Concentrations of 137Cs radiocaesium in the organs and tissues of low-dose-exposed wild Japanese monkeys

Abstract

Objectives Following the massive earthquake that struck eastern Japan on March 11, 2011, a large amount of radioactive material was released into the environment from the damaged reactor of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP). After the FDNPP accident, radiocaesium was first detected in muscle samples from wild Japanese monkeys exposed to radioactive materials, and haematologic effects, changes in head size, and delayed body weight gain were also reported, but little is known about the distribution of 137 Cs in the organs and tissues of wild Japanese monkeys. Results We detected the 137 Cs in various organ and tissue samples of 10 wild Japanese monkeys inhabiting the forested areas of Fukushima City that were captured between July and August 2012.Among muscle, brain, heart, kidney, liver, lung, and spleen, muscle exhibited the highest and the brain the lowest 137 Cs concentration. The concentration (mean±SD) of 137 Cs in muscle, brain, heart, kidney, liver, lung, and spleen was 77 ± 66, 26 ± 22, 41 ± 35, 49 ± 41, 41 ± 38, 53 ± 41, and 53 ± 51 Bq/kg, respectively.These results can help us understand the biological effects of long-term internal radiation exposure in non-human primates.

Time dependence of 137Cs contamination in wild Japanese monkeys after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident

“…More than 10 years have passed since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident occurred in March 11, 2011. We have studied the radioactive exposure and its effect on the health of Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata) inhabiting Fukushima City, which is located approximately 70 km from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (Hayama et al 2013(Hayama et al , 2017Ochiai et al 2014;Omi et al 2020). These Japanese monkeys are the first wild primates in the world to be exposed to radiation as a result of the nuclear accident.…”