Radiation Countermeasures
and Decontamination Efforts
Ever since the earthquake disaster, Fukushima University has been enacting a variety of measures and countermeasures
to address radiation and decontamination. Amid a shortage of specialized equipment for measuring radiation, the university
was able to overcome this obstacle by forming a team comprising participants from industry, academia and the government.
Publicizing data on radiation dose
measurements on the university and
affiliated school campuses
Immediately after
the TEPCO Fukushima
Daiichi Nuclear Power
Plant accident, we recognized the importance
of providing objective
investigations and accurate information as the
local national university.
The Radiation Dosage Measurement Team, comprising mainly volunteers from among the teaching staff
of the Faculty of Symbiotic Systems Sciences, began
by measuring Northern Fukushima and the campuses of
Fukushima University and its affiliated schools. Measuring instruments were in short supply initially, which
made periodic measurements impossible, but with more
equipment subsequently being borrowed from other
universities, periodic measurement became possible
from the latter part of March 2011. The measurements
taken at the university and affiliated school campuses
are posted on our website.
Radiation dose measurements within the
Fukushima University and affiliated school
campuses
http://www.fukushima-u.ac.jp/guidance/top/
fukudai-housyasen.html
The Radiation Information Desk and
lending program for dosimeters and
survey meters
Responding to doubts and anxieties among students
regarding the effects of radiation from the nuclear accident, the university opened the Radiation Information
Desk in June to answer their questions. From July, the Information Desk also began lending out electronic pocket
dosimeters (cumulative dosimeters) that students carry
on their person to measure individual radiation exposure.
65
Fukushima University
In November, the Information Desk also started lending
out pocket survey meters that can measure environmental gamma radiation, enabling students to measure
radiation dose in their immediate environment. Advice is
given on operating these devices and interpreting the
readings when the equipment is lent out.
Creating a Radiation Guidebook
When the university was reopened in May, a Radiation
Manual was given to new and returning students. This
summarized radiation dose conditions within the university
and actions taken regarding radiation, information about
radiation exposure and minimizing exposure, topics to be
aware of and reference materials. Since then, the university
has remained attentive to any changes in nuclear accident
and radiation dose trends, while demonstrating its stance to
prioritize student safety. To this end, a Radiation Guidebook
was drafted and distributed to the student body in July to
help students really engage with the radiation issue as well.
The guidebook contained basic information on radiation and
exposure, as well as things students should consider on
campus and in their daily lives.
C O N T E N T S
Prologue
03
Aiming to be a university that drives connections
between people
07
Curriculum Areas
09
■Faculty of Human Development and Culture
12
14
16
Development
･Major in Human
Publicizing
data on radiation dose
in
Cultural
Exploration
･Major
measurements on the university and
and Arts
･Major in Sports
affiliated
school campuses
18 ■Faculty of Administration
Immediately after
and Socialthe
Sciences
TEPCO Fukushima
21
･Major in Law
Daiichi Nuclear Power
23
Management
Plant accident,
we rec･Major in Community
25
ognized
the importance
and Cultural
Studies
･Major in Social
47
of providing objective
acEconomics and and
Business
■Faculty ofinvestigations
curate information as the
Administration
local national
Analysisuniversity.
･Major in Economic
The
Radiation
Dosage
Measurement Team, comprisEconomy
･Major in International and Regional
ing
mainly
volunteers
from
among the teaching staff
･Major in Business Administration
of the Faculty of Symbiotic Systems Sciences, began
by measuring Northern Fukushima and the campuses of
■Faculty of Symbiotic Systems Science
Fukushima University and its affiliated schools. Mea･Major in Human Support System
suring instruments were in short supply initially, which
･Major in Industrial System
made periodic measurements impossible, but with more
Management
･Major in Environmental
equipment System
subsequently
being borrowed from other
universities, periodic measurement became possible
Graduate School
from the latter part of March 2011. The measurements
taken at the university and affiliated school campuses
posted on our website.
International are
Exchange
48
The Fukushima Ambassadors Program
49
Life at Fukushima University
50
Clubs and Circle Activities
51
Campus Map
27
30
32
34
36
39
41
43
45
Radiation dose measurements within the
Fukushima University and affiliated school
campuses
http://www.fukushima-u.ac.jp/guidance/top/
53 Fukushima University and
fukudai-housyasen.html
In November, the Information Desk also started lending
out pocket survey meters that can measure environmental gamma radiation, enabling students to measure
radiation dose in their immediate environment. Advice is
given on operating these devices and interpreting the
readings when the equipment is lent out.
Creating a Radiation Guidebook
When the university was reopened in May, a Radiation
Manual was given to new and returning students. This
summarized radiation dose conditions within the university
and actions taken regarding radiation, information about
radiation exposure and minimizing exposure, topics to be
aware of and reference materials. Since then, the university
has remained attentive to any changes in nuclear accident
and radiation dose trends, while demonstrating its stance to
prioritize student safety. To this end, a Radiation Guidebook
was drafted and distributed to the student body in July to
help students really engage with the radiation issue as well.
The guidebook contained basic information on radiation and
exposure, as well as things students should consider on
campus and in their daily lives.
Removing earth from and cleaning
U-shaped gutters
-- removing hotspots -The Radiation Measurement Team together with cooperating teaching staff from each faculty and office staff
measured radiation doses on the university campus and
confirmed that hotspots (areas with exceptionally high radiation doses) existed in grassy areas, areas below drainpipes and gutters where rainwater was accumulating.
Prompted by their findings, from July to August, earth,
sand, and fallen leaves that had gathered in hotspots and
U-shaped gutters were removed and cleansed in order to
lower radiation doses in the Kanayagawa Campus. The
removed earth and sand were buried in trenches lined
with waterproof sheets, and then the top surface was
covered with asphalt to safely store contaminants.
Cleansed
gutters
Decontamination
measures
(trenches drilling)
the Great East Japan Earthquake
55
Fukushima Future Center for
Regional Revitalization
57
University Events
･Timeline of Fukushima
The Radiation
Information
59
61
63
65
Desk and
Impact
of
the
Disaster
･The
lending program for dosimeters and
on Fukushima University
survey meters
･Assistance for Students and Education
･Engaging on Research
Responding to doubts and anxieties among students
･Radiation Countermeasure
regarding theand
effects of radiation from the nuclear acDecontamination Efforts
cident, the university opened the Radiation Information
Desk in June to answer their questions. From July, the Information Desk also began lending out electronic pocket
dosimeters (cumulative dosimeters) that students carry
*Student's comments are excerpts from interviews conducted in FY2011.
on their person to measure individual radiation exposure.
65
01
Fukushima University
topsoil was brought in and compacted, and the removed
topsoil is now permanently stored in an underground
trench located under the sports field. Decontamination
works began in February for the athletic field (grassed
area), tennis courts, and the central square.
Work to replace topsoil
on the campus grounds
Decontamination verification tests
for interlocking paving published
On January 28th 2012, in cooperation with the Japan
Atomic Energy Agency, Fukushima University published
the results of decontamination verification tests after using J
Removers on interlocking paving within the Fukushima University Campus. This equipment cleans contaminated paving using an ultra-high pressure (up to 280 MPa) water-jet
surface treatment method to pressure-wash contaminated
paving, and draws water back in as it decontaminates, to
remove cesium. Only sand remains as a waste product,
and the water can be reused after treatment. Normal highpressure water jet cleaners (water pressure 5 MPa) have
had little effect on interlocking paving, but the J Remover
achieved impressive results, reducing contamination levels
to less than half. We expect that this technology will be used
widely in future decontamination activities.
The university decided on the course of a mid- to longterm decontamination plan in October. The decontamination plan identified steps to lower radiation dose ratios
in high-usage areas outdoors on campus to ensure a
safe living environment on campus. Under this plan,
5cm of topsoil was removed from the soccer and rugby
field, handball courts, baseball field, Japanese archery
grounds and equestrian grounds in December. New
Fukushima University
66