project To investigate landforms along ria-type coasts affected by both the 2011 tsunami and past repeated tsunamis. Major Outcomes 1) Very detailed topographic data were obtained from terrestrial laser scanning. 2) Unique topographic characteristics such as steps along a valley-side slope and unusual valley meanders are ascribed to erosion by repeated tsunamis. 3) Landforms may be used to estimate possible tsunami magnitudes in areas without recent records.

Survey of estimation method for amount of radioactive materials emitted from nuclear power station during severe accident

Japanese PI: Dr. Genki Yagawa(Nuclear Safety Research

Association), presented by Dr. Ryohji Ohba(NSRA)

Counterpart PI: Dr. Paul Bieringer(US-National Center for

Atmospheric Research)

Overview/purpose of the project

The object of this study was to test methods that estimate radiation doses of cloud-shine while excluding the effects of radioactive materials deposited on the ground.

Major Outcomes

1) The Japanese team tested equipment and methods for estimating radiation doses from cloud-shine. 2) The US team contributed a survey

• f information on methods for

estimating a time-history of radioactive emissions.

Intr ntrod

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tion

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Metho thods Conclus usions

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Reul ults ts

Fingerprinting based on the simple 110mAg/137Cs ratio (Nitta River catchment)

Nov 2011 campaign After the summer typhoons April 2012 campaign After the snowmelt Nov 2012 campaign After the sumer typhoons

Upstream contribution Downstream contribution Spatial pattern of the initial 110mAg/137Cs ratio in soils

Trac acking t the he di dispe spersion o n of cont ntam amina nated d se sedi diment nt al along t the he mai ain n rivers dr s drai aining t the he radi adioac active pl plum ume in n Fuk Fukushi ushima Prefectur ure ( (Japan) apan)

Survey program to estimate the washout effect of radioactive materials from soil by rainfall Japanese PI: Dr. Genki Yagawa(Nuclear Safety Research

Association), presented by Dr. Ryohji Ohba(NSRA)

Counterpart PI: Dr. Mattew Hort(UK-Met Office) Overview/purpose of the project

The object of this study was to survey the methods available to estimate the quantity of radioactive washed out by rainfall from ground soil.

Major Outcomes

1) Japanese team analyzed the relation of rainfall amount and radiation dose, measured at the contaminated area. 2) UK team introduced information on the computer code to estimate the radiation dose for long period, named “ERMIN”.

Impacts of the Great East Japan Earthquake on the

• cean environment

Japanese PI: Mitsuo Uematsu, AORI, U of Tokyo, JPN Counterpart PI: Ken Owen Buessler, WHOI, MA, USA To understand the amount, type, and fate of radioactive materials released from the FNPP to the ocean, we examined many of the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the ocean that either determine the fate of radioactivity in the water or that are potentially affected by radiation in the marine environment. Major Outcomes 1)Fukushima Cs isotopes widely distributed and diluted by ocean due to its soluble nature 2)Peak releases early April but remaining ≈1,000 Bq m-3 at NPP today 3)Levels off shore decrease rapidly- horizontal transport fast & vertical mixing slow/seasonal 4)Still some uncertainty in total Cs sources from Fukushima

• atmospheric 10-15 PBq 137Cs
• direct ocean discharge 3.5-15 PBq

Research on transportation of artificial radioactive nuclides by settling particles in the ocean

Japanese PI: Makio Honda (JAMSTEC) Counterpart PI: Chris German (WHOI) Objective: To verify vertical transport of Fukushima-derived artificial radionuclides by settling particles in the western North Pacific by time-series (TS) collection of settling particles with TS-sediment traps deployed at stations K2, S1 and F1. Major Outcomes:

1) Fukushima-derived radiocesium arrived at deep sea of remote places in the western North Pacific about one month after the accident. 2) The residence time of radiocesium from the upper layer was estimated to be 68 to 312 years. 3) Radiocesium was detected from settling particle collected even one year after the accident. 4) Total radiocesium inventory at F1 was one order (two order) higher than that at K2 (S1).

Concentrations (line graph) and flux (bar graph) of 134Cs at 4810 m of K2 between March 2011 and June 2012. B.D.L. is below detection limit. Stations K2, S1 and F1. Bar graphs are concentrations of 137Cs in surface seawater in April 2011 (modified Honda et al., 2012) Concentrations (line graph) and flux (bar graph) of 134Cs at 500 m of F1 between July 2011 and May 2012

Effects of ionizing radiation on bird physiology, phenotype, and fitness in the Fukushima contaminated area of Japan

Japanese PI: Mamoru Watanabe (Tsukuba University, Japan) *Shin Matsui, Satoe Kasahara, Gen Morimoto, Keisuke Ueda (Rikkyo University, Japan; * presenter) Counterpart PI: Christelle Adam-Guillermin (IRSN, France) Audrey Sternalski, Jean-Marc Bonzom, Jacqueline Garnier-Laplace (IRSN, France)

Purpose of the project is to acquire novel field data pertaining to assess

the radiation effects on wildlife in the Fukushima radioactive environment.

One of the final targets is trying to establish robust dose-response

relationship at various organisational levels in animals to contribute to the derivation of ecological protection criteria.

Major Outcomes 1: Japanese researchers found that

Eurasian Tree Sparrows could be more highly exposed to radiation in contaminated nests in the breeding season directly after the nuclear accident than in the later seasons, and that the amount of radioactive contamination would be positively related to nest weight.

Major Outcomes 2: French researchers found a positive

significant effect of external irradiation level on individual internal contamination from frog around the evacuation zone of Fukushima, and that Great Tit nestlings tend to exhibit lower body condition in highly irradiated sites than in low irradiated sites, although the difference was not significant.

T r e e Spar r

• ws

Gr e at T its

The detection of radiation induced radicals from teeth enamel by in vivo EPR ( Electron paramagnetic Resonance) Dosimetry

Japanese PI: Minoru Miyake, Kagawa University Counterpart PI: Harold Swartz, The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth

Overview/purpose of the project

The main purpose of this project is to collect and analyze the basic data, including base-line EPR signals from volunteers who had potential exposures with radiation related to the nuclear power plant accident, in order to improve the sensitivity and quantity of in vivo EPR dosimetry as a measuring device of radiation expose doses. Specifically, the researcher in Japan makes the measurement of EPR signals in the teeth enamel of volunteers, and the researcher in the United States instructs us regarding the appropriate settings and conditions for the measuring devices used for the joint collaboration of the analyses of the obtained EPR data. With teams from both countries complementary working together, free radicals that are formed inside the crystal lattice of hydroxyapatite tooth enamel can be directly measured by using in vivo EPR spectroscopy, and thus we expect to lead to effective means to assess the occurrence of dangerous levels of absorbed doses of accidental radiation exposure in affected individuals.

Major Outcomes

• 1. We were able successfully to carry out, in vivo EPR measurements from human upper incisors

in volunteers from Fukushima

• 2. There were no indications of radiation-induced signals above background.

Future studies will focus on more detailed analysis of the background signals by increasing the number of volunteers who are measured, determining the feasibility of longer measurements to lower the threshold level for detection of radiation-induced signals, and establishing the procedures for obtaining background measurements in individuals with a higher risk of exposure in the future. We also will seek to determine the psychological benefits for volunteers who have been measured.

Disaster Evacuation and Risk Perceptions in Democracies

Japanese PI: Norichika Kanie, Tokyo Institute of Technology Noriyuki Ueda, Tokyo Institute of Technology Shunji Matsuoka, Waseda University Counterpart PI: François Gemenne, Sciences Po Alexandre Magnan, Sciences Po Reiko Hasegawa, Sciences Po Overview/purpose of the project This study aims at clarifying the disaster evacuation process and risk perception in demoocracies, by examining the immediate response of Japanese politics and society to the triple disaster triggered by 3.11 earthquake, and providing a comprehensive and multidisciplinary analysis.

Major Outcomes

1) How and why instructions were determined and revised as decision-making in evacuation processes. 2) Whether those evacuation instructions were actually effective. 3) How the Fukushima Disaster should be recognized in the context

• f Japanese culture.

4) How people actually perceived the risk in the disaster area. 5) How Japanese Nuclear Regulatory Agencies should be considered in social context.

RAPID: Minimizing the Spread of False Rumors in Social Media during a Disaster

US PI: Yasuaki Sakamoto Stevens Institute of Technology Collaborators in Japan: Yuko Tanaka National Institute of Informatics, Hidehito Honda Chiba University & National Institute of Informatics, Toshihiko Matsuka Chiba

University, Yasushi Michita University of Ryukyus

Overview/Purpose of the Project: This project focuses on analyzing information-sharing

behavior in social media environments to help develop and evaluate methods for minimizing the spread of false information in social media during responses to disasters.

Major Outcomes: (1) Better understanding of factors that influence information-sharing

decisions in social media environments (2) Recommendations on how to reduce the spread of false information in social media

Region near Fukushima reactor site Dose distribution from fallout about May 1, 2011

Map shows the radiation dose that would be received by people in the first year following the release of radioactive material from the Fukushima Daiichi plant. EPS's guideline for relocation is over 2000 mR/yr (20 mSv/yr) which is area marked with Red.)

Local expert advising citizens about concerns if return to homes

WHO Global report on Fukushima nuclear accident details health risks News release 28 FEBRUARY 2013 | GENEVA A comprehensive assessment by international experts on the health risks associated with the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (NPP) disaster in Japan has concluded that, for the general population inside and

• utside of Japan, the predicted risks are low and no
• bservable increases in cancer rates above baseline

rates are anticipated. The WHO report ‘Health Risk Assessment from the nuclear accident after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami based on preliminary dose estimation’ noted, however, that the estimated risk for specific cancers in certain subsets of the population in Fukushima Prefecture has increased and, as such, it calls for long term continued monitoring and health screening for those people.

What are the health effects from the radiation incident?

• From ingestion of potassium

iodide

• From anxiety
• From loss of confidence in the

guidance of authorities

CONCLUSIONS - 1

• Outstanding science has been produced
• Within the part of J-Rapid that was

considered in this section, the studies were very complementary

• All of the projects benefited greatly from

international collaboration, not only from expertise but especially from multiple perspectives

• The over-arching framework of the J-Rapid

program is very effective and productive

CONCLUSIONS - 2

• The long term feasibility of mitigation and

prevention of the effects of the March 11, 2011 disaster rests in obtaining systematic and well- based knowledge

• Utility of the research extends well beyond the

implications for Japan

• The usefulness of that information will depend
• n how well it is transmitted and received
• The J-Rapid program seems to be an excellent

mechanism for achieving such goals and therefore it should be a high priority to continue and expand it