Radiocesium in Ponds in the Near Zone of Fukushima Dai-ichi NPP

The article presents the results of studying radiocesium concentration and distribution between dissolved and particulate forms in ponds in the near zone of Fukushima Dai-ichi NPP NPP after the 2011 accident. The total concentration of 137Cs in pond water and its variations are shown to be largely governed by the concentration of particulate matter being as high as 68 Bq/L, compared with 5 Bq/L in solution. The values of the distribution coefficient Kd in the ponds are similar to those in rivers and in large flow-through lakes in the accidentally polluted zone at Fukushima Dai-ichi NPP. The contributions of the main competing ions K+ and NH4+ to radiocesium desorption from solid particles into solution were similar for the ponds; however, their relative effect on dissolved radiocesium concentration varied over time because of variations in ammonium concentration.