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

Abstract

On 11 March 2011, Japan experienced a massive earthquake and tsunami that triggered the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident, resulting in the release of large amounts of cesium-134 and -137 into the atmosphere. In addition to the food radioactivity control in the markets throughout the country, radiocesium concentrations in locally grown foods were voluntarily inspected and the results were shown to the residents by the local government to raise their awareness of the internal radiation contamination risk from low knowledge in Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture. In this longitudinal study, local food products for in-home consumption were evaluated by seven different food radioactivity measuring devices in Nihonmatsu City from 2011–2017. Radiocesium was detected in local foods in Nihonmatsu City even six years after the FDNPP accident. The highest number of products tested was in 2012, with the number steadily decreasing thereafter. Most foods had contamination levels that were within the provisional regulation limits. As edible wild plants and mushrooms continue to possess high radiocesium concentrations, new trends in radioactivity in foods like seeds were discovered. This study highlights that the increased risk of radiation exposure could possibly be due to declining radiation awareness among citizens and food distributors. We recommend the continuation of food monitoring procedures at various points in the food processing line under the responsibility of the government to raise awareness for the reduction of future risks of internal exposure.

Acute and late effects of combined internal and external radiation exposures on the hematopoietic system

“…With respect to the extrapolation of these findings, it should be noted that, given the experimental conditions which limited the route of administration of the radionuclide to intraperitoneal injection, it is beyond the scope of the current study to determine whether the same results would have been seen following contamination through inhalation or ingestion, the more likely routes of accidental cesium exposure (Kunii et al 2018;Adams and Casagrande 2018). However, as noted previously, other investigators have indicated that soluble radioactive cesium is rapidly absorbed and distributed in animal models, irrespective of the route of administration (Furchner et al 1964;Boecker 1969;Nikula et al 1995), and use of this specific route allowed us to control the amount of radioisotope delivered.…”

Agri-food Impacts of Fukushima Nuclear Accident - Lessons Learned 10 Years after Disaster

“…Radioactive contamination spread through air, rains, dust, water circulations, wildlife, garbage disposals, transportation, and affected soils, waters, plants, animals, infrastructure, and population. Japanese agriculture, food industry, and agri-food consumption have been among the worst affected areas from the Fukushima Nuclear Accident (FNA) Ito, 2014, 2018;Bachev, 2019; FAO/IAEA, 2018; Hamada and Ogino, 2012;JFC, 2011JFC, -2014Johnson, 2011;Koyama, 2013;Kunii et al, 2018;Monma et al, 2015;Nakanishi and Tanoi, 2013;Nakanishi, 2018;Oka, 2012;Sekizawa, 2013;Todo et al, 2015;Takebayashi et al, 2020;Ujiie, 2012;Watanabe, 2013). This paper presents the current results of a long-term on-going study and assesses preparedness for and long-term agri-food impacts of FNA, identifies challenges in post-disaster recovery, and withdraws lessons for improving disaster risk management.…”

Radiocesium concentrations in mushrooms collected in Kawauchi Village five to eight years after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident

“…Currently, almost 80% of residents have returned to the village and restarted their lives. It is customary for residents of some areas of Fukushima Prefecture to eat home-grown plants, such as vegetables, edible wild plants, and mushrooms [14]. Residents living in mountainous areas are more likely to eat home-grown foods than are urban residents.…”

“…Residents living in mountainous areas are more likely to eat home-grown foods than are urban residents. In particular, a common pastime for older adults in the area is to forage for edible wild plants in the mountains or to hunt for wild animals [14]. Before the accident, the village was also famous for collecting wild mushrooms, including Sarcodon aspratus and Tricholoma matsutake.…”