Drinking high-energy electrolytic water decreases internal radiation exposure caused by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear power plant disaster

Abstract

The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant disaster on March 11, 2011, caused radiation hazards throughout Fukushima Prefecture. Cesium was absorbed by soil and plants and transferred to livestock. Removing radioactive cesium from the bodies of farm animals and humans is essential. It has recently been reported that H2 scavenges reactive oxygen species and suppresses oxidative stress-related diseases. The hypothesis is that “active hydrogen” (hydrogen water) scavenges active oxygen species. We hypothesized that high-energy electrolytic hydrogen water will effectively decontaminate cesium-exposed chickens. A test group of chickens drank high-energy electrolytic hydrogen water, while the control group drank regular water. Cesium contents in the test group were significantly lower than in the controlled one, possibly because more cesium excretion occurred in the test group than the control group. Lower 137Cs concentrations were found in test-group tissues than in control-group tissues, showing that high-energy electrolytic hydrogen water increased the rate of elimination of 137Cs incorporated into chicken tissue.

Keywords

• cesium
• internal exposure
• decontamination
• high-energy electrolytic