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BOOKLET to Provide Basic Information Regarding Health Effects of Radiation (3rd edition)
Chapter 9 Efforts toward Recovery from the Accident 9.2 Interim Storage Facility

Basic Concept for Safe Use of Removed Soil Processed into Recycled Materials

Basic Concept for Safe Use of Removed Soil Processed into Recycled Materials_Figure

With the aim of obtaining public understanding and trust for recycling of the soil removed through off-site decontamination work in Fukushima Prefecture, and at the same time promoting safe use of removed soil processed into recycled materials by stage, the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) compiled the Basic Concept for Safe Use of Removed Soil Processed into Recycled Materials in June 2016. This Basic Concept imposes a limitation that processed removed soil be only used in public works, etc. where management entities and responsibilityrelated systems are clarified. It also sets the upper limit for radioactivity concentrations of recycled materials to limit additional exposure doses, while supposing that they are used under proper management, such as with shielding by cover soil.

At present, based on this Basic Concept, MOE is implementing demonstration projects in Minamisoma City and Iitate Village to confirm the safety of processed removed soil. The results obtained so far through the demonstration projects have shown no significant changes in ambient dose rates or other values since commencing the projects, and measured values of radioactive cesium in seepage water through cover soil were all below the detection limit.

In the demonstration project in Iitate Village, the development of farmland was commenced in FY2020 and an experiment to grow edible crops has been conducted to confirm growth and safety. As of December 2020, concentrations of radioactive cesium in those edible crops measured by the method specified by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare can be all assessed as below the detection limit (less than 20 Bq/kg) (as a result of continuing measurements until Cs was detected, all values were 0.1 to 2.3 Bq/kg, far below the standard limit for general foods (100 Bq/kg)).

MOE's website, "Interim Storage Facility": Demonstration Project for Recycling in Minamisoma City

http://josen.env.go.jp/chukanchozou/facility/effort/recycling/minamisoma.html (in Japanese)

MOE's website, "Interim Storage Facility": Demonstration Project for Recycling in Iitate Village

http://josen.env.go.jp/chukanchozou/facility/effort/recycling/iitate.html (in Japanese)

  • Included in this reference material on March 31, 2019
  • Updated on March 31, 2021
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