Japanese Media: Radioactive Cesium Particles from Fukushima Carried Deep into Soil by Earthworms
Agence Kyodo, August 1: Research by a team from Kyoto University and others shows that fine particles containing high concentrations of radioactive cesium—known as "cesium balls"—released during the nuclear leak at Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant have been absorbed by earthworms living in forests around Fukushima, along with surface leaf litter, and transported deep into the soil.
The transfer process of some glass-like fine particles has been revealed. These particles are insoluble in water. Cesium is the primary radioactive element leaked during the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident. It exists in the form of tiny particles and ions, most of which accumulate just a few centimeters below the soil surface and generally do not easily migrate underground.
In samples collected in 2025, cesium fine particles were found in the digestive tracts of 39 out of 52 earthworms examined. When observing vertical soil cross-sections, researchers discovered that 95% of the fine particles were concentrated within 3 cm of the ground surface, while cesium particles were also detected at a depth of 15.5 cm below ground level.
These cesium particles found deep beneath the surface were brought down into the soil by earthworms during their burrowing activities and excreted underground.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1872388036792329/
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