Event: BrIAS Talks Radiocesium contamination in agricultural products.
Host: Brussels Institute for Advanced Studies
Date: 23 February 2022
#radiocesium #agriculture #agriculturalproducts #farming #briastalks
BrIAS Talks Radiocesium contamination in agricultural products.
Speaker: Prof. Dr. Natsuko Kobayashi (The University of Tokyo)
Abstract
Eleven years ago, a powerful earthquake occurred in Japan. It generated a tsunami that hit the nuclear power plant located along the coast of Fukushima Prefecture.
Consequently, a series of hydrogen explosions in three reactors caused radionuclides release. These radionuclides deposited on the ground and had tangible and intangible impacts on people life. Agricultural, forestry, and marine sector activities were affected. The Fukushima Prefecture suffered the most from farmland contamination. Before the disaster, that prefecture ranked ninth for fruit and beef cattle production, and fourth for rice production values in Japan.
In order to control radiation exposure through dietary sources, the Japanese government set new regulation for radiocesium (134Cs and 137Cs) in food. Scientists and farmers worked together to identify factors affecting the amount of radiocesium in agricultural products, and to develop countermeasures to limit further contamination.
In this presentation, the focus will be on peach orchard and rice paddies sectors, on the learned lessons and future challenges.
About BrIAS
The newly founded Brussels Institute for Advanced Studies (BrIAS), co-founded by the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) will act as an incubator of ideas and research by focusing on current and urgent societal challenges. Located in the heart of Brussels, it attracts the very best scientists, artists or designers, coming from various fields or countries and without any philosophical restrictions. It provides the opportunity to work in an atmosphere of complete freedom, collaboration, mutual emulation and cross-fertilisation. BrIAS facilitates collaborations with countries facing critical challenges pertaining to sustainability. For more information about BrIAS and our current research theme The past, present and future of food, climate and sustainability follow us on:
Website: brias.be
LinkedIn / vub-ulb-brias-be
Facebook / brussels-institute-for...
KZread: / @briastalks