Concentrations of 137Cs and 40K radionuclides and some heavy metals in soil samples from the eastern part of the Main Ridge of the Flysch Carpathians

Abstract

The aim of the study is to present the results of determination of radioactivity of artificial 137Cs and natural 40K and certain heavy metals in soil samples collected from the eastern part of the Main Ridge of Carpathians, including the Beskid Niski Mts and the Bieszczady Mts. The evaluation of level of radionuclides was based on the bulk density analysis of the soil. A valuable finding of the study was a good linear correlation between the level of 137Cs concentration and bulk density of the soil as well as an inverse correlation between radioactivity of natural 40K and tested soil density. This might indicate though a high competitiveness of these elements between each other. Moreover, a good correlation between the concentrations of artificial element 137Cs and Pb has been also observed in soil samples collected from the Beskid Niski Mts. In most cases, the level of artificial 137Cs was lower comparing to an average 137Cs concentration established for soils in Poland.

The activity of selected gamma radionuclides in the Tatra National Park

“…Studies in the Tatra Mountains were performed during 15 years [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][20][21][22][23]. Therefore in order to keep results comparable, the measured activities of 137 Cs are recalculated to the date of the 1 st September 2000.…”

“…Especially important artificial radionuclide is 137 Cs for the reason of its rather long half-life (30,08 years) and large dispersion in the environment. Between the years 2000 -2015 there were made extensive studies of anthropogenic 137 Cs and natural 40 K activity levels in soil [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. This paper presents the research result concerned on the area of the Tatra Mountains.…”

Monitoring of 137CS and 40K in the Levice District, Southern Slovakia

“…There are approximately 60 natural radionuclides and one of the most abundant elements in the Earth's crust is 40 K that remains to this point of time [9]. Another source of radioactivity has a cosmogenic origin and is the result of interaction between certain gases in the atmosphere and cosmic rays.…”

The Use Of Pb-210 Isotope As An Indicator Of Pollutants’ Migration In The Environment

“…The examples of monitoring studies include the assessment of the activity of caesium isotopes in surface soil in spatial terms [2][3][4][5].…”

“…Using the properties of radioactive isotopes, it is possible, for example, to generate electricity, test materials, diagnose and treat people. Radioisotopes are also used in environmental studies [1].Radioactive isotopes are used, inter alia, to study the mechanisms and dynamics of the processes in soil and plants , to determine the age of rocks, minerals, sediments and soil (eg C-14, U-238, U-235 and Th-232), to study the circulation of elements and their radioactive isotopes in the food chain and in the monitoring studies (natural isotopes, eg K-40, U-238, or artificial isotopes, [1].The examples of monitoring studies include the assessment of the activity of caesium isotopes in surface soil in spatial terms [2][3][4][5].Radioactive isotopes are also used in laboratory testing of processes under controlled conditions, which makes it possible to describe them and to assess the behavior in the environment. The use of these methods is presented, inter alia, in sample Australian studies 1 Independent Chair of Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, Opole University, ul.…”