Cesium-137 discharge into the freshwater fishery ground of grazing fish, ayu Plecoglossus altivelis after the March 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident

Abstract

The Fukushima nuclear accident led to deposition of radionuclides into the freshwater fishery ground of ayu Plecoglossus altivelis. For the purpose of more comprehensive understanding of the radioactive contamination, cesium-137 (137Cs) was analyzed in running water, muddy sediment, attached algae, and ayu using samples from three river systems with different levels of contamination within Fukushima Prefecture in summer and autumn 2011. The amount of 137Cs contained in water as well as in sediment declined over an interval of two months, although the concentration in sediment samples was up to 10,000-fold higher than that in water samples. The changes in 137Cs concentration of algae showed different courses among the three river systems, the concentration being greater in autumn in the river systems with high and moderate radioactive contamination. 137Cs detected within a single stock of ayu appeared to be excreted rather rapidly with a calculated half-life of approximately 39 days, while the concentration ratio ranged from 103 to 104 l/kg, attaining higher levels than previously reported. These findings indicate that the most important pathway of 137Cs into ayu is via intake of algae as food but that the retention time of 137Cs inside ayu is relatively short.