Abstract
Where will the radioactive materials which have been released by the accident of March 2011 at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant and deposited in the mountains and forests move to?
We followed the Abukuma River from its head and collected samples of soil and river water for which we measured radiocesium concentrations.
If radiocesium moves from mountain and forest areas in rain, snow and eroded soil into the river, the radiocesium may be deposited in new places and may create new radiation hotspots. It is important to know the possible routes radiocesium may be moving on. Furthermore, decontaminating the polluted river may be a concern.
We report on our investigation of radioactive contamination in the basin of Abukuma River and its branches, including how much radiocesium is flowing through the river and where it goes to.
