Radiocesium contamination of greenlings (Hexagrammos otakii) off the coast of Fukushima
Shigenobu, Y.; Fujimoto, K.; Ambe, D.; Kaeriyama, H.; Ono, T.; Morinaga, K.; Nakata, K.; Morita, T.; Watanabe, T. (2014). Radiocesium contamination of greenlings (Hexagrammos otakii) off the coast of Fukushima. NPG Scientific Reports 4(6851): 6 pp. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep06851
In: Scientific Reports (Nature Publishing Group). Nature Publishing Group: London. ISSN 2045-2322; e-ISSN 2045-2322, meer
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| Auteurs | | Top |
- Shigenobu, Y.
- Fujimoto, K.
- Ambe, D.
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- Kaeriyama, H.
- Ono, T.
- Morinaga, K.
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- Nakata, K.
- Morita, T.
- Watanabe, T.
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| Abstract |
We measured the radiocesium (134Cs and 137Cs) contamination of 236 greenlings (Hexagrammos otakii) off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture in Japan, following the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in March 2011. The radiocesium concentrations of greenlings caught approximately 40 km south of the power plant were significantly higher than those of greenlings caught approximately 50 km north of the power plant. The radiocesium concentrations of greenlings caught in southern waters were significantly higher in shallow than in deep waters. Meanwhile, two outlier specimens of greenlings with higher 137Cs concentrations, 16,000 Bq/kg-wet on 1 August 2012 and 1,150 Bq/kg-wet on 8 May 2013, were caught approximately 20 km from the power plant. Our calculations suggest that the probability of two such outlier specimens being found off the coast of Fukushima is exceedingly low. By contrast, extremely contaminated greenlings were frequently caught in the power plant port (geometric mean of 137Cs = 17,364 Bq/kg-wet). Our results suggest that the two outlier greenlings with higher 137Cs concentrations migrated from the power plant port. Continued close monitoring of radiocesium concentrations in the area should be done to ensure the safety of food supplies. |
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