Radiostrontium in the western North Pacific: characteristics, behavior, and the Fukushima impact

Environ Sci Technol. 2012 Sep 18;46(18):10356-63. doi: 10.1021/es301997c. Epub 2012 Aug 27.

Abstract

The impact of the Fukushima-derived radiostrontium ((90)Sr and (89)Sr) on the western North Pacific Ocean has not been well established, although (90)Sr concentrations recorded in surface seawater offshore of the damaged Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant were in some areas comparable to or even higher than (as those in December 2011 with 400 kBq m(-3)(90)Sr) the (137)Cs levels. The total amount of (90)Sr released to the marine environment in the form of highly radioactive wastewater could reach about 1 PBq. Long-term series (1960-2010) of (90)Sr concentration measurements in subtropical surface waters of the western North Pacific indicated that its concentration has been decreasing gradually with a half-life of 14 y. The pre-Fukushima (90)Sr levels in surface waters, including coastal waters near Fukushima, were estimated to be 1 Bq m(-3). To better assess the impact of about 4-5 orders of magnitude increased radiostrontium levels on the marine environment, more detail measurements in seawater and biota of the western North Pacific are required.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Earthquakes*
  • Japan
  • Nuclear Power Plants*
  • Pacific Ocean
  • Radioactive Hazard Release*
  • Strontium Radioisotopes / analysis*
  • Tsunamis*
  • Water Pollution, Radioactive / analysis*

Substances

  • Strontium Radioisotopes