A new perspective on the 137Cs retention mechanism in surface soils during the early stage after the Fukushima nuclear accident

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident caused serious radiocesium ( 137 Cs) contamination of the soil in multiple terrestrial ecosystems. Soil is a complex system where minerals, organic matter, and microorganisms interact with each other; therefore, an improved understanding of the interactions of 137 Cs with these soil constituents is key to accurately assessing the environmental consequences of the accident. Soil samples were...