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Larry Hughes - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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the Fukushima Nuclear Accident and its effect on global energy security
Energy Policy, 2013Co-Authors: Masatsugu Hayashi, Larry HughesAbstract:The March 2011 Nuclear Accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear power station affected both short- and long-term energy-security in Japan, resulting in crisis-driven, ad hoc energy policy and, because of the decision to shutter all Nuclear reactors, increased the country’s demand for fossil fuels, primarily natural gas. However, the effects of the Accident on energy security were not restricted to Japan; for example, the worldwide availability and affordability of liquefied natural gas were affected by Japan’s increased demand; while the Accident itself resulted in the loss of public acceptability of Nuclear power and led countries, such as Germany and Italy, to immediately shut down some of the Nuclear reactors or abandon plans to build new ones.
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the Fukushima Nuclear Accident and its effect on global energy security
Energy Policy, 2013Co-Authors: Masatsugu Hayashi, Larry HughesAbstract:Abstract The March 2011 Nuclear Accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear power station affected both short- and long-term energy-security in Japan, resulting in crisis-driven, ad hoc energy policy and, because of the decision to shutter all Nuclear reactors, increased the country’s demand for fossil fuels, primarily natural gas. However, the effects of the Accident on energy security were not restricted to Japan; for example, the worldwide availability and affordability of liquefied natural gas were affected by Japan’s increased demand; while the Accident itself resulted in the loss of public acceptability of Nuclear power and led countries, such as Germany and Italy, to immediately shut down some of the Nuclear reactors or abandon plans to build new ones. This paper examines some of the short-term effects on global energy security following the Accident at Fukushima, focusing on the main replacement fuel, liquefied natural gas. It shows, amongst other things, that the Accident increased investment in liquefied natural gas projects around the world. The paper shows that despite Fukushima contributing to Nuclear power’s loss of acceptability in most developed countries, it is still seen as an essential way of improving energy security in many countries and, despite what its critics may say, will probably continue to be used as a significant source of low-carbon electricity.
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the policy responses to the Fukushima Nuclear Accident and their effect on japanese energy security
Energy Policy, 2013Co-Authors: Masatsugu Hayashi, Larry HughesAbstract:Abstract The Accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear power station received worldwide attention in March 2011; since then, much of the reporting has been limited to stories such as the state of the reactor, the trans-Pacific movement of flotsam caused by the tsunami, and the effect of the tsunami and Accident on Japanese communities. Other than the closure of Japan's last operating reactor in May 2012, little has been discussed outside of Japan regarding the policies introduced in response by the Japanese government in its effort to maintain Japanese energy security and the effects on Japan's electricity suppliers and the Japanese people. This paper presents a detailed examination of the crisis-driven changes to policy and regulations instituted by the Japanese government and electricity suppliers in the immediate aftermath of the Accident up to May 2012. The disruption to Japan's long-term energy policies is discussed in terms of the country's need to maintain its energy security. The paper also considers a number of different energy futures for Japan in light of the Accident and how they could improve energy security in terms of availability, affordability, and acceptability.
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the policy responses to the Fukushima Nuclear Accident and their effect on japanese energy security
Energy Policy, 2013Co-Authors: Masatsugu Hayashi, Larry HughesAbstract:The Accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear power station received worldwide attention in March 2011; since then, much of the reporting has been limited to stories such as the state of the reactor, the trans-Pacific movement of flotsam caused by the tsunami, and the effect of the tsunami and Accident on Japanese communities. Other than the closure of Japan's last operating reactor in May 2012, little has been discussed outside of Japan regarding the policies introduced in response by the Japanese government in its effort to maintain Japanese energy security and the effects on Japan's electricity suppliers and the Japanese people.
Masatsugu Hayashi - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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the Fukushima Nuclear Accident and its effect on global energy security
Energy Policy, 2013Co-Authors: Masatsugu Hayashi, Larry HughesAbstract:The March 2011 Nuclear Accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear power station affected both short- and long-term energy-security in Japan, resulting in crisis-driven, ad hoc energy policy and, because of the decision to shutter all Nuclear reactors, increased the country’s demand for fossil fuels, primarily natural gas. However, the effects of the Accident on energy security were not restricted to Japan; for example, the worldwide availability and affordability of liquefied natural gas were affected by Japan’s increased demand; while the Accident itself resulted in the loss of public acceptability of Nuclear power and led countries, such as Germany and Italy, to immediately shut down some of the Nuclear reactors or abandon plans to build new ones.
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the Fukushima Nuclear Accident and its effect on global energy security
Energy Policy, 2013Co-Authors: Masatsugu Hayashi, Larry HughesAbstract:Abstract The March 2011 Nuclear Accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear power station affected both short- and long-term energy-security in Japan, resulting in crisis-driven, ad hoc energy policy and, because of the decision to shutter all Nuclear reactors, increased the country’s demand for fossil fuels, primarily natural gas. However, the effects of the Accident on energy security were not restricted to Japan; for example, the worldwide availability and affordability of liquefied natural gas were affected by Japan’s increased demand; while the Accident itself resulted in the loss of public acceptability of Nuclear power and led countries, such as Germany and Italy, to immediately shut down some of the Nuclear reactors or abandon plans to build new ones. This paper examines some of the short-term effects on global energy security following the Accident at Fukushima, focusing on the main replacement fuel, liquefied natural gas. It shows, amongst other things, that the Accident increased investment in liquefied natural gas projects around the world. The paper shows that despite Fukushima contributing to Nuclear power’s loss of acceptability in most developed countries, it is still seen as an essential way of improving energy security in many countries and, despite what its critics may say, will probably continue to be used as a significant source of low-carbon electricity.
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the policy responses to the Fukushima Nuclear Accident and their effect on japanese energy security
Energy Policy, 2013Co-Authors: Masatsugu Hayashi, Larry HughesAbstract:Abstract The Accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear power station received worldwide attention in March 2011; since then, much of the reporting has been limited to stories such as the state of the reactor, the trans-Pacific movement of flotsam caused by the tsunami, and the effect of the tsunami and Accident on Japanese communities. Other than the closure of Japan's last operating reactor in May 2012, little has been discussed outside of Japan regarding the policies introduced in response by the Japanese government in its effort to maintain Japanese energy security and the effects on Japan's electricity suppliers and the Japanese people. This paper presents a detailed examination of the crisis-driven changes to policy and regulations instituted by the Japanese government and electricity suppliers in the immediate aftermath of the Accident up to May 2012. The disruption to Japan's long-term energy policies is discussed in terms of the country's need to maintain its energy security. The paper also considers a number of different energy futures for Japan in light of the Accident and how they could improve energy security in terms of availability, affordability, and acceptability.
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the policy responses to the Fukushima Nuclear Accident and their effect on japanese energy security
Energy Policy, 2013Co-Authors: Masatsugu Hayashi, Larry HughesAbstract:The Accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear power station received worldwide attention in March 2011; since then, much of the reporting has been limited to stories such as the state of the reactor, the trans-Pacific movement of flotsam caused by the tsunami, and the effect of the tsunami and Accident on Japanese communities. Other than the closure of Japan's last operating reactor in May 2012, little has been discussed outside of Japan regarding the policies introduced in response by the Japanese government in its effort to maintain Japanese energy security and the effects on Japan's electricity suppliers and the Japanese people.
Georg Steinhauser - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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characteristics of radiocesium contaminations in mushrooms after the Fukushima Nuclear Accident evaluation of the food monitoring data from march 2011 to march 2016
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2018Co-Authors: Benedikt Prandstritzko, Georg SteinhauserAbstract:The monitoring inspection of food after the Fukushima Nuclear Accident (2011) was essential for ensuring food safety in Japan and reducing the adverse health effects due to incorporation of inacceptable amounts of radionuclides, in particular radiocesium (134Cs and 137Cs). In this study, the mushroom fraction of the governmental data set of the first 5 years after the Accident has been analyzed for contamination levels in mushrooms, in particular time trends and radioecological characteristics as well as associated health risks. The analyses show that mycorrhiza mushrooms are much more sensitive for radionuclide uptake than saprobiontic mushrooms (the latter of which include the very popular shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes)). The maximum value reached 31,000 Bq/kg in a sample of apricot milkcaps in 2012. Analysis of the origin of the samples revealed that the origin (in terms of prefecture) of the mushrooms was a less determining factor for the contamination level than the type of mushrooms, as most exceedances in 2012 and thereafter were found outside Fukushima Prefecture. Several dose models were applied to the data to evaluate both worst case and realistic effective committed dose scenarios. The doses were generally rather low due to low consumption rates in the Japanese food basket. In any case, the analysis proved that the food monitoring campaign was highly effective in cutting doses to the public by more than a factor of 10 compared with a hypothetical scenario in which no monitoring had been conducted.
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post Accident sporadic releases of airborne radionuclides from the Fukushima daiichi Nuclear power plant site
Environmental Science & Technology, 2015Co-Authors: Georg Steinhauser, Katsumi Shozugawa, Tamon Niisoe, Kouji H Harada, Stephanie Schneider, Hansarno Synal, Clemens Walther, Marcus Christl, Kenji Nanba, Hirohiko IshikawaAbstract:The Fukushima Nuclear Accident (March 11, 2011) caused the widespread contamination of Japan by direct deposition of airborne radionuclides. Analysis of weekly air filters has revealed sporadic releases of radionuclides long after the Fukushima Daiichi reactors were stabilized. One major discharge was observed in August 2013 in monitoring stations north of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear power plant (FDNPP). During this event, an air monitoring station in this previously scarcely contaminated area suddenly reported 137Cs activity levels that were 30-fold above the background. Together with atmospheric dispersion and deposition simulation, radionuclide analysis in soil indicated that debris removal operations conducted on the FDNPP site on August 19, 2013 are likely to be responsible for this late release of radionuclides. One soil sample in the center of the simulated plume exhibited a high 90Sr contamination (78 ± 8 Bq kg–1) as well as a high 90Sr/137Cs ratio (0.04); both phenomena have usually been observ...
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analysis of japanese radionuclide monitoring data of food before and after the Fukushima Nuclear Accident
Environmental Science & Technology, 2015Co-Authors: Stefan Merz, Katsumi Shozugawa, Georg SteinhauserAbstract:In an unprecedented food monitoring campaign for radionuclides, the Japanese government took action to secure food safety after the Fukushima Nuclear Accident (Mar. 11, 2011). In this work we analyze a part of the immense data set, in particular radiocesium contaminations in food from the first year after the Accident. Activity concentrations in vegetables peaked immediately after the campaign had commenced, but they decreased quickly, so that by early summer 2011 only a few samples exceeded the regulatory limits. Later, accumulating mushrooms and dried produce led to several exceedances of the limits again. Monitoring of meat started with significant delay, especially outside Fukushima prefecture. After a buildup period, contamination levels of meat peaked by July 2011 (beef). Levels then decreased quickly, but peaked again in September 2011, which was primarily due to boar meat (a known accumulator of radiocesium). Tap water was less contaminated; any restrictions for tap water were canceled by April 1,...
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Fukushima s forgotten radionuclides a review of the understudied radioactive emissions
Environmental Science & Technology, 2014Co-Authors: Georg SteinhauserAbstract:In environmental monitoring campaigns for anthropogenic radionuclides released in the course of the Fukushima Nuclear Accident (2011), most focus had been on gamma-emitting radionuclides. More than 99% of the released activity was due to radionuclides of the elements Kr, Te, I, Xe, and Cs. However, little work had been done on the monitoring of radionuclides other than 131I, 132Te, 134Cs, 136Cs, and 137Cs. Radionuclides such as those of less volatile elements (e.g., 89Sr, 90Sr, 103Ru, 106Ru, plutonium), pure beta-emitters (3H, 14C, 35S), gaseous radionuclides (85Kr, 133Xe, 135Xe) or radionuclides with very long half-lives (e.g., 36Cl, 99Tc, 129I, some actinides such as 236U) have been understudied by comparison. In this review, we summarize previous monitoring work on these “orphan” radionuclides in various environmental media and outline further challenges for future monitoring campaigns. Some of the understudied radionuclides are of radiological concern, others are promising tracers for environmental, g...
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artificial radioactivity in environmental media air rainwater soil vegetation in austria after the Fukushima Nuclear Accident
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2013Co-Authors: Georg Steinhauser, Stefan Merz, Dieter Hainz, Johannes H SterbaAbstract:Several environmental media in Austria were monitored for artificial radionuclides released during the Fukushima Nuclear Accident. Air (up to 1.2 mBq/m3 particulate 131I) and rainwater (up to 5.2 Bq/L 131I) proved to be the media best suited for the environmental monitoring, allowing also a temporal resolution of the activity levels. Significant regional differences in the wet deposition of 131I with rain could be observed within the city of Vienna during the arrival of the contaminated air masses. Forward-trajectory analysis supported the hypothesis that the contaminated air masses coming from the northwest changed direction to northeast over Northern Austria, leading to a strong activity concentration gradient over Vienna. In the course of the environmental monitoring of the Fukushima releases, this phenomenon—significant differences of 131I activity concentrations in rainwater on a narrow local scale (8.1 km)—appears to be unique. Vegetation (grass) was contaminated with 131I and/or 137Cs at a low level. Soil (up to 22 Bq/kg 137Cs) was only affected by previous releases (Nuclear weapon tests, Chernobyl). Here, also significant local differences can be observed due to different deposition rates during the Chernobyl Accident. The effective ecological half-lives of 137Cs in soil were calculated for four locations in Austria. They range from 7 to 30 years. No Austrian sample investigated herein exceeded the detection limit for 134Cs; hence, the Fukushima Nuclear Accident did not contribute significantly to the total radiocesium inventory in Austrian environmental media. The levels of detected radioactivity were of no concern for public health.
Joji M Otaki - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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developmental and hemocytological effects of ingesting Fukushima s radiocesium on the cabbage white butterfly pieris rapae
Scientific Reports, 2019Co-Authors: Wataru Taira, Ko Sakauchi, Mariko Toki, Keisuke Kakinohana, Joji M OtakiAbstract:High morphological abnormality and mortality rates have been reported in the pale grass blue butterfly, Zizeeria maha, since the Fukushima Nuclear Accident. However, it remains uncertain if these effects are restricted to this butterfly. Here, we evaluated the effects of ingesting cabbage leaves grown with contaminated soils from Fukushima on the development and hemocytes of the cabbage white butterfly, Pieris rapae. Contaminated cabbage leaves containing various low levels of anthropogenic 134Cs and 137Cs radioactivity (less than natural 40K radioactivity) were fed to larvae from Okinawa, the least contaminated locality in Japan. Negative developmental and morphological effects were detected in the experimental groups. The cesium (but not potassium) radioactivity concentration was negatively correlated with the granulocyte percentage in hemolymph, and the granulocyte percentage was positively correlated with the pupal eclosion rate, the adult achievement rate, and the total normality rate. These results demonstrated that ingesting low-level radiocesium contaminants in Fukushima (but not natural radiopotassium) imposed biologically negative effects on the cabbage white butterfly, as in the pale grass blue butterfly, at both cellular and organismal levels.
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sampling efficiency of the pale grass blue butterfly zizeeria maha lepidoptera lycaenidae a versatile indicator species for environmental risk assessment in japan
Journal of Asia-pacific Entomology, 2018Co-Authors: Atsuki Hiyama, Wataru Taira, Ko Sakauchi, Joji M OtakiAbstract:Abstract The pale grass blue butterfly, Zizeeria maha (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae), has successfully been employed as an indicator species to evaluate acute biological changes in polluted human-living environments after the Fukushima Nuclear Accident. Here, we quantitatively examined the field sampling efficiency of the butterfly and its associated sexual sampling bias under different conditions, which may provide important information for environmental risk assessment. Sampling data were obtained in 2014 and 2015 from 87 localities across Japan. Across the localities, the mean capture rate was 17 individuals per hour per person, and males represented approximately 80% of the collected butterflies. No significant difference was detected in the capture rate under different weather conditions. Among the four habitats, the riverside showed a significantly higher capture rate than the city park. A shorter sampling time tended to yield a higher capture rate. Comparisons among prefectures and districts of collection localities revealed that the Kanto district had significantly higher percentages of collected males than 4 other districts. Fukushima prefecture also had high percentage, although not significant. A generalized linear mixed model indicated that the capture rate was significantly negatively affected by the agricultural village, the city park, the rainy weather, and latitude and positively by longitude. Together, the present study showed high sampling efficiency and versatility of this butterfly as an indicator for environmental risk assessment but simultaneously suggested preferable conditions for a field sampling design. This study also suggested a possibility that the Fukushima Nuclear Accident or other factors might have affected behavioral or population dynamics of the butterfly.
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the biological impacts of the Fukushima Nuclear Accident on the pale grass blue butterfly
Scientific Reports, 2012Co-Authors: Atsuki Hiyama, Wataru Taira, Chiyo Nohara, Seira Kinjo, Shinichi Gima, Akira Tanahara, Joji M OtakiAbstract:The collapse of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant caused a massive release of radioactive materials to the environment. A prompt and reliable system for evaluating the biological impacts of this Accident on animals has not been available. Here we show that the Accident caused physiological and genetic damage to the pale grass blue Zizeeria maha, a common lycaenid butterfly in Japan. We collected the first-voltine adults in the Fukushima area in May 2011, some of which showed relatively mild abnormalities. The F1 offspring from the first-voltine females showed more severe abnormalities, which were inherited by the F2 generation. Adult butterflies collected in September 2011 showed more severe abnormalities than those collected in May. Similar abnormalities were experimentally reproduced in individuals from a non-contaminated area by external and internal low-dose exposures. We conclude that artificial radionuclides from the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant caused physiological and genetic damage to this species.
Wataru Taira - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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developmental and hemocytological effects of ingesting Fukushima s radiocesium on the cabbage white butterfly pieris rapae
Scientific Reports, 2019Co-Authors: Wataru Taira, Ko Sakauchi, Mariko Toki, Keisuke Kakinohana, Joji M OtakiAbstract:High morphological abnormality and mortality rates have been reported in the pale grass blue butterfly, Zizeeria maha, since the Fukushima Nuclear Accident. However, it remains uncertain if these effects are restricted to this butterfly. Here, we evaluated the effects of ingesting cabbage leaves grown with contaminated soils from Fukushima on the development and hemocytes of the cabbage white butterfly, Pieris rapae. Contaminated cabbage leaves containing various low levels of anthropogenic 134Cs and 137Cs radioactivity (less than natural 40K radioactivity) were fed to larvae from Okinawa, the least contaminated locality in Japan. Negative developmental and morphological effects were detected in the experimental groups. The cesium (but not potassium) radioactivity concentration was negatively correlated with the granulocyte percentage in hemolymph, and the granulocyte percentage was positively correlated with the pupal eclosion rate, the adult achievement rate, and the total normality rate. These results demonstrated that ingesting low-level radiocesium contaminants in Fukushima (but not natural radiopotassium) imposed biologically negative effects on the cabbage white butterfly, as in the pale grass blue butterfly, at both cellular and organismal levels.
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sampling efficiency of the pale grass blue butterfly zizeeria maha lepidoptera lycaenidae a versatile indicator species for environmental risk assessment in japan
Journal of Asia-pacific Entomology, 2018Co-Authors: Atsuki Hiyama, Wataru Taira, Ko Sakauchi, Joji M OtakiAbstract:Abstract The pale grass blue butterfly, Zizeeria maha (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae), has successfully been employed as an indicator species to evaluate acute biological changes in polluted human-living environments after the Fukushima Nuclear Accident. Here, we quantitatively examined the field sampling efficiency of the butterfly and its associated sexual sampling bias under different conditions, which may provide important information for environmental risk assessment. Sampling data were obtained in 2014 and 2015 from 87 localities across Japan. Across the localities, the mean capture rate was 17 individuals per hour per person, and males represented approximately 80% of the collected butterflies. No significant difference was detected in the capture rate under different weather conditions. Among the four habitats, the riverside showed a significantly higher capture rate than the city park. A shorter sampling time tended to yield a higher capture rate. Comparisons among prefectures and districts of collection localities revealed that the Kanto district had significantly higher percentages of collected males than 4 other districts. Fukushima prefecture also had high percentage, although not significant. A generalized linear mixed model indicated that the capture rate was significantly negatively affected by the agricultural village, the city park, the rainy weather, and latitude and positively by longitude. Together, the present study showed high sampling efficiency and versatility of this butterfly as an indicator for environmental risk assessment but simultaneously suggested preferable conditions for a field sampling design. This study also suggested a possibility that the Fukushima Nuclear Accident or other factors might have affected behavioral or population dynamics of the butterfly.
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the biological impacts of the Fukushima Nuclear Accident on the pale grass blue butterfly
Scientific Reports, 2012Co-Authors: Atsuki Hiyama, Wataru Taira, Chiyo Nohara, Seira Kinjo, Shinichi Gima, Akira Tanahara, Joji M OtakiAbstract:The collapse of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant caused a massive release of radioactive materials to the environment. A prompt and reliable system for evaluating the biological impacts of this Accident on animals has not been available. Here we show that the Accident caused physiological and genetic damage to the pale grass blue Zizeeria maha, a common lycaenid butterfly in Japan. We collected the first-voltine adults in the Fukushima area in May 2011, some of which showed relatively mild abnormalities. The F1 offspring from the first-voltine females showed more severe abnormalities, which were inherited by the F2 generation. Adult butterflies collected in September 2011 showed more severe abnormalities than those collected in May. Similar abnormalities were experimentally reproduced in individuals from a non-contaminated area by external and internal low-dose exposures. We conclude that artificial radionuclides from the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant caused physiological and genetic damage to this species.
