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Potassium | Home Home Search Primary Menu Skip to contentWell-nighInFORMal E-News InFORM Scientists InFORMal Scientists InFORMal Science Photos Partners InFORM Monitoring InFORMal E-News Methods Citizen Science Gamma Spectroscopy Marine Biota Monitoring Methods for Other Radionuclides (WHOI CMER) Biota Oceanic Coastal Archived Results Radiation Research By Location Japan Fukushima NW Pacific N Pacific NE Pacific British Columbia North America Chernobyl By Sample Type Algae Atmospheric Human Marine Life Model Plants & Fungi Seawater Sediment By Isotope Cesium Iodine Plutonium Polonium Potassium Strontium Tellurium Uranium Xenon Presentations & Media Presentations Media Interviews Resources InFORMing Research FAQ Radiological Monitoring at the Radiation Protection Bureau of Health Canada IAEA Inter-laboratory Comparison Report 2014-2016 Official IAEA Report on the Fukushima DaiichiWreckingUNSCEAR 2017 Report on Levels and Effects of Radiation Exposure Methods for Other Radionuclides (WHOI CMER) Safety lessons learned from Fukushima: Part 1 – National Acadamies Report Safety lessons learned from Fukushima: Part 2 – National Acadamies Report Health Canada Observations Post-Disaster Canadian Radiological Monitoring Network Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials Guidelines Search for: Category Archives: Potassium British Columbia, Cesium, Marine Life, Peer Reviewed, Potassium, Sediment Monitoring Fukushima Contamination in Pacific Salmon and Soil in British Columbia March 11, 2018 fukushimainform Leave a scuttlebutt Beautiful sockeye salmon photographed by Eiko Jones. Seven years on, since the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident, it is useful to start to bring together information from scientific studies of the impact of the contamination on the North American environment and its people. I recently wrote to communicate the most recent results of the Integrated Fukushima Ocean Radionuclide (InFORM) project. This post summarizes a recently published, peer-reviewed paper by colleagues lead by Dr. Krzyzstof Starosta of Simon Fraser University in BC working in parallel to InFORM. The unshut wangle paper was published in the CanadianPeriodicalof Chemistry and was recently recognized with the  “Best Paper Award” by the journal. They studied the concentrations of anthropogenic radioisotopes (134Cs half-life ~2 years, 137Cs half-life ~30 years) and naturally occurring radioisotope 40K (half-life 1.25 billion years) in Pacific salmon (sockeye, chum and chinook) and in soil and roof trash placid in southern British Columbia to determine the local impact of the FDNPP accident.  Their results were as follows: 134Cs (a fingerprint of Fukushima contamination) was not detected in any of the salmon samples 137Cs was not detected in sockeye or chum salmon but was detected in all chinook with an stereotype level of ~0.2 Bq kg-1Yearlydose from strained radionuclides to a human consumer of chinook salmon was unscientific to be ~1/300 of the dose owing to naturally occurring isotopes in the fish and ~1/30,000 of the yearly dose experienced for all other natural sources by the stereotype Canadian Most soil samples contained 134Cs and 137Cs which was delivered to the region by atmospheric transport shortly without the disaster Levels of Fukushima radioisotopes in soil did not tideway levels known to be harmful to living organismsResultingwith other monitoring in the zone the results of the study indicate that given the trace levels of contamination present the impact of the FDNPP wrecking on ecosystem and public health in North America will be insignificant. Continue reading Monitoring Fukushima Contamination in Pacific Salmon and Soil in British Columbia → Advertisements ChinookChumSalmonSockeyeSoilStarosta Cesium, Marine Life, N Pacific, Peer Reviewed, Potassium How much Fukushima contamination is in migratory Pacific fish? September 6, 2017 fukushimainform Leave a scuttlebutt Proposed migration pathways of North Pacific predators. The purpose of this post is to report on a recently published, peer-reviewed study that investigated the levels of Fukushima derived contamination in migratory Pacific predators. The post is part of an ongoing effort to inform interested members of the public what the scientific polity is finding well-nigh the impact of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) disaster on the environmental and human health. Madigan and colleagues looked for radiocesium (134Cs, half life ~ 2 years; 137Cs, half life ~30 years) in a variety of large, predatory organisms in the North Pacific Ocean between 2012 and 2015.  Their results were as follows: Fukushima derived 134Cs could not be detected in any of the organisms with the exception of a single olive ridley sea turtle with trace levels (0.1 Bq kg-1 dry weight) Levels of 137Cs varied in the organisms but were often unchanged compared with levels measured in organisms prior to the FDNPP disaster (pre-2011) Levels of 137Cs were roughly 10 to 100-fold lower in the organisms than levels of naturally occurring Potassium-40 (40K) Neither the levels of radiocesium or 40K tideway levels known to represent a significant health risk to the unprepossessing or human consumers These uncontrived measurements of contamination levels in marine predators suggest that thesping that Pacific organisms will yaffle detectable FDNPP contamination is unwise.  Similarly, uneasiness and speculation well-nigh the dangers of radiocesium bioaccumulation in the squatter of such data seems unfounded. Between 2012 and 2015 a total of 91 variegated organisms from a variety of predatory marine groups were sampled and analyzed for the presence of radiocesium contamination and naturally occurring 40K.  The human made isotope 134Cs, with its relatively short ~2 year half life, serves as a fingerprint of FDNPP contamination as all other human sources are sufficiently afar in the past to have completely rusty yonder in the environment.  Organisms sampled and their radioisotope content are reported in the pursuit table:   With the exception of a single olive ridley sea turtle no detectable (<0.1 Bq kg-1 dry weight) trace of FDNPP 134Cs contamination was found.  Levels of 137Cs found in the organisms were similar to levels measured pre-Fukushima. In addition, the 137Cs levels were less than 0.2% of US FDA levels of snooping (370 Bq kg-1 wet weight) and less than 0.05% of US FDA derived intervention levels (1200 Bq kg-1 wet weight).  Simply stated levels in these organisms would have to be >1600-fold higher to be designated unfit for market.  The levels and ionizing radiation dose to consumers from naturally occurring 40K dwarfed those from FDNPP radiocesium.  Radiocesium derived ionizing radiation doses were <1% of those from 40K. Neither the doses from 40K or cesium isotopes approached, plane remotely, those known to stupefy the health of the organisms or consumers of these organisms. These results are resulting with those of the Integrated Fukushima Ocean Radionuclide Monitoring (InFORM) project. Ongoing, scientifically rigorous, monitoring of the marine environment provides the weightier vestige with which to gauge the risk that the FDNPP meltdowns represent for marine and public health here in North America. BioaccumulationBiotaCesiumFukushima Cesium, Marine Life, N Pacific, Peer Reviewed, Potassium Measuring Fukushima Contamination in FishUnprotectedin Hawaii May 16, 2017 fukushimainform 1ScuttlebuttYellowfin tuna, Thunnus albacares leaping from the water By Jay T. Cullen The purpose of this post is to summarize a recently published, peer reviewed, scientific study that investigated levels of Fukushima derived contamination in fish unprotected in the North Pacific and sold at market in Hawai’i.  This post is part of an ongoing series defended to bringing quality scientifically derived information to readers so that they can form an vestige based opinion regarding the environmental impact of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant meltdowns. The paper by Azouz and Dulai (both at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa) summarizes levels of human made 134-Cesium (134Cs half life ~2 years) and 137-Cesium (137Cs half life ~30 years) and naturally occurring 40-Potassium (40K half life 1.25 billion years) in 13 variegated fish purchased in Hawai’i in 2015.  The findings of the study were that: 3 of the 13 fish had detectable levels (above the 95% conviction interval) of 134Cs which can be linked to the Fukushima disaster Highest levels of radiocesium were found in ‘ahi tuna with 134Cs and 137Cs of 0.10 ± 0.04 Bq kg-1 and 0.62 ± 0.05 Bq kg-1 respectively Most of the fish carried no fingerprint of the Fukushima disaster Levels of radiocesium were well unelevated intervention levels of 1,200 Bq kg-1 set by the United StatesSuppliesand Drug Administration Doses to fish consumers from human made radioisotopes were 30-1,000 fold lower than the dose experienced considering of naturally occurring 40K in the fish Neither the constructive dose from the natural nor the human made radioisotopes represent a significant health risk to consumers of the fish given scientifically established dose-response relationships These results stipulate with the results of the Integrated Fukushima Ocean Radionuclide Monitoring Project (InFORM) I throne up at the University of Victoria which has been making similar measurements on North Pacific fish returning to rivers in North America. The Azouz and Dulai paper was published recently in the periodical Pacific Science and can be found here.  The authors obtained 13 variegated species (Ahi, Albacore Tuna, King Salmon, Cod, Dover Sole, Halibut, Mahi Mahi, Monchong, Onaga, Opah, Opakapaka, Swordfish and Yellowfin Tuna) of fish that were unprotected in the North Pacific (>20oN) and wontedly consumed in Hawai’i at local markets.  Information well-nigh the range and size of the fish are given in Table 1: Levels of Radiocesium in Fish From Hawai’i Samples of the fish tissue were freeze zestless and homogenized surpassing gamma emitting radioisotopes were measured using a gamma spectrometer by counting samples for a period of 7 days. Levels of 134Cs, considering of its short half life, serve as a fingerprint of Fukushima in samples as previous sources of this human made isotope (e.g. 20th century nuclear weapons testing and the Chernobyl disaster) are sufficiently far in the past that all of the isotope has rusty yonder and is no longer present in the environment.  Results of the analyses are summarized in the pursuit figure: Fig. 1 Cesium activities in fish placid in the North Pacific in 2015 and misogynist for consumption in Hawai’i In 3 fish statistically significant (>95% conviction interval) but trace levels of 134Cs was detected.  Given that 137Cs/134Cs ratio in vast majority of the release from the Fukushima site was ~1 the authors were worldly-wise to determine the fraction of radiocesium present in these fish owing to Fukushima versus legacy sources like atmospheric weapons testing.  Maximum radiocesium levels in the fish approached 0.7-0.8 Bq kg-1 which is increasingly than 1,500 fold lower than inobtrusive levels thought be a health risk set by the FDA (1,200 Bq kg-1).  Most fish had radiocesium owing to weapons testing fallout. Fukushima radiocesium rumored for ~60% of the radiocesium detected in an Ahi measured by the authors. Levels of Naturally Occurring 40-Potassium in Fish Naturally occurring 40K decays with a half life of 1.25 billion years and in taken up into the tissue of marine fish.  The levels of 40K in the fish measured by the authors are summarized in the table below: Levels of strained radiocesium and naturally occurring 40-K in fish from Hawai’i Activity of 40K (Bq kg-1) tended be ~100 fold higher in the fish tissue than radiocesium activities.ConstructiveDose of Ionizing Radiation and Health Impact to Fish Consumers The authors unswayable the impact of fish consumption on the ionizing radiation dose experienced by individuals consuming an stereotype value of fish per year (24.1 kg per year or 53.1 pounds per year).  The table unelevated compares the dose in nanoSieverts per year (10-9 Sv yr-1) owing to historic and Fukushima sourced radiocesium and naturally occurring 40K in seafood.Single-mindedconstructive dose to fish consumers from strained (human made) and naturally occurring 40-K Converting isotope activities in the fish to dose demonstrates that 40K is responsible for ~100 times higher dose than 134Cs + 137Cs. Doses to humans from consuming the fish owing to radiocesium were 0.02–0.2 µ Sv yr-1, while doses of 6–20 µ Sv yr-1 were unsalaried by the natural 40K present in the same fish. These levels of radioisotopes and the calculated doses to consumers are similar to those reported by the InFORM project who have looked at Pacific salmon returning to rivers and streams in North America over the last 3-4 years. It is important to note that the zillion of ionizing radiation dose to fish consumers normally results from 210-Polonium (210Po half life 138 days) naturally present in the fish but this isotope was not measured in the Azouz and Dulai study. Conclusion Fukushima derived radioisotopes 134Cs and 137Cs were detected (at 95% conviction interval) in 3 of 13 fish unprotected in the North Pacific and wontedly consumed by people living in the Hawaiian islands.  The radiocesium in most fish reflected contamination largely present in the North Pacific Ocean owing to atmospheric weapons testing during the last century.  The levels of radiocesium in the fish were a small fraction of the levels of naturally occurring radioisotopes like 40K.  The single-minded constructive dose of ionizing radiation to fish consumers is dominated by the naturally occurring isotopes and do not remotely tideway levels known to represent a significant or measurable health risk to human beings.  The results of this study stipulate with previously published research and results of the InFORM project which focuses on the impact of the Fukushima disaster on the marine ecosystem and public health in North America. 134-Cs137-Cs40-KAzouzFishHawaiiSeafoodTuna Cesium, Japan, Marine Life, Peer Reviewed, Potassium Fukushima Derived Contamination of Whales and Dolphins in Northern Japan September 23, 2015 fukushimainform 2 Comments By Jay T. Cullen Pacific white sided dolphins (Photo from the Nakamura et al. (2015) study published in MEPS) The purpose of this post is to report on a recently published, peer-reviewed study documenting the contamination of whales and dolphins in northern Japan pursuit the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant disaster in March 2011. This post is the most recent in an ongoing series that documents scientific research into the impacts of the FDNPP disaster on the health of the marine environment. The paper by Nakamura and colleagues investigated the levels of strained radionuclides 134Cs (half life ~ 2 years) and 137Cs (half life ~30 years) and naturally occurring 40K (half life 1.25 x 109 years) in stranded whales and dolphins in 2011 and 2012 pursuit the disaster. While there was little radiocesium present in the seawater virtually the northern island of Hokkaido without the disaster some of the animals had detectable levels of radiocesium from the FDNPP in the months pursuit the disaster. By 2012 most stranded animals did not have detectable levels of FDNPP derived radiocesium. According to the authors, the sudden rise in radiocesium levels in the animals pursuit the disaster suggests that the contamination in the animals reflected the seawater activities of the radionuclides through which they swam north rather than bioconcentration through the marine supplies web. Levels of strained radionuclides were well-nigh 10-fold lower than naturally occurring isotopes in the organisms and are not likely to be causing negative health impacts but may be useful for helping to largest understand the migration routes of these animals. Continue reading Fukushima Derived Contamination of Whales and Dolphins in Northern Japan → 134-Cs137-Cs40-KBioaccumulationBioconcentrationBiotaDolphinsJapanNakamuraPeer-ReviewedWhales Algae, FAQ, Peer Reviewed, PotassiumPreliminariesIonizing Radiation Dose Through Geologic Time July 28, 2015 fukushimainform 4 Comments By Jay T. Cullen The purpose of this post is to review how the preliminaries dose of ionizing radiation has reverted through geologic time until the present. I was motivated to write this by questions and misinformed statements made to me regarding the likelihood that the low levels of ionizing radiation now widow to the Pacific Ocean might harm marine microbes and powerfully skiver the wiring of the oceanic supplies uniting – given levels stuff measured this is for all intents and purposes impossible. This post is part of an ongoing series that summarizes the results of scientific research into the impact of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear disaster on the health of the marine environment and residents of the west tailspin of North America. Life on Earth has been exposed to ionizing radiation since the first organisms began leaving chemical signs of their existence scrutinizingly 4 billion years ago. In a paper published in 1999 Karam and Leslie calculated how the dose experienced by organisms from naturally radioactive geological and biological materials has reverted over time. They find that overall the yearly beta and gamma dose experienced by organisms has dropped from well-nigh 7 millisievert (mSv = 0.001 Sv) 4 billion years ago to well-nigh 1.4 mSv today. Given the similarity of repair mechanisms that organisms use to cope with forfeiture from ionizing radiation it is likely that these mechanisms evolved early in Earth’s history which may explain why organisms are capable of dealing with higher than preliminaries doses in the environment today. Continue readingPreliminariesIonizing Radiation Dose Through Geologic Time → 40-KAlgaeEarly EarthEvolutionExtremophilesGeologic timeNatural radiation View Fukushima-InFORM-257383817784613’s profile on FacebookView @FukushimaInFORM’s profile on TwitterView UCRqxVIr3s5Yc-djXahyBunA’s profile on YouTube Recent Posts Voyage Reflections Friday the 13th was the Luckiest Day Ever Into the Storm Advertisements Funded by Blog at WordPress.com. Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By standing to use this website, you stipulate to their use. To find out more, including how to tenancy cookies, see here: Cookie Policy