Effective Microorganisms as a Potential Tool for the Remediation of 137 Cs-contaminated Soils

During the development of a method using effective microorganisms (EM) to reduce the soil-to-plant transfer of 137 Cs on land contaminated with radioactive Cs, an unexpected effect of EM on the reduction of the 137 Cs activity in soil samples was observed. Laboratory experiments were then conducted to evaluate the impact of EM and fermented organic fertilizer (EM Bokashi) on the 137 Cs activity in soil samples to investigate this observation. The experimental results indicate an increase in the 137 Cs decay rate of up to 4 times the theoretical decay rate corresponding to the half-life of 137 Cs, which is equal to 30.17 years. Our results suggest that EM accelerates the radioactive decay of 137 Cs in soil.