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image/svg+xml Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Closed Access logo, derived from PLoS Open Access logo. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Closed_Access_logo_transparent.svg Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Environmental Pollut...arrow_drop_down
image/svg+xml Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Closed Access logo, derived from PLoS Open Access logo. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Closed_Access_logo_transparent.svg Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao
Environmental Pollution
Article . 2025 . Peer-reviewed
License: Elsevier TDM
Data sources: Crossref
https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5...
Article . 2024 . Peer-reviewed
Data sources: Crossref
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Elevated Levels of Tritium in Surface Water Collected in the Immediate Aftermath of the Fukushima Accident

Authors: Khemruthai Kheamsiri; Donovan Anderson; Hirofumi Tazoe; Kazusa Okada; Nao Otashiro; Haruka Kuwata; Hideki Kakiuchi; +4 Authors

Elevated Levels of Tritium in Surface Water Collected in the Immediate Aftermath of the Fukushima Accident

Abstract

The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident in 2011, triggered by the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, released a substantial amount of radionuclides into the environment, including approximately 2.7 PBq of 137Cs and 200-210 TBq of tritium (3H). While extensive research has reported 137Cs concentrations across various environmental media, data on 3H levels in water resources immediately following the accident remain limited. This study examines 3H concentrations in terrestrial surface water collected from one week to 100 days post-accident. 3H concentrations ranged from 0.3 to 267.8 Bq L-1, with the highest levels exceeding typical background concentrations (0.5-2 Bq L-1) by a factor of 200. The highest 3H concentration (267.8 Bq L-1) was measured in snowmelt collected 100 km from the FDNPP one week after the accident, suggesting that snowfall effectively deposited atmospheric 3H. By one-month post-accident, all surface water samples showed 3H levels consistent with natural background concentrations, indicating rapid dispersion and dilution. No correlation was found between 137Cs and 3H concentrations, likely due to their differing deposition mechanisms and environmental behaviors. An annual effective dose estimation, based on the ingestion of the most contaminated sample (snowmelt), was 3.5 × 10-3 Sv y-1-286 times lower than the 1 mSv annual dose limit for the general public.

Keywords

Water Pollutants, Radioactive, Japan, Radiation Monitoring, Cesium Radioisotopes, Fukushima Nuclear Accident, Tritium

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
4
Top 10%
Average
Top 10%
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