Distribution of dissolved and particulate radiocesium concentrations along rivers and the relations between radiocesium concentration and deposition after the nuclear power plant accident in Fukushima

Tsuji, Hideki; Yasutaka, Tetsuo; Kawabe, Yoshishige; Onishi, Toshikazu; Komai, Takeshi

doi:10.1016/j.watres.2014.04.024

Cited by 73 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Tsuji et al (2014) indicated that in the Abukuma and Ota catchments, only 64% of the radiocesium was transported with the particulate fraction. When examining sediments across the fallout impacted region, Yoshimura et al (2015b) found that between 58 and 100% of radiocesium was transported with the particulate fraction, with the exclusion of one estuary site.…”

Section: Radiocesium Distribution Coefficient (Dissolved/particulate)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Radiocesium transfer from hillslopes to the Pacific Ocean after the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant accident: A review

Evrard

Laceby

Lepage

et al. 2015

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

155

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The devastating tsunami triggered by the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011 inundated the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) resulting in a loss of cooling and a series of explosions releasing the largest quantity of radioactive material into the atmosphere since the Chernobyl nuclear accident. Although 80% of the radionuclides from this accidental release were transported over the Pacific Ocean, 20% were deposited over Japanese coastal catchments that are subject to frequent typhoons. Among the radioisotopes released during the FDNPP accident, radiocesium ((134)Cs and (137)Cs) is considered the most serious current and future health risk for the local population. The goal of this review is to synthesize research relevant to the transfer of FDNPP derived radiocesium from hillslopes to the Pacific Ocean. After radiocesium fallout deposition on vegetation and soils, the contamination may remain stored in forest canopies, in vegetative litter on the ground, or in the soil. Once radiocesium contacts soil, it is quickly and almost irreversibly bound to fine soil particles. The kinetic energy of raindrops instigates the displacement of soil particles, and their bound radiocesium, which may be mobilized and transported with overland flow. Soil erosion is one of the main processes transferring particle-bound radiocesium from hillslopes through rivers and streams, and ultimately to the Pacific Ocean. Accordingly this review will summarize results regarding the fundamental processes and dynamics that govern radiocesium transfer from hillslopes to the Pacific Ocean published in the literature within the first four years after the FDNPP accident. The majority of radiocesium is reported to be transported in the particulate fraction, attached to fine particles. The contribution of the dissolved fraction to radiocesium migration is only relevant in base flows and is hypothesized to decline over time. Owing to the hydro-meteorological context of the Fukushima region, the most significant transfer of particulate-bound radiocesium occurs during major rainfall and runoff events (e.g. typhoons and spring snowmelt). There may be radiocesium storage within catchments in forests, floodplains and even within hillslopes that may be remobilized and contaminate downstream areas, even areas that did not receive fallout or may have been decontaminated. Overall this review demonstrates that characterizing the different mechanisms and factors driving radiocesium transfer is important. In particular, the review determined that quantifying the remaining catchment radiocesium inventory allows for a relative comparison of radiocesium transfer research from hillslope to catchment scales. Further, owing to the variety of mechanisms and factors, a transdisciplinary approach is required involving geomorphologists, hydrologists, soil and forestry scientists, and mathematical modellers to comprehensively quantify radiocesium transfers and dynamics. Characterizing radiocesium transfers from hillslopes to the Pacific Ocean is necess...

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Section: Radiocesium Distribution Coefficient (Dissolved/particulate)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Radiocesium transfer from hillslopes to the Pacific Ocean after the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant accident: A review

Evrard

Laceby

Lepage

et al. 2015

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

155

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“…The high Cs-137 concentration in S. marmorata larvae in 2015 may have been due to particularly high contamination of the larvae with ultrafine (less than a few µm in diameter) particulate matter. A large amount of radioactive Cs deposition occurred; this correlates with the particulate Cs-137 concentrations in streams and rivers in Fukushima Prefecture (Tsuji et al 2014). Further continuous monitoring and analyses of both S. marmorata and suspended solids should be carried out.…”

Section: Relationship Of the Radioactive Cs Concentration In S Marmomentioning

confidence: 98%

Radioactive cesium contamination and its biological half-life in larvae of Stenopsyche marmorata (Trichoptera: Stenopsychidae)

Fujino

Kobori

Nomoto³

et al. 2017

Landscape Ecol Eng

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The total radioactive Cs concentration in final-instar Stenopsyche marmorata larvae from the Mano River, Fukushima Prefecture, in 2013 was found to be >1000 Bq kg −1 in dry weight. The concentration of radioactive Cs in the river water itself was on the order of 0.01 Bq kg −1 , while its concentration in drifting fine particulate organic matter (FPOM) was on the order of 10,000 Bq kg −1 in dry weight. When excretion experiments were performed in the summer and winter, significant decreases in the Cs concentrations in the whole body of S. marmorata were observed in both seasons. The biological half-life of Cs-137 was 5.3 and 8.8 h for the nonwintering generation and the wintering generation, respectively. Another elimination test using a stable Cs solution was performed, and the Cs concentration was observed to decrease rapidly to 7.5% of its original level in the digestive tract of S. marmorata after 72 h, but stable Cs remained in muscle and extra-alimentary tissue of S. marmorata. As the total radioactive Cs in the water was quite low, its concentration in S. marmorata from the Mano River reflects the fact that it feeds on FPOM. The radioactive Cs concentration in the FPOM significantly declined in 2015, but a corresponding decline was not observed for S. marmorata. We therefore infer that ultrafine particulate matter such as suspended vermiculite clay is strongly contaminated with radioactive Cs, and that this radioactive Cs passes continuously through the digestive tract of S. marmorata.

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“…To evaluate the effectiveness of the Zn-C in measuring dissolved 137 Cs concentrations in river waters, the concentrations of 137 Cs measured by using the Zn-C method compared with those measured after conventional evaporative concentration [2,3]. River water samples were taken from two locations in the Abukuma upland area (about 50 km from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station): 17.3 L from location A and 20.7 L from location B.…”

Section: Field Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These include evaporative concentration [2,3] and co-precipitation by sorbents (e.g., ammonium phosphomolybdate [4,5] or fer- * Corresponding author. Email: t.yasutaka@aist.go.jp rocyanide compounds [6,7]), which selectively absorb dissolved cesium.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rapid quantification of radiocesium dissolved in water by using nonwoven fabric cartridge filters impregnated with potassium zinc ferrocyanide

Yasutaka

Tsuji

Kondo³

et al. 2015

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology

Self Cite

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This paper presents a cartridge filter incorporating a nonwoven fabric impregnated with potassium zinc ferrocyanide (Zn-C) to effectively concentrate and quantify cesium dissolved in water. Experiments conducted with 137 Cs in conditioned water showed that at a flow rate of 2.5 L/min the filter could absorb 97.9% of dissolved 137 Cs from 20 L of water; high recovery efficiency was achieved over a pH range of 3-10. Test measurements of 137 Cs concentrations using Zn-C in river water agreed with the results derived by using an evaporative concentration method (within the counting error of the detector). Using this method, the pre-concentration time of radiocesium in 20 L of fresh water can be reduced to just 8 minutes.

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Distribution of dissolved and particulate radiocesium concentrations along rivers and the relations between radiocesium concentration and deposition after the nuclear power plant accident in Fukushima

Cited by 73 publications

References 16 publications

Radiocesium transfer from hillslopes to the Pacific Ocean after the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant accident: A review

Radiocesium transfer from hillslopes to the Pacific Ocean after the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant accident: A review

Radioactive cesium contamination and its biological half-life in larvae of Stenopsyche marmorata (Trichoptera: Stenopsychidae)

Rapid quantification of radiocesium dissolved in water by using nonwoven fabric cartridge filters impregnated with potassium zinc ferrocyanide

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