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BOOKLET to Provide Basic Information Regarding Health Effects of Radiation (4th edition)
Chapter 4 Concept of Radiological Protection 4.4 Long-term Effects

Behavior of Radioactive Cesium in the Environment: Outflow from Forest Soil

Behavior of Radioactive Cesium in the Environment: Outflow from Forest Soil_Figure

Radioactive materials that adhered to tree leaves and branches immediately after the accident have transferred to the mulch layer and soil on the forest floor over time. At present, approx. 80% is retained in the soil surface layer and is strongly fixed in mineral soil (p.180 of Vol. 1, “Behavior of Radioactive Cesium in the Environment: Adsorption and Fixation by Clay Mineral”).

Surveys conducted so far revealed that the annual outflow rate of Cs-137 from forest soil is around 0.02% to 0.3% of the total amount of Cs-137 deposited on nearby watershed soil.

Reference

  • The material for the 16th meeting of the Environment Recovery Committee
  • Included in this reference material on March 31, 2017
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