Evaluation of radiocesium concentrations in new leaves of wild plants two years after the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident

Sugiura, Yuki; Shibata, M.; Ogata, Yoshiro; Ozawa, Hajime; Kanasashi, Tsutomu; Takenaka, Chisato

doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.04.015

Cited by 27 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 28 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…In addition, the thickness of the organic soil layer did not increase the 137 Cs activity concentrations in A. elata buds, while the soil layer was assumed to possess abundant bioavailable 137 Cs that can be transferred to plants [29]. For example, Eleutherococcus sciadophylloides (Kashiabura, the Queen of sansai), which develops extensive roots in the interface between the organic and mineral soil layers [31] exhibit one of the highest bud 137 Cs concentrations among Japanese wild vegetables [6][7][8]. In addition, 137 Cs activity concentrations in E. sciadophylloides are well correlated with 137 Cs inventories in the organic soil layer [8].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Collecting various wild vegetables is restricted in some contaminated areas due to radiocesium concentrations exceeding the Japanese reference level (100 Bq/kg) [4,5]. Among the vegetables, the buds of Koshiabura (Eleutherococcus [Chengiopanax] sciadophylloides [Araliaceae]), which is known as the "Queen of sansei," exhibits particularly high radiocesium concentrations compared to other wild vegetables [6][7][8]. Consequently, commercial shipping of this species is restricted in 113 municipalities in Japan [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Simple ways to avoid collecting highly¹³⁷Cs-contaminatedAralia elatabuds

Sakai,

Watanabe,

Koshikawa

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Collection and cooking of wild vegetables have provided seasonal enjoyments for Japanese local people as provisioning and cultural ecosystem services. However, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in March 2011 caused extensive radiocesium contamination of wild vegetables. Restrictions on commercial shipments of wild vegetables have been in place for the last 10 years. Some species, including buds of Aralia elata, are currently showing radiocesium concentrations both above and below the Japanese reference level for food (100 Bq/kg), suggesting that there are factors decreasing and increasing the 137Cs concentration. Here, we evaluated easy-to-measure environmental variables (dose rate at the soil surface, organic soil layer thickness, slope steepness, and presence/absence of decontamination practices) and the 137Cs concentrations of 40 A. elata buds at 38 locations in Fukushima Prefecture to provide helpful information on avoiding collecting highly contaminated buds. The 137Cs concentrations in A. elata buds increased significantly with increases in the dose rate at the soil surface. Meanwhile, the 137Cs concentration in A. elata buds were not reduced by decontamination practices. These findings suggest that measuring the latest dose rate at the soil surface at the base of A. elata plants is a helpful way to avoid collecting buds with higher 137Cs concentrations and aid in the management of species in polluted regions.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simple ways to avoid collecting highly¹³⁷Cs-contaminatedAralia elatabuds

Sakai,

Watanabe,

Koshikawa

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In autoradiography, charged α and β radiation particles emitted from radioactive elements in samples are recorded by the IP, from which two-dimensional information about the radioactivity distribution in the sample is obtained. After the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident in 2011, IPs were used to analyze contaminated plants sampled from the environment [8][9][10], and advanced X-ray microradiography techniques for plant cells were also developed [11]. If the radioactivity level in a sample is low, the required IP exposure time can be one month or even longer.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low-Background Shielding Box for Autoradiography of Environmental Samples and the α-, β-, and γ-ray Sensitivities of the Imaging Plates

Shizuma

Oba

2019

Applied Sciences

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Autoradiography using imaging plates is a conventional method for the visualization of the distribution of radionuclides. Imaging plates have high sensitivity to the charged particles of α- and β-rays but are also sensitive to γ-rays. When the radioactivity level in the sample is low, a longer exposure time is needed, and shielding of the natural background radiation is necessary. Large imaging plates (e.g., 35 × 40 cm), which can obtain the radioactivity distribution over a wider area, were developed. In this work, a low-background shielding box is developed for large imaging plates, and the shielding characteristics of the box and sensitivities of the imaging plate to α-, β-, and γ-rays are quantitatively investigated. It is shown, by considering the sensitivity of imaging plates to α-, β-, and γ-rays, that most images of environmental samples are the result of α- or β-rays emitted from radionuclides at the sample surface, but not from the whole sample. To exemplify autoradiography using the presented shielding box, some environmental samples contaminated with radioactive fallout from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident are measured. The distribution of radionuclides is clearly visualized and, furthermore, information of the migration of radiocesium in the sample is obtained.

show abstract

“…Because Cs has high medium volatility and high biological availability, wild plants and agricultural products were contaminated by the radiocesium in the soil via plant roots. Many researchers have reported on the transport of Cs from contaminated soil to plants [1][2][3]. Meanwhile, foliar uptake intricately depends on various factors such as the chemical form of the radionuclides, the plant species, and the stage in the life cycle of the plant.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of beta ray scanner for imaging foliar uptake of radiocesium

Sato

Okumura

Kato

et al. 2017

Radiat Detect Technol Methods

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Large quantities of radionuclides were released from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) into the atmosphere, which then contaminated the soil and vegetation surrounding the FDNPP. The research on radiocesium contamination of agricultural products and wild plants is important. Therefore, we developed a simple beta ray scanner to obtain radiographs of the transport and foliar uptake of radiocesium. This simple beta ray scanner comprised a beta ray detector, a motorized sample stage, a shielding box, and a personal computer. Beta rays released from radiocesium were detected effectively using a plastic scintillator plate coupled to multipixel photon counter devices. The spatial resolving power was approximately 6 mm × 4 mm (FWHM). In a preliminary experiment, a drop of radiocesium solution was placed on the upper surface of a radish leaf. Time-lapse images of radiocesium in the leaf were obtained by the beta ray scanner. Images of isotope transport in the leaf were successfully obtained with the beta ray scanner. The beta ray scanner will be used in our future research on the mechanism of the foliar uptake of radiocesium.

show abstract

Evaluation of radiocesium concentrations in new leaves of wild plants two years after the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident

Cited by 27 publications

References 28 publications

Simple ways to avoid collecting highly¹³⁷Cs-contaminatedAralia elatabuds

Simple ways to avoid collecting highly¹³⁷Cs-contaminatedAralia elatabuds

Low-Background Shielding Box for Autoradiography of Environmental Samples and the α-, β-, and γ-ray Sensitivities of the Imaging Plates

Development of beta ray scanner for imaging foliar uptake of radiocesium

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Evaluation of radiocesium concentrations in new leaves of wild plants two years after the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident

Cited by 27 publications

References 28 publications

Simple ways to avoid collecting highly137Cs-contaminatedAralia elatabuds

Simple ways to avoid collecting highly137Cs-contaminatedAralia elatabuds

Low-Background Shielding Box for Autoradiography of Environmental Samples and the α-, β-, and γ-ray Sensitivities of the Imaging Plates

Development of beta ray scanner for imaging foliar uptake of radiocesium

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Simple ways to avoid collecting highly¹³⁷Cs-contaminatedAralia elatabuds

Simple ways to avoid collecting highly¹³⁷Cs-contaminatedAralia elatabuds