Abstract

Radioactive vegetation of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident 7 years later in Japan

Author(s): Tazaki Kazue

Radioactive vegetation and crops was found in Minami- Soma, Fukushima, Japan, 7 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake, on March 11, 2011. The leak of radioactive 134Cs, 137Cs, 40K, 89Sr, 90Sr and traces of some radionuclides which originated from the Fukushims Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident were found in many kinds of vegetations collected from Minami-Soma, Fukushima, which is 25 km away from FDNPP. We document the mineralogy, the chemistry, and the micro-morphology, using a combination of micro techniques. Quantitative analyses of vegetation and crops, using Ge semiconductor detector and energy-dispersive x-ray fluoresence analyses (ED-XRF), x-ray powder diffraction analyses (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The objective of this contribution is to illustrate the ability of various vegitation with minerals and microorganisms which are capable of absorbing both radionuclides and stable isotopes from polluted paddy soils, water and plants in extreme conditions near contaminated Tetsuzan dam in Minami Soma, Fukushima in July 16-18 in 2018. In addition, we found deformed pine tree and pine cone in Minami-Soma City, associated with high radioactivity of fallen leaves and moss. The results obtained here provide evidence of radiation reloaded and ecological impacts of the FDNPP, 7 yeras later.

This work is partly presented at 8th Edition of International Conference on Chemistry Education and Research August 27-28, 2018