Contamination and Transfer of Radiocesium in Soil Ecosystem

The fate of radio-Cs contamination in forest ecosystem after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident was reviewed. First the fallout contaminated aboveground part of the forest, and then most of the contaminants moved downward in the forest and finally accumulated in the very surface layer of soil. Although any acute effect of radiation to forest organisms was not observed, soil organisms were contaminated via habitat and food. Feeding habit of soil organisms well reflected species-specific time-course changes in body contamination of radio-Cs. Mycoextraction of radio-Cs is promising method to rehabilitate contaminated forest floor using wood chips.