Distribution and Evolution of Fukushima Dai-ichi derived 137Cs, 90Sr, and 129I in Surface Seawater off the Coast of Japan

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c05321
• Publication Date: 2020-11-10T21:42:10Z
• Authors: Jennifer A. Kenyon; Ken O. Buesseler; Núria Casacuberta; Maxi Castrillejo; Shigeyoshi Otosaka; Pere Masqué; Jessica A. Drysdale; Steven M. Pike; Virginie Sanial
• Keywords: Water Pollutants, Radioactive; Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology; Evolution; 137Cs; Oceans and Seas; Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Fukushima Dai-ichi; Distribution; Social and Behavioral Sciences; 7. Clean energy; 01 natural sciences; 333; Iodine Radioisotopes; Toxicology and Environmental Health; Japan; Radiation Monitoring; Public Affairs; Physical Sciences and Mathematics; nuclear power plants; Fukushima Nuclear Accident; Nuclear; Seawater; 14. Life underwater; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences; Pharmacology; [SDU.OCEAN] Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Ocean, Atmosphere; Physics; surface seawater; Life Sciences; 6. Clean water; coast of Japan; 90Sr; 129I; Public Policy and Public Administration; Cesium Radioisotopes; 13. Climate action; Strontium Radioisotopes; Emergency and Disaster Management; Environmental Sciences; Environmental Monitoring

The Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plants (FDNPPs) accident in 2011 led to an unprecedented release of radionuclides into the environment. Particularly important are 90Sr and 137Cs due their known health detriments long half-lives (T1/2 ≈ 30 y) relative ecological systems. These can be combined with longer-lived 129I = 15.7 My) trace hydrologic, atmospheric, oceanic, geochemical processes. This study seeks evaluate 137Cs, 90Sr, concentrations seawater off coast Japan, reconcile sources contaminated waters, assess application 137Cs/90Sr, 129I/137Cs, 129I/90Sr as oceanic tracers. We present new data from October 2015 November 2016 observed reaching up 198 ± 4 Bq·m–3 for 9.1 0.7 (114 2) × 10–5 129I. utilization activity ratios suggests a variety sources, including sporadic independent releases radiocontaminants. Though overall decreasing, still elevated compared pre-accident levels. In addition, Japan's Environment Minister has suggested that stored water FDNPPs may released environment thus continued efforts understand fate distribution these is warranted.