Multidisciplinary investigation on radiocesium fate and transport for safety assessment for interim storage and disposal of heterogeneous waste, 10; Effects of microbial activity on migration of Cs

Onuki, Toshihiko; Sakamoto, Fuminori  ; Kozai, Naofumi   ; Yamasaki, Shinya*; Shiotsu, Hiroyuki  ; Utsunomiya, Satoshi*

Accumulation of Cs by unicellular fungus of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the presence of minerals have been studied to elucidate the role of microorganisms in the migration of radioactive Cs in the environment. With carbon source, higher amounts of Cs was accumulated in the cells than in the resting condition without carbon source. In the presence of mineral in the agar medium, the radioactivity in the yeast cells with different minerals were in the order of the inverse of Kd of minerals. These results strongly suggest that the yeast accumulates radioactive Cs competitively with minerals.