Effect of radioactive cesium-rich microparticles on radioactive cesium concentration and distribution coefficient in rivers flowing through the watersheds with different contaminated condition in Fukushima.

Radioactive cesium-rich microparticles (CsMPs) derived from the Fukushima Daiichi Nnuclear Power Plant accident were detected from soils and river water around Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. Because CsMPs are insoluble and rich in radioactive cesium (RCs), they may cause the overestimation of solid-water distribution coefficient (Kd) for RCs in the water. Previous studies showed the proportion of RCs derived from CsMPs on RCs concentration in soils collected from areas with different contaminated levels. Because the proportion of RCs concentration derived CsMPs to the RCs concentration of soils in the less contaminated areas is higher than that in the highly contaminated areas, the effect of CsMPs on particulate RCs concentration in river water may be larger in the less contaminated areas. However, the difference in the effects of CsMPs on the particulate RCs concentration and Kd in river water flowing through watersheds with different contaminated levels has not been clarified. In this study, we investigated the effect of CsMPs on the particulate RCs concentration and Kd in two rivers, Takase River and Kami-Oguni River, flowing through the watersheds with different RCs contaminated levels in Fukushima Prefecture. CsMPs might enter rivers due to soil erosion because they were detected only in some samples collected from both rivers during flood events. CsMPs accounted for more than half of particulate RCs concentration in some water samples collected in the flood condition. In particular, the proportion of CsMPs in particulate RCs for the Kami-Oguni River was greater than that for the Takase River. However, when evaluating for the entire water sampling in the flood condition, a proportion of RCs concentration derived from CsMPs in the average RCs concentrations per unit mass of SS in both river waters collected in the flood condition was not large. CsMPs might temporarily increase the particulate RCs concentration and Kd in the flood event, but CsMPs did not significantly affect them when evaluated throughout the event.

Vertical migration of cesium in weathered granite soil under flowing water condition depending on Cs concentration and states of dissolved organic matter.

After the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan, the migration of radioactive cesium (Cs) in soils has become a crucial issue since this can negatively affect human health and the surrounding environment. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) may have different influences on Cs migration in soils depending on Cs adsorption sites with different selectivity. It is unclear how DOM affects the rapid migration of Cs in soils under flowing water conditions during rainfall events. This study evaluated the effects of DOM on Cs migration in weathered granite soil depending on Cs adsorption sites by conducting laboratory experiments under different DOM conditions and Cs concentrations in the liquid phase. Cs concentration can affect the fraction of Cs adsorbed onto differently selective sites, and DOM can have different influences on Cs migration in the soil accordingly. Under condition of high-Cs concentration, the DOM adsorbed on the soil reduced Cs migration due to increasing Cs electrostatic adsorption to less selective sites in the soil. Meanwhile, under low-Cs concentration, the DOM adsorbed on the soil enhanced Cs migration because the DOM on the soil decreased the Cs adsorption to highly selective sites. Furthermore, DOM in the liquid phase detached the Cs adsorbed on the less selective sites and enhanced Cs migration in the soil, regardless of the Cs concentration.

Effects of the dissolved organic matter on Cs transport in the weathered granite soil.

It is important to understand the migration of Cesium (Cs) in soils, particularly after the nuclear power plant accident at Fukushima Dai-ichi, Japan. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is one of factors affecting the migration of Cs in soils under flowing water conditions. We investigated the effect of DOM on the migration of Cs adsorbed to the clay planar site via laboratory column experiments. The sequence of DOM application had a significant influence on Cs transport in the soil. When DOM was applied concurrently with or prior to Cs application, the DOM adsorbed on to the clay planar site adsorbed onto the soil solid surface and enhanced Cs adsorption; consequently, it slowed Cs migration in the soil. In particular, in the case of DOM loaded prior to the application of Cs solution, a noticeable delay in Cs migration was observed. On the other hand, when DOM was applied to the soil where the Cs solution had been previously applied, the DOM desorbed Cs from the soil. DOM in liquid phase enhanced the migration of Cs through the formation of binding to organic matter. Majority of Cs affected by DOM was the exchangeable fraction that adsorbed to the clay planar site. In other words, DOM attached to the soil would adsorb Cs as a easily exchangeable form and depress migration of Cs. On the other hand, DOM in the soil solution may up take adsorbed Cs from the soil and enhanced the transport in the form of Cs bound to DOM.

CESIUM-RICH MICROPARTICLES RUNOFF DURING RAINFALL: A CASE STUDY IN THE TAKASE RIVER.

Cesium-rich microparticles (CsMPs) with high cesium-137 (137Cs) concentrations were released and deposited in surface soil after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. Radioactive materials on the soil surface layer enter rivers owing to soil erosion during rainfall. In this study, we investigated CsMPs runoff through the river via soil erosion during rainfall in the Takase River watershed in Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. CsMPs were rarely detected in suspended solids (SS) in water samples collected during four rainfalls between February and July 2021. Furthermore, the proportion of 137Cs concentration derived from CsMPs to 137Cs concentration in the form of SS (particulate 137Cs) in the water was ~6% on average, which suggests that 137Cs runoff in the form of CsMPs from the forest to the Takase River was not large.