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Sartayev Y, Matsuu-Matsuyama M, Yamaguchi I, Takahashi J, Gutevich A, Hayashida N. Internal radiation exposure from 137Cs and its association with the dietary habits of residents from areas affected by the Chernobyl nuclear accident, Ukraine: 2016-2018. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291498. [PMID: 37713425 PMCID: PMC10503735 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The total annual effective dose has steadily decreased since the fallout of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. However, chronic internal exposure to 137Cs still persists and fluctuates in a complex and unpredictable manner. Recently, body contamination was found to primarily occur owing to the intake of forest foodstuffs that contain long-lived 137Cs. Forest foodstuffs may have up to 100 times higher concentration of cesium than does local milk and meat. The present study aimed to investigate the recent dietary habits of residents in the Zhytomyr region of Ukraine, and assess the effect of the intake of forest foodstuffs on the increase in internal radioactivity from 137Cs. We screened 1,612 participants, from July 2016 to February 2018 for internal radioactivity, using whole-body counter at Korosten Medical Center and surveyed their background and intake habits. We analyzed the association among food type, intake frequency, and internal exposure dose. The analysis revealed that nearly 90% of the participants regularly consumed one of the forest foodstuffs (mushrooms, berries, fish) or milk. Nearly 80% of the participants indicated that they consumed mushrooms or berries or both. Internal radioactivity was detected in 30% of the participants. The diet that included mushrooms exhibited the highest internal radioactivity. The lowest Bq/kg concentration was observed in the only-berry group, following the no-intake group. There was a significant correlation between the intake frequency and the magnitude of Bq/kg. Radioactivity detected in the mushroom-berry and only-mushroom group were 8.6 and 9.2 Bq/kg, respectively. The lowest and highest intake frequency showed a radioactivity of 2.4 and 7.5 Bq/kg, respectively. Radioactivity in the winter season was significantly higher than that in other seasons. In conclusion, our study revealed that internal radioactivity varies depending on the type of food, intake frequency, and season.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yesbol Sartayev
- Life Sciences and Radiation Research, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
- Division of Strategic Collaborative Research, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki, Japan
| | | | | | - Jumpei Takahashi
- Center for International Collaborative Research, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | | | - Naomi Hayashida
- Life Sciences and Radiation Research, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
- Division of Strategic Collaborative Research, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki, Japan
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Yoshida Y. Risk communication regarding radiation exposure by experts using two concepts of regulatory science and ALARA. JOURNAL OF RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION 2023; 43:011508. [PMID: 36634359 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6498/acb274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
In the Tohoku region of Japan, risk communication programs on radiation exposure are of great importance, especially with respect to reducing the stress and anxiety among those affected by radiation exposure. Although the concepts of 'as low as reasonably achievable' (ALARA) and regulatory sciences (RS) were very important for the smooth operation of risk communication among a wide range of stakeholders, our previous research showed that only 23.5% and 16.5% of medical doctors in Japan had an accurate awareness of them, respectively. To make risk communication more effective, this study examined the levels of awareness of the concepts of ALARA and RS among academic experts in Japan and compared their level of awareness of technical terms regarding radiation to that of the expected level for a layperson. This study also showed that, even among faculty working at graduate schools in Japan, only 29.8% and 39.4% had an accurate knowledge of ALARA and RS. To improve the knowledge of laypeople and experts on these concepts, they should be added to the primary education curriculum. This study demonstrated that among experts in many academic fields, a significant range of estimates existed of lay knowledge of technical terms regarding radiation. The highest scores were assigned by faculty in the field of humanities. Thus, before conducting risk communications, experts from all fields should identify the expected level of awareness among laypeople on the topic. In addition, risk communications regarding radiation should be conducted by academic experts and healthcare professionals together with facilitators or lecturers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshitoku Yoshida
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Shubun University, 6 Nikko-cho, Ichinomiya, Japan
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Falandysz J, Saniewski M, Fernandes AR, Meloni D, Cocchi L, Strumińska-Parulska D, Zalewska T. Radiocaesium in Tricholoma spp. from the Northern Hemisphere in 1971-2016. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 802:149829. [PMID: 34464794 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
A considerable amount of data has been published on the accumulation of radiocaesium (134Cs and particularly, 137Cs) in wild fungi since the first anthropogenically influenced releases into the environment due to nuclear weapon testing, usage and subsequently from major accidents at nuclear power plants in Chernobyl (1986) and Fukushima (2011). Wild fungi are particularly susceptible to accumulation of radiocaesium and contamination persists for decades after pollution events. Macromycetes (fruiting bodies, popularly called mushrooms) of the edible fungal species are an important part of the human and forest animal food-webs in many global locations. This review discusses published occurrences of 134Cs and 137Cs in twenty four species of Tricholoma mushrooms sourced from the Northern Hemisphere over the last five decades, but also includes some recent data from Italy and Poland. Tricholoma are an ectomycorrhizal species and the interval for contamination to permeate to lower soils layers which host their mycelial networks, results in a delayed manifestation of radioactivity. Available data from Poland, over similar periods, may suggest species selective differences in accumulation, with some fruiting bodies, e.g. T. portentosum, showing lower activity levels relative to others, e.g. T. equestre. Species like T. album, T. sulphurescens and T. terreum also show higher accumulation of radiocaesium, but reported observations are few. The uneven spatial distribution of the data combined with a limited number of observations make it difficult to decipher any temporal contamination patterns from the observations in Polish regions. When data from other European sites is included, a similar variability of 137Cs activity is apparent but the more recent Ukrainian data appears to show relatively lower activities. 40K activity in mushrooms which is associated with essential potassium, remains relatively constant. Further monitoring of 137Cs activity in wild mushrooms would help to consolidate these observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerzy Falandysz
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lodz, 1 Muszyńskiego Street, 90-151 Lódź, Poland.
| | - Michał Saniewski
- Institute of Meteorology and Water Management - Maritime Branch, National Research Institute, 42 Waszyngtona Av., 81-342 Gdynia, Poland
| | - Alwyn R Fernandes
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Daniela Meloni
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, Italy
| | - Luigi Cocchi
- Gruppo Micologico e Naturalistico R. Franchi, Via D. Piani, 6, I-42100 Reggio Emilia, Italy; Comitato Scientifico Nazionale dell' Associazione Micologica Bresadola, Via A.Volta, 46, I-38100 Trento, Italy
| | - Dagmara Strumińska-Parulska
- Toxicology and Radiation Protection Laboratory, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Tamara Zalewska
- Institute of Meteorology and Water Management - Maritime Branch, National Research Institute, 42 Waszyngtona Av., 81-342 Gdynia, Poland
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Komatsu M, Hashimoto S, Matsuura T. Effects of species and geo-information on the 137Cs concentrations in edible wild mushrooms and plants collected by residents after the Fukushima nuclear accident. Sci Rep 2021; 11:22470. [PMID: 34789824 PMCID: PMC8599460 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01816-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
After the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP), much of the wild and edible mushrooms and plants in the surrounding areas were contaminated with radiocesium (137Cs). To elucidate their concentration characteristics, we analyzed 137Cs radioactivity data in edible forest products brought in for food inspection by the residents of Kawauchi Village, 12-30 km away from the FDNPP, from 2012 to 2019. A Bayesian model to estimate 137Cs concentration was constructed. Parameters of the normalized concentration of species (NCsp) for mushrooms were similar to those of the same species obtained in a previous study. Although NCsp values were highly varied among species, mycorrhizal mushrooms tended to have high NCsp values, followed by saprotrophic mushrooms, and wild edible plants values were low. Also, half of mycorrhizal mushroom species (8 of 16) showed an increasing trend in concentration with time; however, saprotrophic mushrooms and wild plants generally demonstrated a decreasing trend (22 of 24). The model considering the sub-village location information decreased the error of individual samples by 40% compared to the model not considering any location information, indicating that the detailed geo-information improved estimation accuracy. Our results indicate that the radioactivity data from samples collected by local residents can be used to accurately assess internal exposure to radiation due to self-consumption of contaminated wild mushrooms and plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masabumi Komatsu
- Department of Mushroom Science and Forest Microbiology, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8687, Japan.
| | - Shoji Hashimoto
- Department of Forest Soils, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8687, Japan
| | - Toshiya Matsuura
- Tohoku Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Morioka, Iwate, 020-0123, Japan
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Yamaguchi T, Taira Y, Matsuo M, Orita M, Yamada Y, Takamura N. LOCAL LEVELS OF RADIATION EXPOSURE DOSES DUE TO RADIOCESIUM FOR RETURNED RESIDENTS IN TOMIOKA TOWN, FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE. RADIATION PROTECTION DOSIMETRY 2021; 193:207-220. [PMID: 33876245 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncab049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Tomioka Town is located within a 20-km radius of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. Radiation dose rates due to radiocesium in residents' living spaces were evaluated from the measurements of ambient dose rates and environmental samples after returning home. The mean ambient dose rates were 0.15-0.18-μSv/h indoors and 0.23-0.26-μSv/h outdoors during 2018 and 2019, and the additional radiation dose rates were calculated to be 1.4 mSv/y in 2018 and 1.1 mSv/y in 2019. Ambient dose equivalent from surface soils within housing sites were estimated to be 0.66 mSv/y in 2018 and 0.54 mSv/y in 2019. Moreover, committed effective doses from local foods were calculated in 19-74 μSv/y for children and 39-100 μSv/y for adults during 2018 and 2019. These findings suggest that current radiation exposure doses have been controlled at the levels close to the public dose limit (1 mSv/y) in residents' living spaces.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Masahiko Matsuo
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture 852-8523, Japan
| | - Makiko Orita
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture 852-8523, Japan
| | - Yumiko Yamada
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture 852-8523, Japan
| | - Noboru Takamura
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture 852-8523, Japan
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Takamura N, Orita M, Taira Y, Matsunaga H, Yamashita S. Experiences of crisis communication during radiation emergency and risk communication for recovery of the community in Fukushima. JOURNAL OF RADIATION RESEARCH 2021; 62:i95-i100. [PMID: 33978182 PMCID: PMC8114217 DOI: 10.1093/jrr/rraa113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Since 2011, Nagasaki University (Nagasaki, Japan) has been assisting the reconstruction efforts of Kawauchi Village (Fukushima Prefecture), which was the first village to decide to return to their home town after the evacuation due to the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. In April 2013, Nagasaki University and the Kawauchi Government Office concluded an agreement concerning comprehensive cooperation toward the reconstruction of the village. Furthermore, we began comprehensive support for the residents of Tomioka who returned to their hometown in 2017, and of Ohkuma town in 2020. On the basis of the experiences in Kawauchi, Tomioka and Ohkuma, it is clear that the cooperation of residents, local authorities and specialists is essential for the recovery of areas affected by the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. Accumulated experiences and practices should be carefully evaluated and recorded to prepare for unexpected nuclear disasters in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noboru Takamura
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 8528523, Japan
| | - Makiko Orita
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 8528523, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Taira
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 8528523, Japan
| | - Hitomi Matsunaga
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 8528523, Japan
| | - Shunichi Yamashita
- Vice President, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima 9601295, Japan
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Komatsu M, Suzuki N, Ogawa S, Ota Y. Spatial distribution of 137Cs concentrations in mushrooms (Boletus hiratsukae) and their relationship with soil exchangeable cation contents. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2020; 222:106364. [PMID: 32791375 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2020.106364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Revised: 07/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The activity concentrations of radiocesium (137Cs) in wild mushrooms are reported to vary according to species, genus or ecological types. In addition, the concentration fluctuates among the same species collected within the same area. Therefore, we investigated whether the 137Cs concentration of wild mushrooms would be (1) spatially biased, or (2) influenced by the 137Cs or exchangeable potassium concentrations in the soils below. We set two survey plots 300 m apart in a Himalayan cedar forest in Tsukuba, Japan, where ca. 30 kBq/m2 of 137Cs was deposited after the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant accident. From these plots, we collected fruit-bodies (fungal structures for spore production) of co-occurring Boletus hiratsukae, a mycorrhizal species, as well as from the soil below. The mean 137Cs concentrations in the fruit-bodies were significantly different between the two plots, but no difference was observed in the soil 137Cs concentration between the plots. Significant spatial autocorrelation was observed in the 137Cs concentration in the organic layer for both sites, but no significant spatial autocorrelation was observed in the 137Cs of fruit-bodies. Therefore, the variation in the 137Cs concentrations of co-occurred B. hiratsukae was not explained by spatial bias or radioactivity in the below soil. In contrast, the exchangeable potassium concentration in the soil was negatively correlated with the 137Cs in the fruit-bodies. Our results suggest that the 137Cs absorption of wild mushrooms would be suppressed by the competitive effect of exchangeable potassium in the surrounding soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masabumi Komatsu
- Department of Mushroom Science and Forest Microbiology, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, 1 Matsunosato, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8687, Japan.
| | - Narimi Suzuki
- Department of Forest Science and Resources, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 252-0880, Japan
| | - Shuta Ogawa
- Department of Forest Science and Resources, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 252-0880, Japan; Nara Zoen Corporation, 1-13-3 Shinyokohama, Kohoku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 222-0033, Japan
| | - Yuko Ota
- Department of Forest Science and Resources, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 252-0880, Japan
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Cui L, Orita M, Taira Y, Takamura N. Radiocesium concentrations in mushrooms collected in Kawauchi Village five to eight years after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0239296. [PMID: 32931520 PMCID: PMC7491737 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in March 2011, radionuclides such as iodine-131, cesium-134 and cesium-137 were released into environment. In this study, we collected wild mushrooms from the Kawauchi Village of Fukushima Prefecture, located less than 30 km southwest of the Fukushima nuclear power plant, to evaluate their radiocesium (134Cs+137Cs) concentrations and the risk of internal radiation exposure in local residents. 342 mushroom samples were collected from 2016 to 2019. All samples were analysed for radiocesium content by a high-purity germanium detector. Among 342 mushroom samples, 260 mushroom samples (76%) were detected the radiocesium exceeding the regulatory limit of radiocesium (100 Bq/kg for general foods in Japan). The median of committed effective dose from ingestion of wild mushrooms was in the range of 0.015-0.053 mSv in 2016, 0.0025-0.0087 mSv in 2017, 0.029-0.110 mSv in 2018 and 0.011-0.036 mSv in 2019 based on the assumption that Japanese citizens consumed wild mushrooms for 1 year. Thus, our study showed that although radiocesium is still detected in mushrooms collected in Kawauchi village even after 5 to 9 years later, the committed effective dose due to consuming mushrooms was lower than 1 mSv per year. Long-term comprehensive follow-up should monitor radiocesium concentrations in wild mushrooms to support the recovery of the community after the nuclear disaster.
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Affiliation(s)
- Limeng Cui
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
- Department of Radiation Protection, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing Research Center for Preventive Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Makiko Orita
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Taira
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Noboru Takamura
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
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Komatsu M, Nishina K, Hashimoto S. Extensive analysis of radiocesium concentrations in wild mushrooms in eastern Japan affected by the Fukushima nuclear accident: Use of open accessible monitoring data. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 255:113236. [PMID: 31546076 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Revised: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
After the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, there has been an increasing concern regarding the contamination of wild mushrooms with radiocesium (134Cs and 137Cs) in eastern Japan. In this study, we analyzed the radioactivity monitoring data of 3189 wild edible mushrooms of 107 species collected by the 265 local municipalities in eastern Japan to investigate the radiocesium levels in wild mushrooms. Results of the analysis showed that radiocesium concentrations in mushrooms were normalized with radioactivity deposition data from aircraft monitoring, and then we evaluated the effects of species, sampled location, sampling year and regional deviation between 134Cs and 137Cs activity of specimens using a hierarchical Bayesian approach considering spatial autocorrelation (an intrinsic CAR model). Normalized activity concentration by species ranged from 1.1×10-4 to 2.3×10-2 (m2 kg-1, fresh weight). As reported in previous studies, the mycorrhizal species tended to have higher radiocesium concentrations. Some saprophytic species (e.g. Pholiota lubrica) also had high concentrations. For the mushroom species that were also evaluated in the post-Chernobyl studies, we found that the same species had similar trends of absorption capacities. Our results indicate the extensive analysis of public monitoring data is helpful to understand the situation of mushroom contamination and evaluate the internal dose by ingestion of wild mushrooms according to species and areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masabumi Komatsu
- Department of Mushroom Science and Forest Microbiology, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, 1 Matsunosato, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8687, Japan.
| | - Kazuya Nishina
- Center for Regional Environmental Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Onogawa 16-2, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan
| | - Shoji Hashimoto
- Department of Forest Soils, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, 1 Matsunosato, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8687, Japan; Isotope Facility for Agricultural Education and Research, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan
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Falandysz J, Zalewska T, Fernandes AR. 137Cs and 40K in Cortinarius caperatus mushrooms (1996-2016) in Poland - Bioconcentration and estimated intake: 137Cs in Cortinarius spp. from the Northern Hemisphere from 1974 to 2016. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 255:113208. [PMID: 31654855 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Cortinarius caperatus grows in the northern regions of Europe, North America and Asia and is widely collected by mushroom foragers across Europe. This study shows that in the last three decades since the Chernobyl nuclear accident, C. caperatus collected across much of Northern Poland exhibited high activity concentrations of radiocaesium (137Cs) - a long-lived radionuclide. The mushroom appears to efficiently bioconcentrate 137Cs from contaminated soil substrata followed by sequestration into its morphological parts such as the cap and stipe which are used as food. The gradual leaching of 137Cs into the lower strata of surface soils in exposed areas are likely to facilitate higher bioavailability to the mycelia of this species which penetrate to relatively greater depths and may account for the continuing high activity levels noticed in Polish samples (e.g. activity within caps in some locations was still at 11,000 Bq kg-1 dw in 2008 relative to a peak of 18,000 in 2002). The associated dietary intake levels of 137Cs have often exceeded the tolerance limits set by the European Union (370 and 600 Bq kg-1 ww for children and adults respectively) during the years 1996-2010. Human dietary exposure to 137Cs is influenced by the method of food preparation and may be mitigated by blanching followed by disposal of the water, rather than direct consumption after stir-frying or stewing. It may be prudent to provide precautionary advice and monitor activity levels, as this mushroom continues to be foraged by casual as well as experienced mushroom hunters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerzy Falandysz
- University of Gdańsk, Environmental Chemistry & Ecotoxicology, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland; Environmental and Computational Chemistry Group, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zaragocilla Campus, University of Cartagena, 130015, Cartagena, Colombia; Institute of Medicinal Plants, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming, 650200, China.
| | - Tamara Zalewska
- Institute of Meteorology and Water Management, Maritime Branch, National Research Institute, 42 Waszyngtona Av., 81-342, Gdynia, Poland
| | - Alwyn R Fernandes
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
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11
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Uptake and elemental distribution of radiosilver 108mAg and radiocesium 137Cs in shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes). J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-019-06778-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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12
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Evaluation of Environmental Contamination and Estimated Radiation Exposure Dose Rates among Residents Immediately after Returning Home to Tomioka Town, Fukushima Prefecture. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16091481. [PMID: 31027373 PMCID: PMC6539872 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16091481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Revised: 04/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
On 1 April 2017, six years have passed since the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) accident, and the Japanese government declared that some residents who lived in Tomioka Town, Fukushima Prefecture could return to their homes. We evaluated environmental contamination and radiation exposure dose rates due to artificial radionuclides in the livelihood zone of residents (living space such as housing sites), including a restricted area located within a 10-km radius from the FDNPS, immediately after residents had returned home in Tomioka town. In areas where the evacuation orders had been lifted, the median air dose rates were 0.20 μSv/h indoors and 0.26 μSv/h outdoors, and the radiation exposure dose rate was 1.6 mSv/y. By contrast, in the “difficult-to-return zone,” the median air dose rate was 2.3 μSv/h (20 mSv/y) outdoors. Moreover, the dose-forming artificial radionuclides (radiocesium) in the surface soil were 0.018 μSv/h (0.17 mSv/y) in the evacuation order-lifted areas and 0.73 μSv/h (6.4 mSv/y) in the difficult-to-return zone. These findings indicate that current concentrations of artificial radionuclides in soil samples have been decreasing in the evacuation order-lifted areas of Tomioka town; however, a significant external exposure risk still exists in the difficult-to-return zone. The case of Tomioka town is expected to be the first reconstruction model including the difficult-to-return zone.
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Matsunaga H, Orita M, Iyama K, Sato N, Aso S, Tateishi F, Taira Y, Kudo T, Yamashita S, Takamura N. Intention to return to the town of Tomioka in residents 7 years after the accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station: a cross-sectional study. JOURNAL OF RADIATION RESEARCH 2019; 60:51-58. [PMID: 30445602 PMCID: PMC6373670 DOI: 10.1093/jrr/rry094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Revised: 09/07/2018] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The aim of our study was to identify the factors associated with intention to return (ITR) in residents of Tomioka town, Fukushima Prefecture. We contacted approximated 8000 residents aged 20 years or older who lived in Tomioka. We invited them to take part in a written survey on ITR. In all, 1749 residents' replies were included in the analysis. We asked about ITR in former residents of Tomioka town. We also asked about relevant factors and about risk perception in relation to the health effects of radiation exposure. Of those contacted, 469 (26.8%) had an ITR. Logistic regression analysis revealed that being male (OR = 1.6, 95% Cl: 1.24-1.96, P < 0.001), the anticipation of improving shopping in the town (OR = 1.5, 95% Cl: 1.26-1.67, P < 0.001) and requests for individual consultation with experts on the health effects of radiation (OR = 2.7, 95% Cl: 2.10-3.48, P <0.001) were associated with the ITR (+), and living with children under 18 years of age (OR = 0.7, 95% Cl: 0.51-0.95, P = 0.023), reluctance to drink tap water (OR = 0.5, 95% Cl: 0.36-0.69, P < 0.001) and anxiety regarding genetic effects of radiation in the next generation (OR = 0.6, 95% Cl: 0.45-079, P <0.001) were associated with the ITR (-) to Tomioka town, independent of other covariates. To allay the anxieties of residents who have an ITR to their hometown, careful risk communication, including information on the potential effects of radiation on health, is important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hitomi Matsunaga
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Makiko Orita
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Keita Iyama
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Nana Sato
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Satoko Aso
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Fumika Tateishi
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Taira
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Takashi Kudo
- Department of Isotope Medicine, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Shunichi Yamashita
- Department of Radiation Medical Sciences, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Noboru Takamura
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan
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Ogo S, Yamanaka T, Akama K, Nagakura J, Yamaji K. Influence of Ectomycorrhizal Colonization on Cesium Uptake by Pinus densiflora Seedlings. MYCOBIOLOGY 2018; 46:388-395. [PMID: 30637147 PMCID: PMC6319452 DOI: 10.1080/12298093.2018.1538074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Revised: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Radionuclides were deposited at forest areas in eastern parts of Japan following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant incident in March 2011. Ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi have important effects on radiocaesium dynamics in forest ecosystems. We examined the effect of colonization by the EM fungus Astraeus hygrometricus on the uptake of cesium (Cs) and potassium (K) by Pinus densiflora seedlings. Pine seedlings exhibited enhanced growth after the EM formation due to the colonization by A. hygrometricus. Additionally, the shoot Cs concentration increased after the EM formation when Cs was not added to the medium. This suggests that A. hygrometricus might be able to solubilize Cs fixed to soil particles. Moreover, the shoot K concentration increased significantly after the EM formation when Cs was added. However, there were no significant differences in the root K concentration between EM and non-EM seedlings. These results suggest that different mechanisms control the transfer of Cs and K from the root to the shoot of pine seedlings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumika Ogo
- Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba, Japan
| | | | - Keiko Akama
- Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Junko Nagakura
- Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Keiko Yamaji
- College of Agrobiological Resource Science, Tsukuba University, Tsukuba, Japan
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15
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Takamura N, Orita M, Taira Y, Fukushima Y, Yamashita S. RECOVERY FROM NUCLEAR DISASTER IN FUKUSHIMA: COLLABORATION MODEL. RADIATION PROTECTION DOSIMETRY 2018; 182:49-52. [PMID: 30165609 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncy150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Since 2011, Nagasaki University has been assisting the reconstruction efforts of Kawauchi Village in the Fukushima Prefecture, which was the first village to declare it safe for residents to return to their homes. In April 2013, Nagasaki University and the Kawauchi government office concluded an agreement concerning comprehensive cooperation toward reconstruction of the village. The present study evaluates the internal and external exposure doses of residents and conducted a risk communication based on each resident's radiation dose. Furthermore, researchers began a comprehensive support of Tomioka residents who have returned to their hometown in 2017. Based on the experiences in Kawauchi village, it is clear that the cooperation of residents, local authorities and specialists is essential for the recovery of areas affected by the nuclear disaster. Accumulated experiences and practices should be carefully evaluated and recorded to prepare for future unexpected nuclear disasters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noboru Takamura
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Makiko Orita
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Taira
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Yoshiko Fukushima
- Department of Nursing, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Shunichi Yamashita
- Department of Radiation Medical Sciences, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan
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16
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Kunii N, Fujimura MS, Komasa Y, Kitamura A, Sato H, Takatsuji T, Jimba M, Kimura S. The Knowledge and Awareness for Radiocesium Food Monitoring after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Accident in Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:ijerph15102289. [PMID: 30340414 PMCID: PMC6210092 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15102289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Revised: 09/30/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
On 11 March 2011, Japan experienced a massive earthquake and tsunami that triggered the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident, resulting in the release of large amounts of cesium-134 and -137 into the atmosphere. In addition to the food radioactivity control in the markets throughout the country, radiocesium concentrations in locally grown foods were voluntarily inspected and the results were shown to the residents by the local government to raise their awareness of the internal radiation contamination risk from low knowledge in Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture. In this longitudinal study, local food products for in-home consumption were evaluated by seven different food radioactivity measuring devices in Nihonmatsu City from 2011–2017. Radiocesium was detected in local foods in Nihonmatsu City even six years after the FDNPP accident. The highest number of products tested was in 2012, with the number steadily decreasing thereafter. Most foods had contamination levels that were within the provisional regulation limits. As edible wild plants and mushrooms continue to possess high radiocesium concentrations, new trends in radioactivity in foods like seeds were discovered. This study highlights that the increased risk of radiation exposure could possibly be due to declining radiation awareness among citizens and food distributors. We recommend the continuation of food monitoring procedures at various points in the food processing line under the responsibility of the government to raise awareness for the reduction of future risks of internal exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuaki Kunii
- Laboratory of International Epidemiology, Fukushima Branch Office, Center for International Cooperation, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi 321-0293, Japan.
| | - Maya Sophia Fujimura
- Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
| | - Yukako Komasa
- Laboratory of International Epidemiology, Fukushima Branch Office, Center for International Cooperation, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi 321-0293, Japan.
| | - Akiko Kitamura
- Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
| | - Hitoshi Sato
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Ibaraki 300-0394, Japan.
| | - Toshihiro Takatsuji
- Graduate School of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan.
| | - Masamine Jimba
- Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
| | - Shinzo Kimura
- Laboratory of International Epidemiology, Fukushima Branch Office, Center for International Cooperation, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi 321-0293, Japan.
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17
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Effect of Radiological Countermeasures on Subjective Well-Being and Radiation Anxiety after the 2011 Disaster: The Fukushima Health Management Survey. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:ijerph15010124. [PMID: 29329263 PMCID: PMC5800223 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15010124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2017] [Revised: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
After the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident in 2011, concerns about radiation exposure and decline in subjective well-being have been reported. To tackle these problems, various countermeasures in relation to radiation have been implemented. In this study, we comprehensively evaluated the effects of radiological countermeasures on subjective well-being (e.g., satisfaction with life (SWL) and emotional well-being) and radiation anxiety, through a questionnaire survey targeting Fukushima residents (N = 1023). Propensity scores matching was applied to evaluate significant effects of radiological countermeasures on subjective well-being and radiation anxiety. Among the radiological countermeasures, thyroid examination, whole body counter, and air dose monitoring showed the highest proportions of participation, utilization, and useful evaluation, suggesting a high degree of public attention focused on these countermeasures. The basic survey was associated with significant increases in SWL and self-rated health (SH). Thyroid examination was significantly associated with not only a reduction in radiation anxiety but also an increase of emotional stress, suggesting the importance of careful design of system and detailed communication. Food inspection was associated with deterioration in SH. Those who utilized explanatory meetings showed increases in sadness, worry, and radiation anxiety, indicating that additional attention is required of the experts and authorities involved in explanatory meetings.
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18
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Orita M, Kimura Y, Taira Y, Fukuda T, Takahashi J, Gutevych O, Chornyi S, Kudo T, Yamashita S, Takamura N. Activities concentration of radiocesium in wild mushroom collected in Ukraine 30 years after the Chernobyl power plant accident. PeerJ 2018; 6:e4222. [PMID: 29312835 PMCID: PMC5757420 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 12/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mushrooms are recognized as one of the main contributors to internal radiation exposure from the activity concentration of radiocesium released by the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (CNNP). We evaluated the activity concentrations of the artificial radionuclides (radiocesium) in wild mushrooms collected in 2015 from Korosten and Lugine, Zhitomir region, Ukraine, located 120 km away from the CNPP. Cesium-137 was detected in 110 of 127 mushroom samples (86.6%). Based on the average mushroom consumption (5 kg per year), we calculated committed effective doses ranging from 0.001–0.12 mSv. Cesium-137 remains in the wild mushrooms even 30 years after the accident, but the committed effective doses are limited by the amount of contaminated mushrooms consumed. However, evaluation of internal radiation exposure and assessment of environmental radioactivity in the surrounding area affected by the nuclear accident are still necessary in order to relieve anxiety about internal radiation exposure, as long as the possibility of consumption of contaminated mushrooms remains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makiko Orita
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Yuko Kimura
- Department of Health and Welfare, Kawauchi Municipal Government, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Taira
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Toshiki Fukuda
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Jumpei Takahashi
- Center for International Collaborative Research, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | | | - Serghii Chornyi
- Zhitomir Inter-Area Medical Diagnostic Center, Korosten, Ukraine
| | - Takashi Kudo
- Department of Radioisotope Medicine, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Shunichi Yamashita
- Department of Radiation Medical Sciences, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Noboru Takamura
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
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19
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Prand-Stritzko B, Steinhauser G. Characteristics of radiocesium contaminations in mushrooms after the Fukushima nuclear accident: evaluation of the food monitoring data from March 2011 to March 2016. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 25:2409-2416. [PMID: 29124643 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-0538-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2017] [Accepted: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
The monitoring inspection of food after the Fukushima nuclear accident (2011) was essential for ensuring food safety in Japan and reducing the adverse health effects due to incorporation of inacceptable amounts of radionuclides, in particular radiocesium (134Cs and 137Cs). In this study, the mushroom fraction of the governmental data set of the first 5 years after the accident has been analyzed for contamination levels in mushrooms, in particular time trends and radioecological characteristics as well as associated health risks. The analyses show that mycorrhiza mushrooms are much more sensitive for radionuclide uptake than saprobiontic mushrooms (the latter of which include the very popular shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes)). The maximum value reached 31,000 Bq/kg in a sample of apricot milkcaps in 2012. Analysis of the origin of the samples revealed that the origin (in terms of prefecture) of the mushrooms was a less determining factor for the contamination level than the type of mushrooms, as most exceedances in 2012 and thereafter were found outside Fukushima Prefecture. Several dose models were applied to the data to evaluate both worst case and realistic effective committed dose scenarios. The doses were generally rather low due to low consumption rates in the Japanese food basket. In any case, the analysis proved that the food monitoring campaign was highly effective in cutting doses to the public by more than a factor of 10 compared with a hypothetical scenario in which no monitoring had been conducted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Prand-Stritzko
- Institute of Radioecology and Radiation Protection, Leibniz Universität Hannover, 30419, Hannover, Germany
- Höhere technische Bundeslehranstalt Karlstein, 3822, Karlstein an der Thaya, Austria
| | - Georg Steinhauser
- Institute of Radioecology and Radiation Protection, Leibniz Universität Hannover, 30419, Hannover, Germany.
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Tsuchiya R, Taira Y, Orita M, Fukushima Y, Endo Y, Yamashita S, Takamura N. Radiocesium contamination and estimated internal exposure doses in edible wild plants in Kawauchi Village following the Fukushima nuclear disaster. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0189398. [PMID: 29240794 PMCID: PMC5730164 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0189398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 11/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Kawauchi Village, in Fukushima Prefecture, is located within a 30-km radius of the nuclear disaster site of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP). "Sansai" (edible wild plants) in this village have been evaluated by gamma spectrometry after the residents had returned to their homes, to determine the residents' risk of internal exposure to artificial radionuclides due to consumption of these plants. The concentrations of radiocesium (cesium-134 and cesium-137) were measured in all 364 samples collected in spring 2015. Overall, 34 (9.3%) samples exceeded the regulatory limit of 100 Bq/kg established by Japanese guidelines, 80 (22.0%) samples registered between 100 Bq/kg and 20 Bq/kg, and 250 (68.7%) registered below 20 Bq/kg (the detection limit). The internal effective doses from edible wild plants were sufficiently low (less than 1 mSv/y), at 3.5±1.2 μSv/y for males and 3.2±0.9 μSv/y for females (2.7±1.5 μSv/y for children and 3.7±0.7 μSv/y for adults in 2015). Thus, the potential internal exposure doses due to consumption of these edible wild plants were below the applicable radiological standard limits for foods. However, high radiocesium levels were confirmed in specific species, such as Eleutherococcus sciadophylloides ("Koshiabura") and Osmunda japonica (Asian royal fern, "Zenmai"). Consequently, a need still might exist for long-term follow-up such as environmental monitoring, physical and mental support to avoid unnecessary radiation exposure and to remove anxiety about adverse health effects due to radiation. The customs of residents, especially the "satoyama" (countryside) culture of ingesting "sansai," also require consideration in the further reconstruction of areas such as Kawauchi Village that were affected by the nuclear disaster.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rimi Tsuchiya
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Taira
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Makiko Orita
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Yoshiko Fukushima
- Department of Nursing, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Yuukou Endo
- Kawauchi Municipal Government, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Shunichi Yamashita
- Department of Radiation Medical Science, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Noboru Takamura
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
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21
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Yoshida Y, Yoshida Y, Isogai E, Hayase T, Nakamura K, Saito M, Arizono K. Level of perception of technical terms regarding the effect of radiation on the human body by residents of Japan. Environ Health Prev Med 2017; 22:73. [PMID: 29165177 PMCID: PMC5664930 DOI: 10.1186/s12199-017-0679-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background This study aimed to examine the level of perception of the technical terms related to the effect of radiation on the human body among residents of the six prefectures of Miyagi, Fukushima, Tokyo, Aichi, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki in Japan. Miyagi and Fukushima were selected as devastated area by Great East Japan Earthquake. Tokyo and Aichi were selected as control. Hiroshima and Nagasaki were selected as the A-bombed area. Methods A total of 1030 respondents, 172, 173, 171, 173, 171, and 170, respectively, were surveyed. Differences in the recognition level of technical terms related to the effect of radiation on the human body among residents of the six prefectures were assessed. Results The highest recognition levels were reported by the respondents from Fukushima (17 items). Those from Miyagi scored the second highest recognition levels (10 out of the 17 terms); the second highest recognition levels for the remaining seven terms were marked by the respondents of Tokyo. Respondents in the Tohoku region had a better recognition for the technical terminology relevant to the effect of radiation on the human body. Conclusions Our findings indicate a need for continued, comprehensive risk communication pertaining to health hazards of radiation exposure in Tohoku region. Concerted efforts by central/local governments and other stakeholders are required to allay the anxiety/stress related to radiation exposure among the residents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshitoku Yoshida
- Faculty of Nursing, Shubun University, 6 Nikko-cho, Ichinomiya, Japan. .,Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, 65 Tsurumaicho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan.
| | - Yasuko Yoshida
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, 3-1 Tanabe-dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, 467-8603, Japan
| | - Emiko Isogai
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 468-1 Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-0845, Japan
| | - Takashi Hayase
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagasaki University, Bunkyo-machi 1-14, Nagasaki, 852-8521, Japan
| | - Kozue Nakamura
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Gifu City Women's College, 7-1 Hitoichibakita-machi, Gifu, 501-0192, Japan
| | - Mitsuo Saito
- Institute for Health Vigilance, 4-25-5-303, Tanashi-Cho, Nishi-Tokyo, Tokyo, 188-0011, Japan
| | - Koji Arizono
- Faculty of Environmental Symbiotic Science, Prefectural University of Kumamoto, Tsukide 3-1-100, Higashi-ku, Kumamoto, 862-8502, Japan
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22
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Orita M, Nakashima K, Taira Y, Fukuda T, Fukushima Y, Kudo T, Endo Y, Yamashita S, Takamura N. Radiocesium concentrations in wild mushrooms after the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station: Follow-up study in Kawauchi village. Sci Rep 2017; 7:6744. [PMID: 28751728 PMCID: PMC5532244 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-05963-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, it has become well known that radiocesium tends to concentrate in wild mushrooms. During the recovery process after the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS), it is important to perform follow-up measurements of the activity concentrations of radiocesium in mushrooms. We evaluated the activity concentrations of the detected artificial radionuclides (radiocesium) in wild mushrooms collected from Kawauchi village, which is within 30 km of the FDNPS, in 2015, four years after the accident. We found that the radiocesium was determined in 147 of 159 mushroom samples (92.4%). Based on the average mushroom consumption of Japanese citizens (6.28 kg per year), we calculated committed effective doses ranging from <0.001 to 0.6 mSv. Although committed effective doses are relatively limited, even if residents have consumed mushrooms several times, continuous monitoring of the radiocesium in mushrooms in Fukushima is needed for sustained recovery from the nuclear disaster.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makiko Orita
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institutte, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 8528523, Japan
| | - Kanami Nakashima
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institutte, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 8528523, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Taira
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institutte, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 8528523, Japan
| | - Toshiki Fukuda
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institutte, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 8528523, Japan
| | - Yoshiko Fukushima
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institutte, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 8528523, Japan.,Department of Nursing, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, 8528523, Japan
| | - Takashi Kudo
- Department of Radioisotope Medicine, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 8528523, Japan
| | - Yuko Endo
- Kawauchi Municipal Government, Fukushima, 9791201, Japan
| | - Shunichi Yamashita
- Department of Radiation Medical Sciences, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 8528523, Japan
| | - Noboru Takamura
- Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institutte, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 8528523, Japan.
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23
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Ogo S, Yamanaka T, Akama K, Ota Y, Tahara K, Nagakura J, Kinoshita A, Yamaji K. Growth and uptake of caesium, rubidium, and potassium by ectomycorrhizal and saprotrophic fungi grown on either ammonium or nitrate as the N source. Mycol Prog 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s11557-017-1317-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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24
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Hosokawa Y, Nomura K, Tsushima E, Kudo K, Noto Y, Nishizawa Y. Whole-Body Counter(WBC) and food radiocesium contamination surveys in Namie, Fukushima Prefecture. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0174549. [PMID: 28334042 PMCID: PMC5363944 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 03/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose This study examined the internal Cs exposure of residents and the Cs present in food products produced in Namie. Whole-body counter (WBC) was used for the measurement of internal exposure per each whole body of examinees. Methods The food products which appeared to be used for consumption, were brought by residents and commercially available food items were excluded. Most of them were wild plants or food items produced by residents. Four years of data from April 2012 to March 2013 (fiscal 2012) and April 2015 to March 2016 (Fiscal 2015) were analyzed and studied. Results The average radioactivity measured by WBC was approximately 5 Bq for Cs-134, and 20 Bq for Cs-137 and the average committed effective dose was approximately 1 μSv. The average for the residents with detectable radioactivity was 25 μSv, and the human health effects are considered to be extremely low risk. However, the radioactivity of the affected individuals showed a higher value than the theoretical attenuation rate. The majority (83.2%) of individuals exhibiting radioactivity were over 50 years old. The number of food products brought in for detection decreased as the study period progressed, but the number of food products with radioactivity had increased. While the items with a higher detection rate of radioactivity included fruits such as citron and persimmon, shiitake mushrooms exhibited the highest radioactivity. Moreover, the radioactivity of seven items in these 10 items decreased from fiscal 2012 to fiscal 2015. Mushrooms had high radioactivity and were produced over a wide area. Conclusion We suggest that the elderly try to enjoy life and eat wild plants in moderation while inspecting food products. Therefore, we will continue to work in raising awareness of radiation and its potential presence in food products and thus the continuing necessity of monitoring radioactivity in food in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoichiro Hosokawa
- Department of Radiation Science, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
- * E-mail:
| | - Kazuki Nomura
- Department of Radiation Science, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
| | - Eiki Tsushima
- Department of Comprehensive Rehabilitation Science, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
| | - Kohsei Kudo
- Department of Radiation Science, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
| | - Yuka Noto
- Department of Nursing Science, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
| | - Yoshiko Nishizawa
- Department of Nursing Science, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
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Murakami M, Sato A, Matsui S, Goto A, Kumagai A, Tsubokura M, Orita M, Takamura N, Kuroda Y, Ochi S. Communicating With Residents About Risks Following the Fukushima Nuclear Accident. Asia Pac J Public Health 2017; 29:74S-89S. [DOI: 10.1177/1010539516681841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The Fukushima nuclear accident in March 2011 posed major threats to public health. In response, medical professionals have tried to communicate the risks to residents. To investigate forms of risk communication and to share lessons learned, we reviewed medical professionals’ activities in Fukushima Prefecture from the prefectural level to the individual level: public communication through Fukushima Health Management Surveys, a Yorozu (“general”) health consultation project, communications of radiological conditions and health promotion in Iitate and Kawauchi villages, dialogues based on whole-body counter, and science communications through online media. The activities generally started with radiation risks, mainly through group-based discussions, but gradually shifted to face-to-face communications to address comprehensive health risks to individuals and well-being. The activities were intended to support residents’ decisions and to promote public health in a participatory manner. This article highlights the need for a systematic evaluation of ongoing risk communication practices, and a wider application of successful approaches for Fukushima recovery and for better preparedness for future disasters.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Akiko Sato
- United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Aya Goto
- Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | | | - Masaharu Tsubokura
- Soma Central Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
- Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
| | | | | | | | - Sae Ochi
- Soma Central Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
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26
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Radiocaesium contamination of bamboo shoots in Fukushima and surrounding regions after the Fukushima nuclear accident. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-016-4911-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Nagai S, Kawamura K, Kimura Y, Yoshii J, Ikeda R, Shimizu R. An advanced ionizing radiation monitoring network based on using SrI 2(Eu)/MPPC module. SURF INTERFACE ANAL 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/sia.6079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shigekazu Nagai
- Graduate School of Engineering; Mie University; 1577 Kurima-machiya Tsu Mie 514-8507 Japan
| | - Ken Kawamura
- Graduate School of Engineering; Osaka University; 2-1 Yamadaoka Suita Osaka 565-0871 Japan
| | - Yoshihide Kimura
- Graduate School of Engineering; Osaka University; 2-1 Yamadaoka Suita Osaka 565-0871 Japan
| | - Junji Yoshii
- CLOUDOH Inc.; 3015-2 Mihocho Yokohama Midori-ku Kanagawa 226-0015 Japan
| | - Renzo Ikeda
- Sky Technology Co. Ltd; 2-10-8 Takezono Tsukuba Ibaraki 305-0032 Japan
| | - Ryuichi Shimizu
- Office for University-Industry Collaboration; Osaka University; 2-1 Yamadaoka Suita Osaka 565-0871 Japan
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Orita M, Nakashima K, Hayashida N, Endo Y, Yamashita S, Takamura N. Concentrations of Radiocesium in Local Foods Collected in Kawauchi Village after the Accident at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station. Sci Rep 2016; 6:28470. [PMID: 27334847 PMCID: PMC4917854 DOI: 10.1038/srep28470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2016] [Accepted: 06/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We evaluated the current concentrations of radiocesium in local foods collected in Kawauchi Village, which is located less than 30 km from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, to minimize public anxiety regarding internal radiation exposure through the consumption of locally produced foods after the 2011 Fukushima accident. The number of samples exceeding the regulatory radiocesium limit (100 Bq/kg for general foods) was five out of 4,080 vegetables (0.1%), 652 of 1,986 (32.8%) among edible wild plants and fungi, and eight of 647 (1.2%) in fruits. Our study confirmed that the internal radiation doses of ingesting these foods are acceptably low compared to the public dose limit, ranging from 24.4 to 42.7 μSv for males and from 21.7 to 43.4 μSv for females, although the potential for radiation exposure still exists. Long-term comprehensive follow-up should take place to clarify trends in radiocesium concentrations in local foods and the committed effective doses found in Fukushima-area residents. By constructing a system that allows residents to access information on radiocesium concentration in foods, a risk communication model between specialists and residents could be developed in the recovery phase after the Fukushima accident.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makiko Orita
- Department of Global Health, Medicine, and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 8528523, Japan
| | - Kanami Nakashima
- Department of Global Health, Medicine, and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 8528523, Japan
| | - Naomi Hayashida
- Division of Strategic Collaborative Research, Center for Promotion of Collaborative Research on Radiation and Environment Health Effects, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 8528523, Japan
| | - Yuuko Endo
- Kawauchi Municipal Government, Fukushima 9791201, Japan
| | - Shunichi Yamashita
- Department of Radiation Medical Sciences, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 8528523, Japan
| | - Noboru Takamura
- Department of Global Health, Medicine, and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 8528523, Japan
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Affiliation(s)
- Noboru Takamura
- Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8523 Japan
| | - Makiko Orita
- Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8523 Japan
| | - Shunichi Yamashita
- Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8523 Japan
| | - Rethy Chhem
- Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8523 Japan
- Cambodia Development Resource Institute, Phnom Penh 622, Cambodia
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