Dynamics of radiocesium in coastal areas following river flood

Misono, Toshiharu; Nakanishi, Takahiro; Shiribiki, Takehiko; Nagao, Seiya*; Ochiai, Shinya*; Sanada, Yukihisa; Tsuruta, Tadahiko

Gekkan Kaiyo, 54(11), p.558 - 561, 2022/11

Sediment traps were set up around estuaries and in coastal areas to collect sinking particles at the time of river discharge. Around the estuary, changes in radiocesium concentration and mass flux of sinking particles linked to the discharge of radiocesium from the river were observed.

Radiocesium distribution in aggregate-size fractions of cropland and forest soils affected by the Fukushima nuclear accident

Koarashi, Jun; Nishimura, Shusaku; Atarashi-Andoh, Mariko; Matsunaga, Takeshi*; Sato, Tsutomu*; Nagao, Seiya*

Chemosphere, 205, p.147 - 155, 2018/08

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.04.092

There is little understanding of how soil aggregation can affect the mobility and bioavailability of Cs in soils. To explore this, soil samples were collected at seven sites under different land-use conditions in Fukushima and were separated into four aggregate-size fractions. The fractions were then analyzed for Cs content and extractability and mineral composition. In forest soils, aggregate formation was significant, and Cs was largely associated with large-sized aggregates. In contrast, there was less aggregation in agricultural field soils, and most of Cs was in the clay- and silt-sized fractions. Across all sites, the Cs extractability was higher in the large-sized aggregate fractions than in the clay-sized fractions. The results demonstrate that large-sized aggregates are a significant reservoir of potentially mobile and bioavailable Cs in organic-rich (forest and orchard) soils.

Preface "Radionuclides in coastal sediments after the accident of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant; Distribution, dynamics and fate"

Nagao, Seiya*; Otosaka, Shigeyoshi; Kaeriyama, Hideki*

Journal of Oceanography, 73(5), P. 527, 2017/10

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10872-017-0444-y

More than five years have passed since the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, and many investigations have been carried out in the marine environment. Regarding the radiocesium concentration in seabed sediment, from May 2011, monitoring survey is continuing mainly in the coastal areas of Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaraki and Chiba prefectures. However, due to its heterogeneity, the difficulty of observation, etc., the assessment of the influence of the accident-derived radionuclides on seabed sediments and the benthic ecosystem is delayed compared to other environmental investigations. As the Guest Editors, the authors set up a special section in "Journal of Oceanography", including four papers arguing about factors affecting the temporal change of the radiocesium concentrations in estuarine, coastal and offshore sediments. This preface shows the planning intention of the special issue, and also outlines the contents.

Year-round variations in the fluvial transport load of particulate Cs in a forested catchment affected by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident

Matsunaga, Takeshi; Nakanishi, Takahiro; Atarashi-Andoh, Mariko; Takeuchi, Erina; Muto, Kotomi; Tsuzuki, Katsunori; Nishimura, Shusaku; Koarashi, Jun; Otosaka, Shigeyoshi; Sato, Tsutomu*; et al.

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 310(2), p.679 - 693, 2016/11

AA2015-0821.pdf:3.78MB

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-016-4840-3

Particulate Cs in stream water was collected continuously for two years in order to assess the long-term trend of the Cs discharge from the forest environment. Sampling was conducted from December 2011 to December 2013 in a mountainous stream, which received the Cs from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. A seasonal increase in fluvial transport load of particulate Cs associated with suspended solids (SS) was observed in August and September when rainfall was abundant. The particulate Cs concentration decreased at a faster rate than the rate due to radioactive decay. This decrease might be resulted from redistribution of the easily eroded and polluted soil surface due to heavy rain events such as typhoons. These findings indicate that the particulate Cs load was subject to the inter-annual variations in rainfalls, and decreased gradually over a long period of time due to a decrease in Cs concentration in SS.

A Passive collection system for whole size fractions in river suspended solids

Matsunaga, Takeshi; Nakanishi, Takahiro; Atarashi-Andoh, Mariko; Takeuchi, Erina; Tsuzuki, Katsunori; Nishimura, Shusaku; Koarashi, Jun; Otosaka, Shigeyoshi; Sato, Tsutomu*; Nagao, Seiya*

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 303(2), p.1291 - 1295, 2015/02

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-014-3491-5

An innovative, yet simple method for the passive collection of radioactive materials in river water has been developed and validated. The method employes large filter vessels, containing multiple cartridge filters. River water is led to the system naturally using a drop of the riverbed by hose from upstream. This method makes long-term, unmanned monitoring possible. In addition to regular radioactivity analyses, this method provides an opportunity for the characterization of suspended materials based on its ample collection quantities (more than several tens of grams). This method may also be applicable to sediment-bound chemicals.

The Present situation and future prospects of groundwater colloids studies on the performance assessment of geological disposal of radioactive wastes in Japan

Nagao, Seiya*; Niibori, Yuichi*; Tanaka, Tadao; Sasaki, Takayuki*; Saito, Takumi*; Kirishima, Akira*; Yoshikawa, Hideki; Iijima, Kazuki; Hama, Katsuhiro; Iwatsuki, Teruki; et al.

Genshiryoku Bakkuendo Kenkyu (CD-ROM), 20(1), p.3 - 14, 2013/06

https://doi.org/10.3327/jnuce.20.3

This paper shows a current status of groundwater colloids studies on the performance assessment of geological disposal of radioactive wastes in Japan, and summaries realistic approach of the colloids studies at a substantial research network for Japanese universities and institutes.

Europium-binding abilities of dissolved humic substances isolated from deep groundwater in Horonobe area, Hokkaido, Japan

Terashima, Motoki; Nagao, Seiya*; Iwatsuki, Teruki; Fujitake, Nobuhide*; Seida, Yoshimi*; Iijima, Kazuki; Yoshikawa, Hideki

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 49(8), p.804 - 815, 2012/08

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2012.703944

Spatial distribution of C values of organic matter in surface sediments off Saru River in northern Japan, one year after a flood event in 2006

Nagao, Seiya*; Irino, Tomohisa*; Aramaki, Takafumi*; Ikehara, Ken*; Katayama, Hajime*; Otosaka, Shigeyoshi; Uchida, Masao*; Shibata, Yasuyuki*

Radiocarbon, 52(3), p.1068 - 1077, 2010/08

https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033822200046142

This study discusses the effects of flooding on the spatial distribution of organic matter on the shelf region of off the Saru River, southern part of Hokkaido, Japan, on the basis of the C and C values. Surface sediments on the shelf were collected in August 2007, one year after the severe flood in 2006. Suspended particles and sediment of the Saru River were also collected in August 2007 and 2008. The C values of organic matter in the shelf sediments ranged from -665 to -77 per mil. The silt and clay sediments had C values of -240 to -77 per mil, but the sandy sediments ranged from -665 to -388 per mil. The values of particulate organic carbon in the Saru River are -292 to -247 per mil at normal flow conditions. These results indicate that surface soil with relatively older organic matter is deposited on the shelf region by the flooding event, and freshly-produced organic matter in sea surface is deposited after the flooding.

Environmental behavior of plutonium isotopes studied in the area affected by the Chernobyl accident

Matsunaga, Takeshi; Nagao, Seiya*

Humic Substances Research, 5/6(1), p.19 - 33, 2009/00

The environmental behavior of Chernobyl-derived plutonium has been reviewed in the soil and the aquatic environment in Ukrainian affected areas. Dissolution of released fuel particles was an initiation for migration in the environment for the Chernobyl-derived plutonium. Once dissolved, the plutonium distributed persistently over surface soil layer with a limited infiltration ability. This relative immobility of plutonium in the soil environment can be attributed to its affinity for soil organics, based on chemical partitioning investigations. The relative immobility of plutonium was also seen in its fluvial transport along the Dnieper River. Dissolved organic matter, most probably humic substances, helped stabilize dissolved plutonium in the lake waters.

Origin and chemical speciation of anthropogenic Iodine-129

Shima, Shigeki*; Gasa, Shinichi*; Amano, Hikaru; Nagao, Seiya*; Yamamoto, Masayoshi*; Momoshima, Noriyuki*; Furukawa, Masahide*; Kimura, Hideki*; Kawamura, Hisao*

JAEA-Conf 2008-003, p.28 - 31, 2008/04

https://jopss.jaea.go.jp/pdfdata/JAEA-Conf-2008-003.pdf

Concentrations of I in surface seawater around Japan were approximately 210atoms/L in literatures. However, the atomic ratio of iodine to cesium was ten times as high as that of the global fallout. The origin of I in the water columns seems to be difficult to be explained by only the global fallout. Discharge from European plants was one of the possible origins of iodine from the standpoint of air mass trajectory analysis. Concentration of I in rain water was 10 times higher than that in surface seawater. Anthropogenic inorganic iodine in surface seawater predominantly dissolves as an iodide ion (I).