The Japan Radiation Research Society Annual Meeting Abstracts
The 48th Annual Meeting of The Japan Radiation Research Society
Session ID : P-B-132
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Radiation Epidemiology, Radiation-induced Diseases, Environmental effects of radiation, others
Recent plutonium deposition observed in Tsukuba, Japan
*Katsumi HIROSEYasuhito IGARASHIMichio AOYAMAYoshihiro SHINODA
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Abstract

Plutonium deposition has been continuously observed in Meteorological Research Institute (MRI), Japan since 1958. After 1985, the annual 239,240Pu deposition in Tsukuba ranged from 1 mBq m-2 to 10 mBq m-2, which cannot be explained by stratospheric fallout. Resuspension of 239,240Pu-bearing soil particles is a candidate of 239,240Pu source supporting the 239,240Pu deposition. Recent artificial radionuclide deposition studies reveal that Asian dust, so called "Kosa" is one of origin of 239,240Pu in recent deposition samples. We present here recent 239,240Pu deposition observed in Tsukuba and discuss causes of its variation. The annual 239,240Pu depositions in 2001 and 2002 were 7.77 mBq m-2 and 7.44 mBq m-2, respectively, which were the highest level during the past 15 years. The annual 239,240Pu deposition in 2003 decreased to 3.09 mBq m-2, which was about half of previous years. The monthly 239,240Pu deposition in 2001 and 2002 showed a marked seasonal variation with a spring maximum. On the other hand, the monthly 239,240Pu deposition in 2003 showed no clear seasonal trend, although higher 239,240Pu depositions occurred in February and March. The Kosa events in Japan were remarkable in 2001 and 2002, whereas it was rarely observed in 2003. These findings suggest that the temporal trend of the Asian dust is closely related to that of the 239,240Pu deposition in Japan.

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© 2005 The Japan Radiation Research Society
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