Cesium-137 deposition and contamination of Japanese soils due to the Fukushima nuclear accident

The largest concern on the cesium-137 ((137)Cs) deposition and its soil contamination due to the emission from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) showed up after a massive quake on March 11, 2011. Cesium-137 ((137)Cs) with a half-life of 30.1 y causes the largest concerns because of its deleterious effect on agriculture and stock farming, and, thus, human life for decades. Removal of (137)Cs contaminated soils or land use limitations in areas where removal is not possible is, therefore, an urgent issue. A challenge lies in the fact that estimates of (137)Cs emissions from the Fukushima NPP are extremely uncertain, therefore, the distribution of (137)Cs in the environment is poorly constrained.…

• NA
  National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• MS
  Morgan State University
• KU
  Kindai University
• US
  Universities Space Research Association
• MO
  Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
• MO
  Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
• GS
  Goddard Space Flight Center