Forest Radioecology in Fukushima : : Radiocesium Dynamics, Impact, and Future.

• Author: Hashimoto, Shoji.
• TeilnehmendeR: Komatsu, Masabumi.; Miura, Satoru.
• Place / Publishing House: Singapore : : Springer Singapore Pte. Limited,, 2022.; ©2022.
• Year of Publication: 2022
• Edition: 1st ed.
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (180 pages)

Table of Contents

Intro -- Foreword -- Preface -- Fact Sheet-15 Points to Understand the Radioactive Contamination of Forest in Fukushima -- Geography of Fukushima -- Overview of the Fukushima Accident -- Fukushima Forest -- Impact -- To the Future -- Contents -- Chapter 1: Radioactive Materials Released by the Fukushima Nuclear Accident -- 1.1 How Were the Radioactive Materials Dispersed from the Power Plant? -- 1.2 Characteristics of Forests in Fukushima -- 1.3 Forest Ecosystems Are Unique and Different from Cropland -- 1.4 Column: Looking Back on that Time (1) -- Chapter 2: Basic Knowledge to Understand Radioactive Contamination -- 2.1 Radiation, Radioactivity, and Radioactive Materials (Radionuclides) -- 2.2 External Exposure and Internal Exposure -- 2.3 Becquerel (Bq) and Sievert (Sv): Units for Radioactivity and Radiation Exposure Dose -- 2.4 Column: Looking Back on that Time (2) -- Chapter 3: Behavior of Radiocesium in the Forest -- 3.1 Overview of Behavior -- 3.2 Introduction: Two Types of Radiocesiums: Cesium-134 and Cesium-137 -- 3.3 Large Changes in the Distribution of Radiocesium in the Early Post-Accident Phase -- 3.3.1 Most of the Radiocesium that Fell on the Forest Was Initially Trapped onto the Leaves and Branches -- 3.3.2 Then Radiocesium Transferred to the Forest Floor Through Litterfall and Rain -- 3.3.3 Not Remain Long in the Soil Surface Organic Layer -- 3.4 Radiocesium in Soil -- 3.4.1 Most of the Radiocesium Remains in the Surface Layer of Mineral Soil -- 3.4.2 Why Does Radiocesium Remain in the Surface Layer? -- 3.4.3 Migration of Radiocesium by Soil Animals and Fungi -- 3.5 Transfer of Radiocesium into the Tree -- 3.5.1 Movement of Radiocesium in a Tree -- 3.5.2 Transfer Factor: Different Species Have Different Radiocesium Concentrations in Wood -- 3.6 Migration of Radiocesium out of the Forest -- 3.6.1 Radiocesium Rarely Leaves the Forest.

3.6.2 Little Radiocesium Re-Scattered by Forest Fires in Fukushima -- 3.7 Predicting the Future Distribution of Radiocesium in Forests -- 3.7.1 Reproduction and Prediction by Computer Simulation -- 3.7.2 Future Predictions of Air Dose Rates -- 3.7.3 How Should We Deal with the Predictions? -- 3.8 To Summarize the Behavior of Radiocesium in the Forest -- Chapter 4: Forest Ecosystems and Radioactive Contamination -- 4.1 Radiocesium and Material Cycles in Forests -- 4.2 Radiocesium in the Food Chain -- 4.2.1 Radiocesium Concentration in Earthworms Is Lower than that in the Soil Surface Organic Layer -- 4.2.2 Bioaccumulation Through the Food Chain Is Not Occurring -- 4.2.3 Radiocesium Taken up by Large Wildlife -- 4.2.4 Fungi and Radiocesium -- 4.3 Effects of the Fukushima Nuclear Accident on Forest Ecosystems -- 4.3.1 Radiation Effects on Living Things -- 4.3.2 Forest Ecosystems Without Human Activity -- 4.4 Global Fallout: Cesium-137 Has Been in Forest Ecosystems for Half a Century -- 4.4.1 What Is Global Fallout? -- 4.4.2 Using Radiocesium to Track the Movement of Materials in Forests -- 4.5 Column: Looking Back on that Time (3) -- Chapter 5: Radiation Protection and Criteria -- 5.1 Internationally Agreed-upon Approach to Radiation Protection by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (I... -- 5.2 Approaches to Radiation Protection in Forests -- 5.3 Countermeasures in Contaminated Areas: The International Atomic Energy Agencyś (IAEA) Approach -- 5.4 Concept of Setting Criteria in Japan -- 5.4.1 Criteria of Air Dose Rates -- 5.4.2 The Reason for the Criterion of 100 Bq/kg for Food -- 5.4.3 8000 Bq/kg: Criterion for Waste -- Chapter 6: Impacts of Radioactive Contamination of Forest on Life -- 6.1 Effects of Increased Air Dose Rates -- 6.1.1 Characteristics of Air Dose Rates in Forests.

Air Dose Rates in a Forest Change Generally According to the Radioactive Decay of Radiocesium, But Changes in the Distribution... -- Decrease in Air Dose Rate Due to Radioactive Decay (About Half in 3 Years) -- Spatial Distribution of Air Dose Rates in Forests Is Uneven -- Air Dose Rates in Forests Are Higher than in Nearby Residential Areas -- 6.1.2 Access Control Based on Air Dose Rates -- Designation of Areas Under Evacuation Orders and Their Changes -- The Limit of Air Dose Rate for Forestry Activities is 2.5 μSv Per Hour or Less -- There Are No Restrictions on Temporary Entry into the Forest -- 6.1.3 Forest Decontamination -- Removing the Organic Layer Reduces the Air Dose Rate -- The Effective Range of Forest Decontamination is 20 m -- Does Cutting Down Forest Trees Reduce Air Dose Rates? -- Is It Realistic to Decontaminate All Forests? -- 6.2 Wood-Related Regulations and Their Impact -- 6.2.1 Regulations Related to Wood -- External Exposure from Living in Wooden Houses Is Negligible -- Disposal of High Concentrations of Bark Is a Problem -- Criteria (Index Values) for Firewood, Chips, and Charcoal -- 6.2.2 The Impact on Forestry from Statistics -- 6.2.3 Utilization of Contaminated Forests -- Volume Reduction of Contaminated Wastes -- Conversion to Energy Use and to Other Uses -- 6.3 Radioactive Contamination of Wildlife -- 6.3.1 Large Wildlife Populations Are Increasing Across the Country -- 6.3.2 Trend of Radiocesium Concentration -- 6.3.3 Countermeasures: Testing All Animals Slaughtered and Population Control -- 6.4 Radiocesium Contamination of Wild Mushrooms and Wild Plants -- 6.4.1 The Value of the Forests ́Bounty to Local Communities -- 6.4.2 Radioactive Contamination of Wild Mushrooms -- Species-Independent Batch Restrictions of Shipping -- Analysis of Wild Mushrooms Using the Results of Food Monitoring.

The Radiocesium Concentration in Wild Mushrooms Varies Greatly Among Species -- 6.4.3 Radioactive Contamination of Wild Plants -- Differences in Restricted Areas of Shipping by Species and Growing Conditions -- Why Is the Concentration in Koshiabura so High? -- 6.4.4 Impact on Leisure Activities of Local Inhabitants -- 6.4.5 Reduction of Radiocesium Concentration in Wild Plants by Cooking -- 6.5 Cultivated Mushroom -- 6.5.1 Mushroom Cultivation Is an Important Industry Within Forestry in Japan -- 6.5.2 Contamination of Bed-Logs and Shiitake Mushrooms -- 6.5.3 Radioactive Contamination of Deciduous Broadleaf Trees for Bed-Log Cultivation and Its Impact on Industry -- 6.5.4 Transfer Mechanism of Radiocesium to Shiitake Mushroom -- Transfer of Radiocesium from Bed-logs to Shiitake -- Additional Contamination from the Growing Environment -- 6.5.5 Countermeasures Against Contamination of Cultivated Mushrooms -- Guidelines -- Contamination of Deciduous Broadleaf Trees and Countermeasures -- 6.6 Providing Information to Residents -- 6.7 Column: Looking Back on that Time (4) -- Chapter 7: The Future of Forests in Fukushima: How Should We Face Radioactive Contamination of Forests -- 7.1 Key Points on Radioactive Contamination of Forests -- 7.2 A Guide to Understanding and Dealing with the Contamination -- 7.3 Future Measures -- 7.4 Challenges Remaining for Researchers -- 7.5 What Should Researchers Do in the Event of a Similar Accident? -- 7.6 Toward the Future -- Bibliography -- References -- Key Review Papers -- Key Reports from International Agencies -- Headings0005299898 -- Informative Web Pages -- Headings0005299898 -- Headings0005299898 -- Index.