We summarize an evaluation of the radionuclide measurements taken from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear facility 13-19 days after the magnitude 9 earthquake on March 11, 2011 and reported on the Tokyo Electric Power Company website. Based upon this data, we conclude venting of Units 1 and 3 were the major source of radioactive contamination to the surface soil near the facility. The release was dictated primarily by chemical volatility driven by temperature and reduction potential within the vented reactors' primary containment vessels. We predict all coolant had evaporated by the time of venting and extensive damage to the fuel bundles did little to contain volatile species. We confirmed that the venting of Units 1 and 3 were the major contributor of Pu to the surface soils at the site, but the input from these reactors likely decreased rapidly with distance from the source. Two independent evaluations were used to estimate the fraction of the total plutonium inventory from Units 1 and 3 released to the environment relative 137Cs to be 0.002 - 0.004%.

Releases from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident as remote indicators of source identification, extent of release, and state of damaged spent nuclear fuel

244th National Meeting (2012)

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