Papers

Peer-reviewed Lead author Open access
Nov 5, 2019

Transport and Redistribution of Radiocesium in Fukushima Fallout through Rivers

Environmental Science and Technology
  • Keisuke Taniguchi
  • ,
  • Yuichi Onda
  • ,
  • Hugh G. Smith
  • ,
  • William Blake
  • ,
  • Kazuya Yoshimura
  • ,
  • Yosuke Yamashiki
  • ,
  • Takayuki Kuramoto
  • ,
  • Kimiaki Saito

Volume
53
Number
21
First page
12339
Last page
12347
Language
English
Publishing type
Research paper (scientific journal)
DOI
10.1021/acs.est.9b02890

Copyright © 2019 American Chemical Society. The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident released the most significant quantity of radiocesium into the environment since Chernobyl, and detailed measurements over the initial 5 years provide new insights into fluvial redistribution of radiocesium. We found that the high initial activity concentration of 137Cs-bearing suspended sediment in rivers was followed by a steep exponential decline (λ1) which extended to approximately 1 year after the accident, while the rate of initial decline in radiocesium activity concentration in water was an order of magnitude higher than rates measured after Chernobyl. Fluvial transport of 137Cs to the ocean from the Abukuma river totaled 12 TBq between June 2011 and August 2015 and almost all this radiocesium (96.5%) was transported in the particulate form. The primary sources of 137Cs were paddy fields, farmland, and urban areas [plaque-forming unit (PFU)], discharging 85% of the exported 137Cs from 38% of the watershed area. After 1 year, activity concentrations were lower and exhibited a more gradual secondary decline (λ2) which was associated with reduced radiocesium losses from PFU areas, while forest areas continue to represent more stable contaminant stores.

Link information
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b02890
PubMed
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31490064
Scopus
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=85073155347&origin=inward Open access
Scopus Citedby
https://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=85073155347&origin=inward
ID information
  • DOI : 10.1021/acs.est.9b02890
  • ISSN : 0013-936X
  • eISSN : 1520-5851
  • Pubmed ID : 31490064
  • SCOPUS ID : 85073155347

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