Radiocesium concentrations in the bark, sapwood and heartwood of three tree species collected at Fukushima forests half a year after the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear accident

Kuroda, Katsushi; Kagawa, Akira; Tonosaki, Mario

doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2013.02.019

Cited by 106 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Similar to the results from Table 13.1, C. japonica have higher radiocesium concentrations in the heartwood than in the sapwood, especially for disks that were taken from higher positions nearer the crown. Kuroda et al (2013) reported higher concentrations in C. japonica sapwood than heartwood, but they only analyzed wood lower than 3 m; therefore, their results do not necessarily conflict with ours. The imaging plates for the trunk xylem of C. japonica #5 show a dark color indicating the strong presence of radiocesium, which appeared to be highest at the outer edges of heartwood where heartwood formation was taking place (Fig.…”

Section: Distribution Of Radiocesium In Standing Treessupporting

confidence: 53%

“…Although many reports have examined nuclear materials within trees after the accident (Kuroda et al 2013;Akama et al 2013;Ohashi et al 2014), the number of samples has been limited, and an accurate understanding requires an increased sample size. Since 2012, we have been measuring the radiocesium concentrations in trees in Minamisoma City, north of the nuclear power plant.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Radiocesium in Timber of Japanese Cedar and Japanese Red Pine, in the Forests of Minamisoma, Fukushima

Masumori

Nogawa

Sugiura

et al. 2016

Agricultural Implications of the Fukushima Nuclear Accident

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The distribution of radiocesium within trees in the forests of Mimamisoma, Fukushima, Japan, was studied between 2012 and 2013 after the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant accident. Most of the radiocesium was contained in the foliage and bark of the examined trees of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) and Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora), although considerable concentrations were detected in the xylem of C. japonica. At higher positions in the trunk, there was more radiocesium in heartwood than in sapwood. Radiocesium in the xylem of a tree with its root system removed before the nuclear accident suggests that most of the radiocesium was not transferred through the root system but was likely translocated via the foliage.

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Section: Distribution Of Radiocesium In Standing Treessupporting

confidence: 53%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radiocesium in Timber of Japanese Cedar and Japanese Red Pine, in the Forests of Minamisoma, Fukushima

Masumori

Nogawa

Sugiura

et al. 2016

Agricultural Implications of the Fukushima Nuclear Accident

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“…In the future, litterfall will likely become the dominant pathway for radiocesium transfer from the canopy to the forest floor as hydrological pathways transfer less radiocesium with time owing to decreased availability (Teramage et al, 2014a). In addition, Kuroda et al (2013) found that the tree bark was highly contaminated. More than 94% of the stem contamination was located in the bark, indicative of another potential long-term source of radiocesium derived either from surficial contamination or through contaminated phloem sap.…”

Section: Forest Depositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radiocesium transfer from hillslopes to the Pacific Ocean after the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant accident: A review

Evrard

Laceby

Lepage

et al. 2015

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

159

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The devastating tsunami triggered by the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011 inundated the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) resulting in a loss of cooling and a series of explosions releasing the largest quantity of radioactive material into the atmosphere since the Chernobyl nuclear accident. Although 80% of the radionuclides from this accidental release were transported over the Pacific Ocean, 20% were deposited over Japanese coastal catchments that are subject to frequent typhoons. Among the radioisotopes released during the FDNPP accident, radiocesium ((134)Cs and (137)Cs) is considered the most serious current and future health risk for the local population. The goal of this review is to synthesize research relevant to the transfer of FDNPP derived radiocesium from hillslopes to the Pacific Ocean. After radiocesium fallout deposition on vegetation and soils, the contamination may remain stored in forest canopies, in vegetative litter on the ground, or in the soil. Once radiocesium contacts soil, it is quickly and almost irreversibly bound to fine soil particles. The kinetic energy of raindrops instigates the displacement of soil particles, and their bound radiocesium, which may be mobilized and transported with overland flow. Soil erosion is one of the main processes transferring particle-bound radiocesium from hillslopes through rivers and streams, and ultimately to the Pacific Ocean. Accordingly this review will summarize results regarding the fundamental processes and dynamics that govern radiocesium transfer from hillslopes to the Pacific Ocean published in the literature within the first four years after the FDNPP accident. The majority of radiocesium is reported to be transported in the particulate fraction, attached to fine particles. The contribution of the dissolved fraction to radiocesium migration is only relevant in base flows and is hypothesized to decline over time. Owing to the hydro-meteorological context of the Fukushima region, the most significant transfer of particulate-bound radiocesium occurs during major rainfall and runoff events (e.g. typhoons and spring snowmelt). There may be radiocesium storage within catchments in forests, floodplains and even within hillslopes that may be remobilized and contaminate downstream areas, even areas that did not receive fallout or may have been decontaminated. Overall this review demonstrates that characterizing the different mechanisms and factors driving radiocesium transfer is important. In particular, the review determined that quantifying the remaining catchment radiocesium inventory allows for a relative comparison of radiocesium transfer research from hillslope to catchment scales. Further, owing to the variety of mechanisms and factors, a transdisciplinary approach is required involving geomorphologists, hydrologists, soil and forestry scientists, and mathematical modellers to comprehensively quantify radiocesium transfers and dynamics. Characterizing radiocesium transfers from hillslopes to the Pacific Ocean is necess...

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“…However, parts of the stem (i.e., bark, sapwood, and heartwood) showed different levels of 137 Cs activity, especially early in the contamination period (Rantavaara et al, 2012;Ohashi et al, 2014). Although the proportion of bark biomass to stem is about 5% in Japanese cedar (Lim et al, 2013), the 137 Cs concentration in bark was much higher due to sorption of the initial fallout on the bark surface (Kuroda et al, 2013;Ohashi et al, 2014). A refinement of the model should consider 137 Cs activity in the tree to be heterogeneous, as in the other compartments.…”

Section: Uncovered Processes In Forothcs and Upcoming Challengesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling radionuclide Cs and C dynamics in an artificial forest ecosystem in Japan -FoRothCs ver1.0-

Nishina

Hayashi

2015

Front. Environ. Sci.

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Predicting the environmental fate of Cs radionuclides in forest ecosystems is important for the effective management and assessment of radioactively contaminated forest areas. A large proportion of the radioactively contaminated areas in Japan consist of forest ecosystems, and most of these areas are artificial forests that are used for timber production [e.g., Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) and red pine (Pinus densiflora)]. Determining the long-term redistribution of 137 Cs in forest ecosystems is important for estimating human doses and understanding the ecological impacts and challenges associated with managing contaminated forests. To facilitate the management and 137 Cs decontamination of these forests, we developed a new open-source 137 Cs cycling model, ForRothCs, that considers C cycling within forests, as well as biomass production and soil decomposition processes. For the 137 Cs inventory, this model estimates the dynamics (Bq m −2 ) and activity (Bq kg −2 ) of 137 Cs on a decadal time scale, primarily in the leaves, branches, stems, litter layer, and the soil. This model is based on the biomass production and the dynamics of the C cycle models. We tested the model by considering a simple scenario of forest management, i.e., thinning and harvesting, for the first five years following a fallout event. The results showed that these activities have a limited impact on the 137 Cs inventory due to the rapid migration of 137 Cs from vegetation to soil. Our projections also showed the examined forest management practices resulted in reduced litterfall, which in turn reduced C input to the forest floor and increased the concentration of 137 Cs in the litterfall and soil organic layer. Although further validation of the ForRothCs model is required using field observation data, the model can be used to evaluate long-term 137 Cs dynamics associated with commonly used forest and decontamination management scenarios.

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Radiocesium concentrations in the bark, sapwood and heartwood of three tree species collected at Fukushima forests half a year after the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear accident

Cited by 106 publications

References 18 publications

Radiocesium in Timber of Japanese Cedar and Japanese Red Pine, in the Forests of Minamisoma, Fukushima

Radiocesium in Timber of Japanese Cedar and Japanese Red Pine, in the Forests of Minamisoma, Fukushima

Radiocesium transfer from hillslopes to the Pacific Ocean after the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant accident: A review

Modeling radionuclide Cs and C dynamics in an artificial forest ecosystem in Japan -FoRothCs ver1.0-

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