2021 Volume 56 Issue 1 Pages 17-25
The Tokai Reprocessing Plant is the first reprocessing plant in Japan which started hot test in 1977, and had reprocessed 1,140 tons of spent nuclear fuel by May 2007. The gaseous and liquid radioactive wastes have been discharged to the environment. Since iodine-129 (129I) is one of the most important nuclides for the long-term environmental impact assessment. Therefore, 129I in the exhaust and effluent has been controlled, and precise analysis methods of 129I in the environmental samples have been developed, and the concentrations of 129I in the various environmental samples have been investigated. This report presents an overview of these activities. Not limited to 129I on the reprocessing facilities, it is essential for nuclear operators to reduce the amount released to the environment in the spirit of ALARA, and to continuously develop the further upgrading environmental monitoring methods and evaluation methods in order to foster a sense of safety and security among residents living in the vicinity of the facilities.
