Rehabilitation experiment by phytoremediation using lawn grass

Fukushima Environmental Safety Center, Headquarters of Fukushima Partnership Operations; Ningyo-toge Environmental Engineering Center; Fuel Cycle Safety Research Unit, Nuclear Safety Research Center; Geological Isolation Research Unit, Geological Isolation Research and Development Directorate; Nuclear Cycle Backend Directorate

JAEA-Research 2012-019, 125 Pages, 2012/08

JAEA-Research-2012-019.pdf:12.81MB

Measures against environmental contamination by radioactive materials originated from the Fukushima nuclear accident (May, 2011), are being conducted in Fukushima and surrounding prefectures. Regarding to the measures, a phytoremediation experiment with several types of lawn grasses in a field scale have been carried out. Lawn grasses are generally characterized by shallow rizosphere, high density and root mat formation. Decontamination effectiveness of radioactive cesium by plant uptake and by sod removing was investigated. As a result, the range of decontamination factors by plant uptake was below than 1% because of low transfer rate form soil to plant. On the other hand, maximum decontamination factor by sod removing reached about 100%. Decontamination activities with various methods will be implemented according to the national decontamination policy and related plans in each municipality. The phytoremediation method with lawn grass would be applicable in limited circumstances.