Radioactive cesium accumulation in the body of sika deer inhabiting the Oku-Nikko and Ashio regions of Tochigi prefecture in 2012

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  • Koganezawa Masaaki
    Utsunomiya University Forests, Faculty of Agriculture, Utsunomiya University
  • Tamura Yoshitada
    Graduate School of Agriculture, Utsunomiya University
  • Okuda Kei
    Satoyama Science Research Center, Faculty of Agriculture, Utsunomiya University
  • Fukui Emiko
    Faculty of Agriculture, Utsunomiya University

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Other Title
  • 栃木県奥日光および足尾地域のニホンジカにおける放射性セシウムの体内蓄積, 2012年
  • トチギケン オクニッコウ オヨビ アシオ チイキ ノ ニホンジカ ニ オケル ホウシャセイ セシウム ノ タイナイ チクセキ,2012ネン

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In 2011, radioactive cesium (^<134>Cs+^<137>Cs) fallout after the Fukushima nuclear accident reached 10,000-30,000 Bq・m^<-2> and 30,000-60,000 Bq・m^<-2>, respectively, in Oku-Nikko and Ashio located 160 km southwest of the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Central Japan. To obtain basic data in elucidating the dynamics of radioactive cesium in the forest ecosystem and its impacts on wildlife in the future, we investigated radioactive cesium concentrations in a total of nine sample categories, including muscles, organs, and gastrointestinal contents obtained from 80 sika deers (Cervus nippon) captured from the Oku-Nikko and Ashio during February and March 2012. We also examined radioactive cesium concentrations in eight food plants consumed by the deer in these regions during the winter period. The investigation revealed that radioactive cesium concentration was highest in the rectal contents in samples from both regions, followed by ruminal contents, muscles, kidneys, liver, heart, lungs, fetus, and amniotic fluids. This elucidated that radioactive cesium was accumulated in the entire body of the deer. Moreover, a prominent difference was found in the radioactive cesium accumulation trend between the deer in the Oku-Nikko and Ashio. We believe this was caused due to variations in the precipitation amount of radioactive cesium and winter food sources in these regions. Additionally, for both regions, radioactive cesium concentration in the rectal contents was higher than that in the ruminal contents and the eight food plants. This suggests that sika deer plays a key role in transferring radioactive cesium through food intake, digestion, and absorption.

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