Change in the chemical form of 137Cs with age in needles of Japanese cedar

Abstract

Radiocesium (137Cs) derived from the accident of Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant remains in forests. Although a large proportion of the 137Cs in forests has been transferred to soils, the rates of transfer to soils depend on the chemical form of 137Cs, which determines the mobility of 137Cs in plant tissues and subsequently during decomposition of leaf litter. In order to understand the dynamics of 137Cs in Sugi (Japanese cedar, Cryptomeria japonica) forests, we identified the chemical forms, such as water soluble, ion-exchangeable, and residual of 137Cs, 133Cs, K, and Rb in needle-bearing Sugi branches of different ages across several years. Compared with the results for K and Rb, Cs (133Cs + 137Cs) tended to change from a water-soluble form to an immobilized form with aging of needle-bearing branch segments. In addition, it was observed that a larger proportion of the immobilized Cs were accumulated in the green outer portions of the stems through aging.