Isotopic ratio of 135Cs/137Cs in Fukushima environmental samples collected in 2011

Abstract

The isotopic ratios of radioactive cesium derived from the Fukushima accident were determined by γ-spectrometry and thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS). In order to ascertain the initial ratios at the time of the accident, environmental samples collected during 2011 were used for the analysis. Soil, litter, and seaweed were incinerated, and the cesium contained therein was adsorbed into ammonium phosphomolybdate powder. The cesium in the seawater was adsorbed into AMP-PAN resin (Eichrom Technologies, LLC); its recovery ratio was almost one without the carrier being added. Incinerated samples and the AMP-PAN resin were then measured by γ-spectrometry. The cesium solution recovered from adsorbers was subjected to TIMS measurements. The isotopic ratios of 134Cs/137Cs and 135Cs/137Cs were found to be independent of the type of sample in question, as well as the sampling location; the ratios were 0.07 and 0.36 (decay correction: 11 March 2011), respectively, which differ from the results of atmospheric nuclear tests (i.e., 0 and 2.7, respectively). This difference in the ratio of 135Cs/137Cs will contribute to estimations of the origin of radioactive contamination in the future.