Radiological assessment of radioactivity released in the ocean following the Fukushima Daiichi accident by means of the compartment model POSEIDON-R

Abstract

For the first time a compartment model was applied to the northwestern Pacific and adjacent seas with 25 nuclear power plants in opeartion. The aim of the study is to perform a radiological assessment of the release of radioactivity due to the Fukushima Daiichi accident. The model predicts the both the dispersion of radioactivity in the water column and in sediments, and the transfer of radionuclides throughout the marine food web, and the subsequent doses to the population due to the consumption of fishery products. Instead of the concentration factor approach, a generic, flexible, predictive dynamic food chain model is used to calculate the concentration of Cs-137 in aquatic organisms. The collective dose rate due to ingestion of fishery products for Japan is 14.9 manSv for 2011, 3 times higher than for 2010 (4.6 manSv).the Fukushima Daiichi accident. The model predicts the both the dispersion of radioactivity in the water column and in sediments, and the transfer of radionuclides throughout the marine food web, and the subsequent doses to the population due to the consumption of fishery products. Instead of the concentration factor approach, a generic, flexible, predictive dynamic food chain model is used to calculate the concentration of Cs-137 in aquatic organisms. The collective dose rate due to ingestion of fishery products for Japan is 14.9 manSv for 2011, 3 times higher than for 2010 (4.6 manSv).