Abstract
We investigated the size distribution of 137Cs in soils in the vicinity of the Qinshan nuclear power plant. The soil samples were separated into five fractions, namely coarse sand (2000–250 μm), fine sand (250–53 μm), silt (53–20 μm and 20–2 μm), and clay (< 2 μm). The results show that 137Cs was concentrated in the clay and silt fractions. X-ray diffraction analysis of size-fractionated samples showed that micaceous minerals such as chlorite and muscovite are critical in the fixation of 137Cs in the soil. No significant relationship was observed between 137Cs concentrations and organic carbon content in the soil.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Fujii M, Ono K, Yoshimura C (2018) The role of autochthonous organic matter in radioactive cesium accumulation to riverine fine sediments. Water Res 137:18–27
Koarashi J, Nishimura S, Mariko AA et al (2019) A new perspective on the 137Cs retention mechanism in surface soils during the early stage after the Fukushima nuclear accident. Sci Rep 9:7034
He Q, Walling DE (1996) Interpreting particle size effects in the adsorption of 137Cs and unsupported 210Pb by mineral soils and sediments. J Environ Radioact 30:117–137
Spezzano P (2005) Distribution of pre- and post-Chernobyl radiocesium with particle size fractions of soils. J Environ Radioact 83:117–127
Tanaka K, Takahashi Y, Sakaguchi A et al (2012) Vertical profiles of Iodine-131 and Cesium-137 in soils in Fukushima Prefecture related to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Accident. Geochem J 46:73–76
Livens FR, Baxter MS (1988) Particle size and radionuclide levels in some west Cumbrian soils. Sci Total Environ 70:1–17
Kabdyrakova AM, Lukashenko SN, Mendubaev AT et al (2018) Distribution of artificial radionuclides in particle-size fractions of soil on fallout plumes of nuclear explosions. J Environ Radioact 186:45–53
Saito T, Makino H, Tanaka S et al (2014) Geochemical and grain-size distribution of radioactive and stable cesium in Fukushima soils: implications for their long-term behavior. J Environ Radioact 138:11–18
Xu YH, Pan SM, Wu MM et al (2017) Association of Plutonium isotopes with natural soil particles of different size and comparison with 137Cs. Sci Total Environ 581–582:541–549
Koarashi J, Nishimura S, Atarashi-Andoh M et al (2018) Radiocesium distribution in aggregate-size fractions of cropland and forest soils affected by the Fukushima nuclear accident. Chemosphere 205:147–155
Rigol A, Vidal M, Rauret G (2002) An overview of the effect of organic matter on soil-radiocaesium interaction: implications in root uptake. J Environ Radioact 58:191–216
Koarashi J, Andoh MA, Matsunaga T et al (2012) Factors affecting vertical distribution of Fukushima accident-derived radiocesium in soil under different land-use conditions. Sci Total Environ 431:392–401
Huang Y, Kaneko N, Nakamori T et al (2016) Radiocesium immbolization to leaf litter by fungi during first-year decomposition in a deciduous forest in Fukushima. J Environ Radioact 152:28–34
Atarashi-Andoh M, Koarashi J, Takeuchi E et al (2015) Catchment-scale distribution of radiocesium air dose rate in a mountainous deciduous forest and its relation to topography. J Environ Radioact 147:1–7
Zhang Q, Du L, Dai ZQ et al (2018) Studies of particle size distribution of non-exchangeable organically bound tritium activities in the soil around Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant. J Environ Radioact 192:362–367
Liu HS, Hu XY, Chen B et al (2013) Monitoring result of radioactivity level in external environment around Qinshan NPP base during past twenty years. Energy Sci Technol 47:1906–1915 (in Chinese)
Tanaka K, Watanabe N (2015) Size distribution of alkali elements in riverbed sediment and its relevance to fractionation of alkali elements during chemical weathering. Chem Geol 411:12–18
Tsukuda H, Takeda A, Hisamatus S et al (2008) Concentration and specific activity of 137Cs in extracted and particle-size fractions of cultivated soils. J Environ Radioact 99:875–881
Tanka K, Iwatani H, Sakaguchi A (2014) Relationship between particle size and radiocesium in fluvial suspended sediment related to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. J Radionanal Nucl Chem 301:607–613
Kozai N, Ohnuki T, Arisaka M et al (2012) Chemical states of fallout radioactive Cs in the soils deposited at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident. J Nucl Sci Technol 49:473–478
Acknowledgements
This research was financially supported by the Shanghai Pujiang Talent Program under Grant [Number 18PJ1411200]. We are grateful to Zhejiang Province Radiation Environmental Monitoring Centre for their support on soil sampling. Also, we would like to thank our collaborators for their assistance in field work.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wang, W., Liu, W., Zhang, Q. et al. Distribution of 137Cs in different soil particle sizes in the vicinity of the Qianshan nuclear power plant. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 326, 1663–1668 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07459-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07459-0