Optimization of pretreatment protocol for strontium-90 analysis in marine fish bone samples.

For systematic monitoring of radioactive nuclides in marine products, this study aimed at streamlining and simplifying the analysis method for the prominent radioisotope, strontium-90 (90Sr). The DGA chelate solid-phase extraction technique was employed for enhanced efficiency. The study focused on optimizing the necessary pretreatment procedures while minimizing the steps involving HNO3 leaching.

Impacts of soil type and drought stress on growth and cesium accumulation in Napier grass.

In our previous study, the decontamination efficiency of cesium-137 (Cs) by Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) in the field was shown to be variable and often influenced by natural environmental factors. To elucidate the factors influencing this variable Cs-decontamination efficiency, we investigated the influences of soil type and drought stress on Cs accumulation using cesium-133 (Cs) in Napier grass grown in plastic containers.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Educational Interventions in Family Planning for Men in Developing Countries: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Unintended pregnancy is associated with national socioeconomic development and gender inequality. In addition to contraception, educational interventions that promote family planning and address gender dynamics are considered important in preventing unintended pregnancy. While the importance of encouraging men's participation in family planning has been advocated, most studies have focused on the application of interventions to women or populations in high-income countries only.

Calibration experiments for radon in drinking water measurements using portable-type electrostatic-collection radon monitors.

Portable-type electrostatic-collection radon monitors (RAD7) are often used for in-situ measurements of radon in water. In this study, we evaluated the calibration factors and their uncertainties for two RAD7 monitors based on comparative measurements with the liquid scintillation counting method. In the first experiment, we found that both RAD7 monitors had relatively large uncertainties due to leakage of radon gas that bubbled from the gaps between the lids of the desiccant container and the glass vial.

Effect of drought stress or soil pH on cesium accumulation in Napier grass.

Radio-cesium (Cs) decontamination efficiency by plants is supposedly affected by environmental conditions. To elucidate the factors influencing the unstable Cs-decontamination efficiency, we first examined the influence of drought or soil pH on Cs accumulation using cesium-133 (Cs) using Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) grown under pot conditions.

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF COMMERCIAL SCINTILLATION COCKTAILS FOR LOW-LEVEL TRITIUM COUNTING BY HIGH-CAPACITY LIQUID SCINTILLATION COUNTER.

Low-background liquid scintillation counter is one of the popular measuring instruments used to investigate tritium radioactivity in environmental media. These instruments require the liquid sample and organic solvent to be mixed for tritium measurement. In the European Union, the registration, evaluation, authorization and restriction of chemicals regulation was established to control the use of chemical substances of very high concern.

INFLUENCE OF SAMPLING FLOW RATE ON THORON EXHALATION RATE MEASUREMENTS BY THE CIRCULATION METHOD.

Researchers have used various methods to obtain the exhalation rates of radon and thoron from soil and building materials. One of the typical methods for radon exhalation rate is the circulation method using an accumulation container, an external or internal sampling pump and a continuous radon monitor. However, it is necessary to consider sampling flow rate if this method is applied to exhalation rate measurement for thoron due to its short half-life.

SPECIATION OF CESIUM ISOTOPES IN RIVER WATER: A CASE STUDY IN THE UKEDO RIVER.

137Cs in river systems can be taken up by aquatic animals. In this paper, total 137Cs concentration in the Ukedo River system and 137Cs presence in dissolved, acid-soluble and -insoluble fractions in river water samples were determined. Total 137Cs concentration had the maximum value of 2.

Multiple Evaluation of Typical Heavy Metals Pollution in Surface Soil and Road Dust from Beijing and Hebei Province, China.

Soil and road dust are important receptors of heavy metals in the environment. Meanwhile, heavy metal could transfer to the atmosphere through resuspension. Due to the serious consequences and atmospheric haze in Jing-Jin-Ji area, it's important to evaluate the pollution level, particle size distribution and sources of heavy metals.

Rn and Ra Concentrations in Spring Water and Their Dose Assessment Due to Ingestion Intake.

Rn and Ra concentrations of less than a few to several thousands of Bq L have been observed in several underground bodies of water around the world. Although regulations for these concentrations in water have been implemented internationally, there are currently no regulations in place in Japan. However, concentrations that exceed these internationally recognized regulatory values have also been observed in Japan.

Using neodymium isotope ratio in Ruditapes philippinarum shells for tracking the geographical origin.

Geographical traceability of marine bivalves is becoming increasingly important to assure their quality and to defend the interest of consumers and producers. This study verifies the neodymium isotopic ratio (Nd/Nd) in Ruditapes philippinarum shells as a tracer of the geographic origin, based on the geochemical aspect that Nd/Nd of their habitats strongly depends on the geology of its catchment areas. The Nd/Nd ratios of clam shells from the Japanese and Chinese coastal areas displayed a heterogeneous pattern from local to international scales, reflecting the geological age of the catchment area.

Heavy Metal Assessments of Soil Samples from a High Natural Background Radiation Area, Indonesia.

Mamuju, Indonesia, is an area with high natural background radiation. This study assesses heavy metal content in soil samples from this area to determine the level of public and environmental hazard it presents. This study analyzes natural radionuclide elements using high purity germanium (HPGe) gamma spectrometry and performs heavy metals analysis using a flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS).

Support activities in Namie Town, Fukushima undertaken by Hirosaki University.

This paper does not necessarily reflect the views of the International Commission on Radiological Protection.Several radiation monitoring research projects are underway on dose assessment, biological analysis, and risk communication under an agreement with Namie Town. Indoor radon and thoron progeny concentrations have been measured using passive-type monitors to estimate internal doses due to inhalation.

Determination of Nd isotopic composition in seawater using newly developed solid phase extraction and MC-ICP-MS.

Determination of neodymium (Nd) isotopic composition in seawater is useful for tracing water masses and geochemical cycles for lithogenic elements in the ocean. A new separation procedure for determination of the Nd isotopic composition of in seawater samples was developed that offers enhanced sample throughput and improved measurement reliability. The procedure consists of conventional Fe hydroxide coprecipitation, solid phase extraction using DGA chelating resin column chromatography, and Ln Resin column chromatography to preconcentrate samples.

Spatiotemporal change of cesium-137 in the Pacific coast of Tohoku, Japan: The mussel watch approach.

We measured radiocesium in mussel tissue collected from the Pacific coast of Tohoku from 2011 to 2015 to investigate the temporal and spatial dynamics of radiocesium in the coastal area. Radioactive Cs was detected in all the samples collected in 2011, but it was not found in samples from localities north of Sendai after 2012. In contrast, Cs was detected in many sites in the Fukushima area even from 2012 to 2015.

Effects of environmental conditions, low-level potassium, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, or combination treatment on radiocesium-137 decontamination in Napier grass.

Phytoextraction is widely used to remove environmental pollutants such as heavy metals or radionuclides from soil. It is important to understand how to enhance the accumulation of contaminants by plants. Previously, we found that Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.

Transition of Radioactive Cesium Deposition in Reproductive Organs of Free-Roaming Cats in Namie Town, Fukushima.

We investigated the internal contamination by radioactive cesium associated with the FDNPP accident, in the testes or uterus and ovaries of free-roaming cats (), which were protected by volunteers in the Namie Town, Fukushima. A total of 253 samples (145 testes and 108 uterus and ovaries) obtained from adult cats and 15 fetuses from 3 pregnant female cats were measured. Free-roaming cats in Namie Town had a higher level of radioactive contamination in comparison to the control group in Tokyo, as the Cs + Cs activity concentration ranged from not detectable to 37,882 Bq kg in adult cats.

CAESIUM RETENTION CHARACTERISTICS OF KNIFC-PAN RESIN FROM RIVER WATER.

The caesium retention characteristics of a potassium-nickel hexacyanoferrate resin in a polyacrylnitrile (KNiFC-PAN) matrix were tested in fresh water over the range of 2.5-400 mL min-1. The experimental setup used 2 mL resin and 4-L aliquots of freshwater samples.

THE IMPACT ON THE EYE LENS OF RADIATION EMITTED BY NATURAL RADIONUCLIDES (LEAD-210) PRESENT IN RADIATION PROTECTION GLASSES.

Most radiation protection items made from modern lead contain 210Pb. This study estimated the impact on eye lens of radiation derived from the 210Pb in three types of radiation protection glasses. The counts from the glasses were measured using a Geiger-Müeller survey meter.

Observation of Dispersion in the Japanese Coastal Area of Released Sr, Cs, and Cs from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant to the Sea in 2013.

The March 2011 earthquake and tsunami resulted in significant damage to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) and the subsequent release of radionuclides into the ocean. Here, we investigated the spatial distribution of strontium-90 (Sr) and cesium-134/cesium-137 (Cs) in surface seawater of the coastal region near the FDNPP. In the coastal region, Sr activity was high, from 0.