Incorporation and Accumulation of Strontium-90 in the Hard Tissue of Animals and Their Relationship with Strontium-90 Pollution in the Environment

Abstract

Substantial amounts of radionuclides including strontium-90 (90 Sr) were released by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FNPP) accident. In the present study, we describe and discuss the presence of 90 Sr in the ex-evacuation zone of the FNPP accident and its relationship with 90 Sr activity concentration in the hard tissue of animals. We found that the activity concentration of 90 Sr in the hard tissue exhibited a positive correlation with 90 Sr pollution in their corresponding terrestrial and marine environments. Hard tissues, such as the teeth, bones, and otoliths, of animals and fishes could serve as useful tools in assessing 90 Sr pollution in the environment during the period of the formation of those tissues.

Morphological reproductive characteristics of testes and fertilization capacity of cryopreserved sperm after the Fukushima accident in raccoon (Procyon lotor)

“…Following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident, large amounts of radioactive substances, particularly volatile elements, such as radioactive iodine, caesium and tellurium, were released into the environment. The ex‐evacuation zone comprises a 20‐km‐radius area around the FDNPP, from which we have established an archive system of livestock and wild animals (Ariyoshi et al., 2018; Fukuda et al., 2013; Fukuda et al., 2015; Fukuda et al., 2016; Koarai et al., 2016; Koarai et al., 2018; Koarai et al, 2020; Ohdaira et al., 2019; Suzuki et al, 2020; Takahashi et al., 2015; Takino et al., 2017; Urushihara et al., 2016; Meguro et al., 2019; Urushihara et al., 2018; Yamashiro et al., 2013; Yamashiro et al., 2014; Yamashiro et al., 2015).…”

Direct quantification of femtogram per liter (fg L−1) level 90Sr in rainwater using thermal ionization mass spectrometry

“…The radiometric analysis (blue line) adopts the oxalate precipitation/low background gas ow counting (LBC) method established by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in Japan. 9 The published data 11,16,23 (blue circles in the gure) reveal strong linearity between the LODs obtained by the LBC method and sample volume, and the sensitivity worsens with decreasing sample volume. To maintain LODs of 0.2 pg L −1 (1 Bq L −1 ), this method requires at least 10 mL of sample so is insufficient for analyzing actual rainwater.…”

“…Blue plots and blue region are derived from radiometric analyses reported in the literature. 9,11,16,23 Green plots and green region are derived from ICP-MS analysis reported in the literature. 24,25 Red plots and red region are derived from the results of the proposed ID-RPQ-TIMS method.…”

“…9 Aer pretreatment of a mL-level sample volume that is easily collected as light rain, 90 Sr can be detected down to pg L −1 levels. 16 The corresponding radioactivity level is unsuitable for practical environmental radioactivity assessments of 90 Sr in rainwater.…”