Fukushima. The radioactive soil problem

Radioactive releases due to the accident at the Fukushima-1 NPP have contaminated a total area of over 1000 square kilometers of Japanese territories. The contamination caused by 137Cs isotopes is considered as the most dangerous for the local population. This isotope was released in large quantities (about 6 PBq) and has a fairly long half-life (30.17 years). The paper considers both the decontamination methods that can be applied at various territories (populated areas, agricultural lands, forests) and the problems associated with the management of the resulting radioactive waste, including tens of millions of cubic meters of radioactive soil and ash.