Opening Fukushima floodgates: Modelling 137Cs impact in marine biota

Mar Pollut Bull. 2021 Sep:170:112645. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112645. Epub 2021 Jun 23.

Abstract

A numerical model was applied to simulate the transport of 137Cs released with the waters which were used to cool Fukushima reactors. These stored waters will be released to the Pacific Ocean according to Japanese government plans. The radionuclide transport model is Lagrangian and includes radionuclide interactions with sediments and an integrated dynamic foodweb model for biota uptake. Calculations made from a conservative approach indicate that expected concentrations in sediments and marine fish would be orders of magnitude below those detected after Fukushima accident and also lower than those resulting from global fallout background.

Keywords: Caesium-137; Dispersion; Fukushima NPP; Marine biota; Numerical model; Radioactive water.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biota
  • Cesium Radioisotopes / analysis
  • Fukushima Nuclear Accident*
  • Japan
  • Radiation Monitoring*
  • Water Pollutants, Radioactive* / analysis

Substances

  • Cesium Radioisotopes
  • Water Pollutants, Radioactive
  • Cesium-137