Radioactive hot spots found in seabed as far away as Miyagi

[AsahinaKimi]

Deep dip: Researchers drop a spectrometer into the sea near Sendai Bay to measure suboceanic concentrations of cesium-137. | COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE/NATIONAL MARITIME RESEARCH INSTITUTE

by Tomohiro Osaki

Staff Writer
A research team led by the University of Tokyo has found more than 30 concentrations of radioactive cesium in the first full-fledged study of the isotope’s accumulation on the seabed near the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant, scientists said Wednesday.

The research, spearheaded by the university’s Institute of Industrial Science, found that cesium-137, which has a half-life of 30 years, tends to get absorbed by clayish soil and concentrate in seabed depressions.

For example, a hot spot 70 meters wide was discovered 32 meters below the ocean surface 5.9 km from the plant.

The team said it found soil there containing radioactive cesium concentrations of 651 becquerels per kilogram.

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Note: Distance between Fukushima and Miyagi Prefecture is 66.42 km.
This distance is equal to 41.27 miles, and 35.84 nautical miles.