Decontamination efficiencies of pot-type water purifiers for ¹³¹I, ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs in rainwater contaminated during Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster

PLoS One. 2012;7(5):e37184. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0037184. Epub 2012 May 16.

Abstract

Rainwater was contaminated by a large release of radionuclides into the environment during the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. It became a matter of concern for Japan when several water purification plants detected ¹³¹I contamination in the drinking water. In the present study, the decontamination efficiency of two easily obtainable commercial water purifiers were examined for rainwater contaminated with ¹³¹I, ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs. The water purifiers removed 94.2-97.8% of the ¹³¹I and 84.2-91.5% of the ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs after one filtration. Seven filtrations removed 98.2-99.6% of the ¹³¹I and over 98.0% of the ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs. From a practical perspective, over the fourth filtrations were not needed because of no significant improvements after the third filtration.

MeSH terms

  • Cesium Radioisotopes / isolation & purification
  • Decontamination
  • Disasters
  • Iodine Radioisotopes / isolation & purification
  • Japan
  • Nuclear Power Plants
  • Radioactive Hazard Release
  • Rain / chemistry
  • Water Pollutants, Radioactive / isolation & purification*
  • Water Purification / methods*

Substances

  • Cesium Radioisotopes
  • Iodine Radioisotopes
  • Water Pollutants, Radioactive