Content of Man-Caused Radionuclides in Shrubs and Mushrooms in the Area Affected by the Mining-and-Chemical Combine (the Krasnoyarskii Krai) (probably available in English)

Author: Dementyev Dmitry V., Bolsunovsky Alexander Ya.

Reference: Journal of Siberian Federal University

ISSN: 1997-1389          

DOI: 579.5:539.752+577(T2-575):582.16

Keywords: radionuclides; transfer factor; mushrooms; shrubs

Abstract: The study addresses accumulation of radionuclides by mushrooms and berry shrubs from the forest soil in the area around the Mining-and-Chemical Combine (the Krasnoyarskii Krai, Russia). The Suillus granulatus and S. luteus mushrooms have been found to be the best bioindicators in this area. The level of 137Cs concentration in these species can reach 10 kBq/kg dry mass. The 137Cs transfer factor (TF) by the mushrooms varies 5-fold among the sites that receive radionuclides from different sources. The level of radionuclide activities accumulated by berry shrubs is 2-3 orders of magnitude lower than the activities accumulated by mushrooms. Based on the calculated TFs, the distribution of 137Cs and 60Co among the parts of these shrubs is as follows: branches

URL: http://journal.sfu-kras.ru/en/article/1460/178

Determination of 99Tc deposited on the ground within the 30-km zone around the chernobyl reactor and estimation of 99Tc released into atmosphere by the accident

Title: Determination of 99Tc deposited on the ground within the 30-km zone around the chernobyl reactor and estimation of 99Tc released into atmosphere by the accident

Author: S. Uchida, K. Tagami, W. Rühm, E. Wirth

Reference: Chemosphere, Volume 39, Issue 15, December 1999, Pages 2757-2766

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0045-6535(99)00210-6

Keywords: Technetium-99; Chernobyl accident; Forest soil; Deposition; Cesium-137; Migration

Abstract: Technetium-99 was determined in samples from the 30-km zone around the Chernobyl reactor. Concentrations of ⁹⁹Tc in soil samples taken from three forest sites ranged from 1.1 to 14.1 Bq kg⁻¹ dry weight for the organic soil layers, and from 0.13 to 0.83 Bq kg⁻¹ dry weight for the mineral soil layers. In particular, for the organic layers, the measured ⁹⁹Tc concentrations were one or two orders of magnitude higher than those due to global fallout ⁹⁹Tc. The ⁹⁹Tc depositions (Bq m⁻²), based on the sum of the depositions measured in organic and mineral layers, ranged from 130 Bq m⁻² within the 10-km zone to about 20 Bq m⁻² close to the border of the 30-km zone. Taking the corresponding measured ¹³⁷Cs depositions into account, it was found that the activity ratio of ranged from 6 × 10⁻⁵ to 1.2 × 10⁻⁴. It was estimated that about 970 GBq of ⁹⁹Tc had been released by the Chernobyl accident. This figure corresponded to 2%–3% of the total ⁹⁹Tc inventory in the core.

URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653599002106

Concentration levels of technetium-99 in forest soils collected within the 30-km zone around the Chernobyl reactor

Title: Concentration levels of technetium-99 in forest soils collected within the 30-km zone around the Chernobyl reactor

Author: S Uchida, K Tagami, E Wirth, W Rühm

Reference: Environmental Pollution, Volume 105, Issue 1, April 1999, Pages 75-77

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0269-7491(98)00210-3

Keywords: Technetium-99; Chernobyl accident; Forest soil; Cesium-137; ICP-MS

Abstract: Technetium-99 (⁹⁹Tc) concentrations in surface soil samples collected from three forest sites within the 30-km zone around the Chernobyl reactor were determined. A simple and rapid analytical method, which consists of volatilizing and trapping Tc in a combustion apparatus, purifying the Tc with an extraction chromatographic resin and measuring it by ICP-MS, was used for the determination. The concentrations of ⁹⁹Tc in the samples ranged from 1.1 to 14.1 Bq kg⁻¹ on an air-dried soil basis. The activities of the nuclide in the soils around the Chernobyl reactor were one or two orders of magnitude higher than in other areas which were less affected by the accident. The activity ratios of ⁹⁹Tc/¹³⁷Cs ratios in the soils were calculated as on the order of 3.7×10⁻⁵ to 1.3×10⁻⁴.

URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749198002103

A long-term field study on the effect of acid irrigation and compensatory liming on the transport of Chernobyl-derived radiocesium in a forest soil

• Title: A long-term field study on the effect of acid irrigation and compensatory liming on the transport of Chernobyl-derived radiocesium in a forest soil

Author: Schimmack, W. / Bunzl, K. / Kreutzer, K.

Reference: Science of The Total Environment, 198 (3), p.271-285, May 1997

doi: 10.1016/S0048-9697(97)05454-5

Keywords: Radiocesium; Chernobyl; Forest soil; Migration; Acid rain; Liming

Abstract: The effect of acid irrigation with and without liming on the vertical transport of Chernobyl-derived ¹³⁴Cs in the soil was investigated in a Norway spruce stand by field experiments. For this purpose seven plots with different treatments were established. After 5 years of observation to detect differences in the residence half-time’s of ¹³⁴Cs in the various soil horizons with respect to the control sites, the plots were sampled at 18 individual pits. No effect on the residence half-time of ¹³⁴Cs was observed for ‘normal’ irrigation (pH 5.3) as compared to the control in all organic horizons.

URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969797054545

Vertical radionuclide transfer by infiltration water in forest soils in the 30-km Chernobyl accident zone.

• Title: Vertical radionuclide transfer by infiltration water in forest soils in the 30-km Chernobyl accident zone.

Author: Kliashtorin, A L / Tikhomirov, F A / Shcheglov, A I

Reference: The Science of the total environment, 157 (1-3), p.285-288, Dec 1994

doi:

Keywords:

Abstract: Vertical intrasoil flow within the 30-km zone of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (ChNPP) was investigated by a lysimetric method in 1989-1990. The regularity of radionuclide migration within the flow has been found to be dependent on the contamination density, the type of radionuclide, and the type of ecosystem and depth.

URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7839115?dopt=Abstract

Radionuclides in the liquid phase of the forest soils at the Chernobyl accident zone.

• Title: Radionuclides in the liquid phase of the forest soils at the Chernobyl accident zone.

Author: Agapkina, G I / Tikhomirov, F A

Reference: The Science of the total environment, 157 (1-3), p.267-273, Dec 1994

doi: 10.1016/S0265-931X(99)00037-5

Keywords:

Abstract: The relative content (alpha) of 137Cs (1987-1991), 106Ru, 134Cs, 144Ce (1987) and the chemical speciation of radionuclides in the liquid phase of forest soils at different plots in the 30-km Chernobyl zone were studied. One year after the accident, substantial variations in the alpha-value between the different plots and a variation in alpha along the soil profile were observed due to unequal physico-chemical properties of nuclear fallout and soils. The alpha-value calculated for the total contaminated layer (alpha av) at different plots varied within relatively narrow limits.

URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7839114?dopt=Abstract