title: Radioactive cesium and potassium in cattle living in the 'zone in preparation for the lifting of the evacuation order' of the Fukushima nuclear accident.
abstract: To contribute to the reconstruction of livestock industry in Fukushima, radioactive cesium (134Cs,137Cs) and potassium (4°K) were measured in various tissues of beef cattle living in an area where the evacuation order will be lifted in the near future. Radioactive cesium concentration was less than 100 Bq/kg in most of the samples. Skeletal muscles and kidney had the highest concentrations of radioactive cesium, whereas the liver was lowest among samples, excepting blood. Radioactive cesium concentration in the sirloin, tenderloin and top round was significantly higher than that in the neck muscle. Radioactive cesium concentration in the urine was not correlated with that in the blood, but the relationship became proportional when corrected with urinary4°K. Distribution of4°K was similar but not identical to that of radioactive cesium. These results suggest that it will be possible to resume livestock production in this area after the decontamination measures are completed and the evacuation order is lifted. Contamination level of living cattle can be estimated not only by blood samples but also by urine samples. If 50-100 Bq/kg of cesium is detected in the neck muscle at a slaughterhouse, the cattle should be reinspected using a sample from different muscles.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Morioka, Japan.
authors.forename: Itaru
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Morioka, Japan.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Morioka, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Takahisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.affiliation: Society for Animal Refugee and Environment post Nuclear Disaster, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kumiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Otani
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Morioka, Japan.
authors.forename: Keiji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okada
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000378:metabolism*; D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D003666:Decontamination; D005504:Food Analysis; D005507:Food Contamination, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D062406:Fukushima Nuclear Accident; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism; D011197:Potassium Radioisotopes / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D011848:Radioactive Pollutants / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes; D011197:Potassium Radioisotopes; D011848:Radioactive Pollutants
keywords: cattle; cesium; distribution; radioactive contamination