Research groups at the Fukushima Prefectural Environmental Creation Center, Wildlife Symbiosis Center, National Institute for Environmental Studies, and Tokyo Agricultural University have found that the radioactivity of wildworms in and around the difficult-to-return area of Fukushima Prefecture after the accident at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. A five-year long-term, wide-area monitoring survey was conducted on the cesium concentration.
According to a monitoring survey conducted after the nuclear accident in March 2011, the concentration of wild boar in the muscle was higher than that of other wild animal species, and there was concern about its dispersal to other regions.Therefore, elucidation of the current state and fluctuations of the radioactive cesium concentration of wild boars in the difficult-to-return area was important for understanding the dynamics of radioactive cesium throughout Fukushima Prefecture and managing the number of wild boars, but it has been difficult to return for a long time. No monitoring survey was conducted over the entire area.
The research group conducted a long-term monitoring survey of radioactive cesium concentration for about 2016 years from January 1 using muscle samples of wild boar captured in difficult-to-return areas.
As a result, the concentration of radioactive cesium in the muscle of the wild boar in the difficult-to-return area remained higher than that of the wild boar outside the area.In addition, there was a large variation among individuals in the difficult-to-return area.In addition, it turned out that it is on a slight downward trend as it ages.In addition, wild boar radiocesium concentrations in difficult-to-return areas tended to be low during the summer months of August and September and high during the winter months of February.
The research group said that it is necessary to grasp the long-term dynamics of radioactive cesium related to wild boars, and by conducting a survey focusing on the movement of wild boars inside and outside the difficult-to-return zone, the research group found out about the dynamics of radioactive cesium via wild boars. It is necessary to obtain knowledge that contributes to the management of wild boars.
Paper information:[Scientific Reports] Monitoring of radioactive cesium in wild boars captured inside the difficult-to-returnzone in Fukushima Prefecture over a five-year period
