Prediction of groundwater contamination with 137Cs and 131I from the Fukushima nuclear accident in the Kanto district

J Environ Radioact. 2012 Sep:111:38-41. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2011.11.017. Epub 2011 Dec 29.

Abstract

We measured the concentrations of (131)I, (134)Cs, and (137)Cs released from the Fukushima nuclear accident in soil and rainwater samples collected March 30-31, 2011, in Ibaraki Prefecture, Kanto district, bordering Fukushima Prefecture to the south. Column experiments revealed that all (131)I in rainwater samples was adsorbed onto an anion-exchange resin. However, 30% of (131)I was not retained by the resin after it passed through a soil layer, suggesting that a portion of (131)I became bound to organic matter from the soil. The (137)Cs migration rate was estimated to be approximately 0.6 mm/y in the Kanto area, which indicates that contamination of groundwater by (137)Cs is not likely to occur in rainwater infiltrating into the surface soil after the Fukushima accident.

Publication types

  • Historical Article

MeSH terms

  • Cesium Radioisotopes / analysis
  • Disasters*
  • Earthquakes*
  • Geography
  • Groundwater / analysis*
  • History, 21st Century
  • Iodine Radioisotopes / analysis
  • Japan
  • Radiation Monitoring / statistics & numerical data*
  • Radioactive Hazard Release / history*
  • Radioactive Hazard Release / statistics & numerical data
  • Rain / chemistry
  • Soil / analysis
  • Time Factors
  • Tsunamis*
  • Water Pollutants, Radioactive / analysis*

Substances

  • Cesium Radioisotopes
  • Iodine Radioisotopes
  • Soil
  • Water Pollutants, Radioactive