Effects of Radioactive Cesium from Suspended Matter and Fallout on Agricultural Products

Abstract

AbstractAfter the accident at the Tokyo Electric Power Company’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, agriculture field decontamination has been considered to produce safe agricultural products. However, secondary contamination of agricultural products via fallout and suspended matter has not been contemplated in these counter measures. Therefore, we examined secondary contamination of crops in the area affected by the FDNPP accident. Radioactive cesium concentrations in Komatsuna cultivated using noncontaminated soil and water were affected by location of cultivation, height of cultivation, and whether the plants were washed or not. These results suggest that, depending on the region, secondary contamination of crops occurs due to the attachment of soil particles that rebounded from the ground by rainfall, and that radioactive cesium on the surface can be taken into the crop. By understanding the environmental and meteorological factors that increase the risk of contamination and the sources of secondary contamination, it is believed that future risks can be reduced.