The deposition densities of radiocesium and the air dose rates in undisturbed fields around the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant; their temporal changes for five years after the accident.

The deposition densities of radiocesium and the air dose rates were repeatedly measured in a large number of undisturbed fields within the 80 km zone that surrounds the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant site between 2011 and 2016, and features of their temporal changes were clarified. The average air dose rate excluding background radiation in this zone decreased to about 20% of the initial value during the period from June 2011 to August 2016, which was essentially a result of the radioactive decay of 134Cs with a half-life of 2.06 y. The air dose rate reduction was faster than that expected from the decay of radiocesium by a factor of about two, with most of this reduction being attributed to the penetration of radiocesium into the soil. The average deposition densities of 134Cs and 137Cs in fields that were not decontaminated were found to have decreased nearly according to their expected radioactive decay, which indicated that the movement of radiocesium in the horizontal direction was relatively small. The effect of decontamination was apparently observed in the measurements of air dose rates and deposition densities. Nominally, the average air dose rates in the measurement locations were reduced by about 20% by decontamination and other human activities, of which accurate quantitative analysis is and continue to be a challenge. In this paper, new original data obtained during 2013–2016 were added to the previously reported data collected up to 2012, and it is discussed throughout. Image 1 • The chronological decrease of the air dose rates was indicated in maps.. • In five years, the air dose rate in 80 km zone decreased to about 20% of that in June 2011 on average. • Dose rate reduction in undisturbed fields is faster than expected from physical decay roughly by a factor of two. • Observed decreasing rate of Cs in non-decontaminated area follows physical decay. • The statistically significant effects of decontamination on air dose rates were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]