title: Radioactive pollution from Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in the terrestrial environment.
abstract: Major contaminants from venting and hydrogen explosions at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactors between 12 and 15 March 2011 were transported northwestward and deposited on soil and plants via precipitation. Surface soils and plant leaves were sampled at 64 sites in the Fukushima Prefecture. The highest concentrations of (134)Cs (84.4 kBq kg(-1)) and (137)Cs (82.0 kBq kg(-1)) in surface soils were observed at Nagadoro in Iidate village located 32 km northwest from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Furthermore, (131)I, (129)Te, (129 m)Te, (110 m)Ag and (140)La were detected in the same samples. Outer surface of plant leaves, such as bamboo, cabbage and grasses were highly contaminated at the high-dose rate areas of Tsushima and Minami-Tsushima in Namie town. Mugwort leaves that grew after the pollution event had extremely low concentration of radionuclides; however, the plant/soil radiocaesium ratio was 0.023 ± 0.006. It is anticipated that decomposition of fallen leaves will promote recycling of radionuclides in the environment.
authors.affiliation: Hirosaki University, Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, 66-1 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan. tazoe@cc.hirosaki-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tazoe
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hosoda
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sorimachi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakata
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tokonami
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamada
mesh_terms: D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D055866:Earthquakes; D004777:Environment; D062406:Fukushima Nuclear Accident; D005843:Geography; D055848:Nuclear Power Plants; D028223:Pinus; D010944:Plants / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006109:Poaceae; D011847:Radioactive Fallout / Q000032:analysis*; D018788:Radioactive Hazard Release; D011848:Radioactive Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis; D031787:Sasa; D012987:Soil; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes; D011847:Radioactive Fallout; D011848:Radioactive Pollutants; D011868:Radioisotopes; D012987:Soil; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive