Lichen (sp. Cladonia ) as a deposition indicator for transuranium elements investigated with the Chernobyl fallout

Title: Lichen (sp. Cladonia ) as a deposition indicator for transuranium elements investigated with the Chernobyl fallout

Author: Paatero, Jussi / Jaakkola, Timo / Kulmala, Seija

Reference: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 38 (2), p.223-247, Jan 1998

doi: 10.1016/S0265-931X(97)00024-6

Kewords: Plutonium, Lichen (Cladonia), Chernobyl fallout

Abstract: The feasibility of employing carpet-forming lichens (sp. Cladonia) as a measure for the deposition of transuranium elements was investigated with the Chernobyl fallout. In Finland, the deposition of these elements after the accident was very uneven. The highest deposition values for ²³⁸Pu, ^239,240Pu, ²⁴¹Am, ²⁴²Cm and ^243,244Cm were 5.7, 3.0, 1.3, 98 and 0.025 Bq m⁻², respectively. The amount of deposited ^239,240Pu was, however, only some percent of the fallout of the nuclear test explosions of the 1950s and the 1960s. Instead, practically no ²⁴²Cm was released into the environment during the weapons’ testing.

URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0265931X97000246