ABSTRACT
This chapter describes work done in Japan on the transfer of radionuclides, particularly the transfer of fallout fission products, in the terrestrial environment. The most common transfer parameters obtained for Japan, such as transfer factor and distribution coefficient are introduced. Meteorological data are important in understanding the behavior of radionuclides in terrestrial environments. Realistic estimates of food-chain transfer of radionuclides require accurate knowledge of physical transfer media such as groundwater and irrigation water. Since April 1957, monthly depositions in Japan of fallout radionuclides, derived from atmospheric nuclear weapon tests, have been studied at the Geochemical Research Division of the Meteorological Research Institute. Distribution coefficient is often used to predict the behavior of a radionuclide in soil-water systems. This coefficient is defined as the concentration of a radionuclide per unit weight of soil divided by the concentration of a radionuclide per unit volume of solution at equilibrium.
