High-sensitivity determination of radioactive cesium in Japanese foodstuffs: 3 years after the Fukushima accident

Abstract

We analyzed 134 Cs, 137 Cs and 40 K in 96 foodstuffs in supermarkets with high sensitivity over 3 years after Fukushima accident. Milk, yoghurt, rice, tea, salmon, cereal, blueberry, miso, and apples had a trace of 134 Cs and 137 Cs from 10 -3 to 10 0 Bq/kg, however, some mushrooms that were bought in the outer Fukushima prefecture were contaminated by radioactive cesium over the regulatory limit (100 Bq/kg). In view of the 134 Cs/ 137 Cs radioactivity ratio, we can conclude that 137 Cs detected in remote areas 300 km or more from Fukushima Nuclear power plant contained activity from Pre-Fukushima events such as Chernobyl accident (1986) and atmospheric nuclear explosions (from 1945).

The Knowledge and Awareness for Radiocesium Food Monitoring after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Accident in Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture

“…Not only the residents’ level of awareness of radioactivity, but this trend may also be consistent among the awareness of food shippers and distributors. In relation to prefectures outside of Fukushima, some contaminated foods have been found to be exceeding the regulatory limit, which were found in the areas where monitoring systems were not set up [ 23 ]. In Yamagata Prefecture, located next to Fukushima, its Yamagata Newspaper reported in 2017 and 2018 that wild edible plants exceeding the standard value were collected from 5 towns and sold at roadside farmer’s markets located 112–174 km from the nuclear plant, as well as outside the prefecture [ 24 , 25 , 26 ].…”

Cryptorchidism after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident:causation or coincidence?

“…Murase et al cited two papers 94,95) in their description as follows : "After the nuclear accident, radionuclides may have been distributed through the ecosystem through food contamination 4) ." However, these two papers dispute what Murase et al sought to imply.…”

“…Furthermore, Shozugawa et al wrote as follows : "we can conclude that 137 Cs detected in remote areas 300 km or more from Fukushima nuclear power plant contained activity from Pre -Fukushima events such as Chernobyl accident (1986) and atmospheric nuclear explosions (from 1945)." 95) Therefore, Murase et al seem to have misrepresented the two papers to suit their own ideas. In addition, Murase et al referred to another two papers in the context of "...incineration of debris as part of the treatment of disaster waste."…”

Porous 3D Prussian blue/cellulose aerogel as a decorporation agent for removal of ingested cesium from the gastrointestinal tract

“…A considerable amount of radionuclides have been released into the environment owing to the use of nuclear explosive devices or radiological dirty bombs and enter the human body via inhalation, ingestion, and wound contamination 1 – 6 . All radionuclides, whether primarily ingested from contaminated food and water or secondarily ingested via the respiratory tract, will enter the systemic circulation 7 , 8 and may pose significant health risks to the exposed individuals 9 depending on the dose of the radioactive contaminant and the biological status of the subject, such as age and health. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a critical target organ for many insoluble radioactive contaminants owing to contaminants traveling the length of the tract unabsorbed and the excretion via hepatobiliary clearance.…”