Distribution of 137Cs and 134Cs in the North Pacific Ocean: impacts of the TEPCO Fukushima-Daiichi NPP accident

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry volume 296, pages535–539(2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Impact of the TEPCO Fukushima-Daiichi NPP accident, FNPP1, to the North Pacific Ocean occurred through two pathways, namely direct release and atmospheric deposition to wide ocean surface. We collected more than 100 seawater samples in the North Pacific Ocean in April and May 2011 by seven commercial ships as VOS. Since the sample volume was 2 l each, we measured radiocaesium activity at Ogoya Underground Facility to obtain reliable activity. 137Cs was detected at all stations and 134Cs was detected at most of the stations in the North Pacific Ocean. The 137Cs activity ranged from around 1 to 1,000 Bq m−3 with activity ratios of 134Cs/137Cs close to 1 which is a signature of radiocaesium originated from the FNPP1 accident. At east of the International Date Line north of 40°N in the Pacific Ocean in April 2011, the 134Cs activity ranged from 2 to 12 Bq m−3.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank to Nippon Yusen Kaisha, NYK for their voluntary work to collect seawater samples. The authors also thank to Aoi Mori, Yukiko Yoshimura, Tomoko Kudo and Shoko Shimada for their work to create database, tables and figures.

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Affiliations

  1. Meteorological Research Institute, 1-1 Nagamine, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki-ken, 305-0052, Japan

    Michio Aoyama

  2. Environmental Science Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, 1646 Abiko, Abiko-shi, Chiba-ken, 270-1194, Japan

    Daisuke Tsumune

  3. Low Level Radioactivity Laboratory, Kanazawa University, Wake, Nomi, Ishikawa, 923-1224, Japan

    Yasunori Hamajima

Authors
  1. Michio Aoyama
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  2. Daisuke Tsumune
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  3. Yasunori Hamajima
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Correspondence to Michio Aoyama.

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Aoyama, M., Tsumune, D. & Hamajima, Y. Distribution of 137Cs and 134Cs in the North Pacific Ocean: impacts of the TEPCO Fukushima-Daiichi NPP accident. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 296, 535–539 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-012-2033-2

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Keywords

  • 137Cs
  • 134Cs
  • Fukushima
  • North Pacific Ocean
  • Underground facility