Ⅰ-3. Studies and projections on environmental change originating from the disaster and associated effects

Making use of the NIES network of researchers and environmental research institutes, including those in the disaster zone, such as Miyagi Prefecture, etc. we are implementing various surveys and research relating to changes to the environment and ecosystems and the status with regards to toxic substances originating from the disaster. These include “Study on density of suspended particulate matter in the air of evacuation shelters, etc.”

In collaboration with environmental research institutes in local authorities throughout the country, we convened a symposium with the theme “Disasters and the Environment”, and co-hosted a meeting under the auspices of the Society for Remediation of Radioactive Contamination in the Environment, the “Recovery and Restoration Workshop” in Fukushima Prefecture in May 2012. Furthermore, we continue to monitor radiation in Tsukuba City, the location of our institute, in cooperation with related research institutes and local authorities.

Surveying air using an atmospheric extraction sampler set up in the environs of an evacuation shelter in Ishimaki City, Miyagi Prefecture (from June 2011)
Surveying air using an atmospheric extraction sampler set up in the environs of an evacuation shelter in Ishimaki City, Miyagi Prefecture (from June 2011)
27th All-Japan Environmental Institutions Symposium, “Disasters and the Environment” (February 2012, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba City)
27th All-Japan Environmental Institutions Symposium, “Disasters and the Environment” (February 2012, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba City)

Research is ongoing on the below themes, and outcomes were presented at the 2012 NIES Public Symposium in the form of posters.